I don't understand how they were able to "remove the fluting" from the barrel. I would like to see that process.
Kidding aside, I shall like to re-pose my earlier question. With all other things being equal, was the fluted barrel larger in diameter than the unfluted barrel? It would necessarily need to be to be equal in weight. If it was larger in diameter, my understanding is that it would also be stiffer.
So, was it larger in diameter? If not, the testing, in my view, can go right out the window.