hello i am new here and knew to custom guns as well as long range shooting. i just got my first semi custom finished and i had wanted the barrel flutted and when i picked up it had not been. my gun smith said it would have messed up the harmonics on the little 20" barrel is this true or did he just not want to do it and know i wouldnt know enough to argue.thanks for your time and help
flutting a 20" barrel
- Thread starter plinker31
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J E Custom
Well-Known Member
When done correctly it does not hurt accuracy. If it is a light barrel #4 contour or lighter it should
not be fluted. by anyone except the barrel maker in my opinion.
So he may have decided it was to light and did not want to hurt the accuracy potential, Or he
wasn't equipped to do fluting.
If it shoots good I wouldn't mess with it even though you wanted it done.
J E CUSTOM
SidecarFlip
Well-Known Member
Probably the latter. 'Fluting' as it's called is machining with a ball mill and I know of very few 'gunsmiths' that are equipped or have the machining experience to flute a barrel.
Barrel makers use CNC mills to create the fluting or a pattern. Certainly not something to be attempted by someone not intimately familiar with that discipline.
It could be done utilizing a dividing head, tailstock center and a manual miller with enough table travel, but still difficult at best.
he does in house flutting he told me that he would not do "deep flutting" i dont know if there is a real name for it. he makes shallow but wide flutes maybe only 3 or 4 go the whole way around the barrel. the gun shoots far better than i can, i was just wanting it lighter and it looks good to me. if i wanted to replce it down the road who would make one so short with flutes
SidecarFlip
Well-Known Member
Aesthetics are one thing, practicality is another. Perhaps the barrel wasn't of sufficient thickness to warrant the machining. Bull barrels are usually the ones that are fluted.
Weight savings is negligible.
Weight savings is negligible.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
The issue I see here is that you contracted for a specific job and he didn't do it.
If he felt like there was a problem with fluting your barrel he should have told you so when you ordered it.
To be honest here it sounds like he forgot to do it, or didn't have a fluted blank sitting around when he got to yours.
You can order barrels directly from the manufacturers at any stage of completion from straight stock to finished and chambered which also includes ordering one that is already fluted for him to chamber and fit.
If he felt like there was a problem with fluting your barrel he should have told you so when you ordered it.
To be honest here it sounds like he forgot to do it, or didn't have a fluted blank sitting around when he got to yours.
You can order barrels directly from the manufacturers at any stage of completion from straight stock to finished and chambered which also includes ordering one that is already fluted for him to chamber and fit.
liltank
Well-Known Member
Don't know... you'll have to show us a picture so we can tell you if its junk or not!
Shoot it and enjoy it!
Well you can flute any contour barrel, my Steyer Scouts are prime examples of pencil thin 19 inch barrels with six flutes that shoot sub MOA consistently.
That being said I agree with what was said, and believe for the average barrel/smith there may be ill effects 1) let the barrel maker do it 2) if done improperly it will effect harmonics 3) on a 20 inch barrel its not going to save much weight unless a "bull" barrel.
On my "ultralight" pack guns I have used chrome Molly and chose not to flute for weight.
Bottom line if this was negotiated for and part of the agreement you should have received it or at least a call to discuss the problems not the surprise. I am not desegregating all smiths by any means but have found many notorious for doing what they want or is easy and not the customer. Bottom line when you find a great one that pays attention to detail stick with him. I get everything written down for there sake as much as yours.
That being said I agree with what was said, and believe for the average barrel/smith there may be ill effects 1) let the barrel maker do it 2) if done improperly it will effect harmonics 3) on a 20 inch barrel its not going to save much weight unless a "bull" barrel.
On my "ultralight" pack guns I have used chrome Molly and chose not to flute for weight.
Bottom line if this was negotiated for and part of the agreement you should have received it or at least a call to discuss the problems not the surprise. I am not desegregating all smiths by any means but have found many notorious for doing what they want or is easy and not the customer. Bottom line when you find a great one that pays attention to detail stick with him. I get everything written down for there sake as much as yours.
