Flutting Questions

[novaman64]

Have a bone stock Remington 700 SPS Varmint (well at least action and barrel are stock). I am wanting to flute the bolt and the barrel to lighten it up a tad, as well as take 1 inch off the barrel to make is a 25". My question is how do I figure out how deep of cuts I can take on the barrel and bolt without getting in to close to the riffling or affecting the integrity of the rifle?

 

[J E Custom]

Have a bone stock Remington 700 SPS Varmint (well at least action and barrel are stock). I am wanting to flute the bolt and the barrel to lighten it up a tad, as well as take 1 inch off the barrel to make is a 25". My question is how do I figure out how deep of cuts I can take on the barrel and bolt without getting in to close to the riffling or affecting the integrity of the rifle?

If you are doing it yourself the bolt can be done easy with a very shallow cut .010 to
.015 deep the length of the action port.

As to the barrel I would not recomend fluting any barrel after it is finished much less
a factory barrel.

An as to the depth of flutes on a barrel some barrel makers will not flute any thing
smaller than a #4 contour (Factory barrels are normally #2s or #3s) because of the
chance of ballooning.

In addition to all of the problems, fluting does not remove much weight. It just looks
good.

It is Just my opinion but if done improperly it is dangerous and can ruin a perfectly
good barrel.

J E CUSTOM

 

[novaman64]

Thanks for the info, Ill do the bolt and leave the barrel alone then. I have been doing a bunch of reading and it sounds liek to get what I want I am gonna have a barrel made. Now its just a matter of trying to decide which manufacturer, I think right now the 2 I am looking at are McGowan or Brux.

 

[J E Custom]

Thanks for the info, Ill do the bolt and leave the barrel alone then. I have been doing a bunch of reading and it sounds liek to get what I want I am gonna have a barrel made. Now its just a matter of trying to decide which manufacturer, I think right now the 2 I am looking at are McGowan or Brux.

I don't know much about the McGowan but the Brux Looks to be a very good barrel
and there customer service is very very good.

Lilja has a FAQ section on there Web site about fluting that is very informative. I use a lot of
there barrels and just cannot say enough about them.

Ether way have the barrel maker flute there barrel own barrel ,that way they are responsible
for the quality of the finished barrel.

J E CUSTOM

 

[novaman64]

Ok, and then is it best to send the action and have the barrel manufacturer mount it or find a smith? Dont know of any great ones in my area so most likely will be sending it out. What is a ballpark figure to have a smith lap the lugs, true the reciever and mount a barrel???

 

[J E Custom]

Ok, and then is it best to send the action and have the barrel manufacturer mount it or find a smith? Dont know of any great ones in my area so most likely will be sending it out. What is a ballpark figure to have a smith lap the lugs, true the reciever and mount a barrel???

Some but not all barrel makers will barrel an action and blue print it so you will have to find one that does and get a turnkey job.

Or if you could find a GOOD smith in your area that is what I would recomend because you can
pick the barrel you want and tell the smith what you want and expect.

As for price It will vary with the each smith and barrel maker so you will just have to contact
them and decide.

J E CUSTOM