Fluted barrel timing, stupid question?

[Dave in WI]

Rib or flute at 12:00?

 

[GNERGY]

I really don't think it matters
Tarey

 

[X Ring Accuracy]

I always did a rib at 12 but that was only for cosmetic reasons.

 

[DaveTooley]

It doesn't matter. When I'm going to flute them myself I chamber first then put a flute at 12 which gives me ribs at 3 and 9 for cosmetic reasons. Cleaner lines in the stock.

 

[davidjoe]

A flute at 12:00 with a low mounted scope is harder to clear condensation or dirt from and would really capture rain well.

 

[DaveTooley]

Not sure how a flute hinders cleaning the scope. That's a new one on me. I'm more concerned about grass, branches weeds etc. getting wedged in the gap along the forearm if it had flutes. Been there done that a time or two when pushing brush out of the way with the rifle.

 

[davidjoe]

^…. It would be harder to clean grime or dry moisture out of a 12:00 flute, if a scope bell was right over it.

Just an example of how some scopes ride barrels. That’s a generic picture, not mine, but I always worry about rust forming in them.

 

[butchlambert]

^…. It would be harder to clean grime or dry moisture out of a 12:00 flute, if a scope bell was right over it.

Just an example of how some scopes ride barrels. That’s a generic picture, not mine, but I always worry about rust forming in them.

View attachment 1275332

???

 

[davidjoe]

) ok, ok, y’all win. If there’s a flute directly under a low mounted scope, a q-tip will probably still fit in there, if you have to dry it out. But I do have one, blued carbon steel, with really deep flutes that a q-tip definitely wouldn’t dry out with a low scope.

 

[std7mag]

There's a low mounted scope, then there's the scope welded to the barrel.

I've never seen a scope mounted THAT low before.

As for placement of fluting.
I'm not about to comment on where a flute should be!
I get enough hate from commenting that form can affect the stiffness of metal.

Hole, or rib of a structured barrel at the 12 Oclock position?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I like ribs along the stock lines like Dave mentioned. Depending on # of flutes you can end up with a rib or flute at 12.

 

[pdhntr]

Rib or flute at 12:00?

Can have a great deal to do with pride.

I wouldn't inlet a stock (of mine) without the ribs at 9 and 3, or an equal portion of rib on each side.

First of all, the gunsmith that mounted the barrel shouldn't have any problem timing the barrel to that. I do it and I don't consider myself a gunsmith.

Secondly, I can inlet the barrel channel with a determined amount of clearance to the ribs so it looks like it was custom made to the barrel, and won't let the stray cat enter to set up a home.

Third, if the fluting is timed correctly, what is at 12 will line up with the centerline of the barrel and scope.

I have seen flutes at 3 and 9, or some variation of such, and to me the large gaps look crude.

Jim

 

[boltfluter]

99% of the barrels or barreled actions that I flute have a flute at 12 o'clock. I can time them anywhere the customer wants. Just my .02.

Paul

 

[WSMNUT]

It depends on the stock line but typically I prefer the flute to be TDC. This is more of a preference for me.

It also makes for a nice place to scribe the barrel on the rib above the flute that rides the top of the stock line if you don’t scribe the shank.

It drives me nuts to see a straight fluted barrel out of time. It doesn’t matter if the flute is at 12 or the rib is just make sure one or the other is timed properly.

I also have a weird thing about symmetry so I may not be the best one to give advice. Even my house the same amount of windows on each side of the door evenly placed and the front door is perfectly centered of the house.

Below is a 300 WSM I just finished up for a customer in Wyoming a couple of days ago. Flute is TDC. Tikka actions are easy to time the flutes because of the flat top action

 

[davidjoe]

So I find both after taking a closer look:

Pic 1) V Blocked (no choice) 10/22 target RIb up;

Pic 2) Kimber .22 Flute up;

Pic 3) Custom job heavy barrel Rib up;

Pic 4) HS .338 LM factory sniper rifle, Flute up;

Although not pictured, Senderos have the flute up, as do MK V Weatherby’s. The excellent FNH SPR when fluted, is up.

 

[AlNyhus]

Not having anything fluted fixes it for me.

 

[pirate ammo]

Wack them all out with spiral flutes.

 

[AlNyhus]

Wack them all out with spiral flutes.

Or do like Dan Dowling used to...the flutes matched the twist rate.

Good shootin'. -Al

 

[krumfola]

Looking into getting a fluted Tikka take-off. Understanding that shouldered prefits for Tikkas easily headspace correctly, what are the chances that the flutes would be timed correctly when installed?

Again, this is a new Tikka take-off from a rifle that was parted out.

 

[Timberyote]

For you who are worried about not cleaning the 12 o'clock flute, that's what compressed air is for.