Barrel Re-profiling and or fluting

[300R]

Hey Guy's,just wanted your thoughts on barrel re-profiling and or fluting on a used barrel, i have a #8 lilja in 338 lapua and i want to cut some weight say to a #6 or #7 fluted ,it has fired only about 60 rounds.Do you think this is possible or will it ruin the barrel in terms of strength and accuracy?

 

[J E Custom]

Hey Guy's,just wanted your thoughts on barrel re-profiling and or fluting on a used barrel, i have a #8 lilja in 338 lapua and i want to cut some weight say to a #6 or #7 fluted ,it has fired only about 60 rounds.Do you think this is possible or will it ruin the barrel in terms of strength and accuracy?

If done correctly it should not hurt the barrel but it could change the loading because
of harmonics.

If it is a straight taper a good machinist/smith can set up with a taper attachment and
reduce the diameter to what ever you want. The contours are harder to cut down
but not impossible.

In any case the barrel will have to be re crowned.

If it is a very long barrel you can cut a few inches of the end and reduce the weight
but you will loose a little velocity.

Cost may be close to the price of a new barrel job. If it is a known shooter and has
a minimum of shots down it you could sell it and recoup some of your money.

Just some thoughts.

J E CUSTOM

 

[canyonman1]

I had a 31" stainless supermatch heavy target barrel from Pacnor in 338 edge installed on a sleeved remington 700 for 50 shots. I then sold everything but the barrel to a friend. I sent the barrel back to Chris @ Pacnor and he re-contoured it, choped it to 30", re-crowned and rechambered it, and threaded it for my Ruger m77 mk2 stainless. Since the barrel was his he did the work and the shipping for $50.
It shot in the.3's with 300 gr. Sierra Mk new, and it shot in the .3's when I got it back. Different charge af Retumbo is all that changed.
That barrel is chambered in 338 Edge and has exactly 2,186 rounds through it, and it still shoots in the .4's. Last 5 shot group I shot was .447" @ 100 yds.

I'm sure some barrels won't take the stress, but this one was uneffected.
Thats just a few more reasons I am a Loyal customer. I only shoot Pacnor and have for 20 years.gun)

 

[300R]

Thanks for the help fellas,i know my smith has a cnc lathe so that would surely make it easier,just wanted some other real life experiences,a new barrel and chamber is about a $1000 down here and i got a quote today for $150 to re-profile it and $130 if i want flutes.

 

[Gene]

It is my understanding that fluting requires stress relief after it is done. Most folks recommend buying a new rifle already fluted. If it is done after market, accuracy is a toss up.

 

[rem.xp100]

It is my understanding that fluting requires stress relief after it is done. Most folks recommend buying a new rifle already fluted. If it is done after market, accuracy is a toss up.

This is not true. Check directly with someone like Kampfeld - fluting is one of his specialties - no stress relief needed and the last I spoke with him he has NEVER seen accuracy suffer from fluting. He does a LOT of them.

 

[300R]

rem.xp100,thanks for the heads up mate.I always imagined that the flutes were cut after profiling of any barrel,but i wouldn't really know.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Im having Kevin Cram do the Barrel on my 300 win mag. I talked with him on the phone about the whole thing. As long as you pic a smith who know what the heck he is doing your going to be fine. I would not expect to loose much weight from it how ever more of astecits for me.

 

[BountyHunter]

This is not true. Check directly with someone like Kampfeld - fluting is one of his specialties - no stress relief needed and the last I spoke with him he has NEVER seen accuracy suffer from fluting. He does a LOT of them.

There is a very good reason why ever button rifle mftr will tell you that recontouring or fluting AFTER rifling will change the internal barrel dimensions, because it does! Been proven time and time again. Now will that effect accuracy? If you are happy with .5 MOA or so then probably not for you, but no top competitor or someone demanding top accuracy will do it for very good reason.

Cut rifling different stories.


BH

 

[J E Custom]

Thanks for the help fellas,i know my smith has a cnc lathe so that would surely make it easier,just wanted some other real life experiences,a new barrel and chamber is about a $1000 down here and i got a quote today for $150 to re-profile it and $130 if i want flutes.

I would not have it Fluted after it is re profiled because to many things can go wrong and
accuracy can suffer .

If it's the weight that's an issue then just have it profiled one size smaller than you would
with flutes.

I will not have a barrel fluted by anyone except the manufacture at the time of the barrels
manufacture. This way he is responsible for the quality of the fluting and the barrel
straightness.

It is true that in the hands of a true craftsman it can be done but the risk is not worth it
in my opinion.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Boss Hoss]

There is a very good reason why ever button rifle mftr will tell you that recontouring or fluting AFTER rifling will change the internal barrel dimensions, because it does! Been proven time and time again. Now will that effect accuracy? If you are happy with .5 MOA or so then probably not for you, but no top competitor or someone demanding top accuracy will do it for very good reason.

Cut rifling different stories.


BH

BH--this is not true. Speedy set world records and shot himself into the HOF with fluted barrels that he did himself. I have won a few times myself all with fluted tubes he did. It all depends on who is doing the work... While true mine are all SP cut ones Speedy at the time found a good batch of Shilen and bought all of them he could--still has 8 or 10 that he is saving should they be needed.