Barrel Fluting

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

This one is for the smiths,makers and guys you just know allot of stuff

When are barrels fluted? I mean at what step in the precess of making a barrel are the flutes cut?

The reason I ask is I have an un fluted barrel that I would like to be fluted. It is a blank?

 

[lazylabs]

There are a lot of threads on this...here is two out of 100's.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/question-about-fluting-new-barrel-28171/
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/cut-rifling-vs-button-rifling-24342/

The second is on rifling methods but addresses the problems of post production fluting also.

 

[J E Custom]

This one is for the smiths,makers and guys you just know allot of stuff

When are barrels fluted? I mean at what step in the precess of making a barrel are the flutes cut?

The reason I ask is I have an un fluted barrel that I would like to be fluted. It is a blank?

When I need a fluted barrel I have the barrel maker flute it ,that way he has complete
control of the quality of the finished product.

I have seen some realy bad fluting jobs and been ask to see if I could fix them ( The answer
was NO ) Two many things can go wrong and you just lost a custom barrel.

By having it done by the barrel maker if ther is a problem he just makes you another one
( I have had this happen a few times ).

Normaly it is done before the final stress relieve and then it will be checked for tolerance.

Lilja does a good job and guarantees his barrels .Shilen doesent flute so he wont because
he doesent have control of how and by whom it's done.

If you have it done later and there is something wrong and it will not shoot then you are
on your on because neither the smith or the barrel maker will except responsiblity.

If you want to flute to save weight you can have it turned to a smaller contour safely.

If it is for looks then save that barrel and have one made like you wont.

I hope this helped
J E CUSTOM

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Hay thanks JE that was just want I wanted to know.

You have allot of good info I have learned quit allot form you responces thank you.

 

[koginam]

I have fluted over one hundred barrels and they all seem to shot fine.
I buy blanks and have them cryoed then I contour them cut the tenon, thread, fit to the action, chamber, cut crown, then flute on a verticle mill. I use two vises and a custom 30 inch parallel. I know use a Haas indexer but before I had it I used a $30.00 collet block to indicate the flutes. By using the verticle mill I don't distort the bore. After all machining is done I cryo the barrel again.
Button or cut makes no difference.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Interesting

I knew it could be done and I was hopeing to get a few more responces on the pros and cons I just am unsure of what to do. I only want it done for looks so it is realy just something I might have to get over or take the chance I guess.

 

[Joel Russo]

There are certainly pros and cons about having a barrel fluted after it has been lapped. Many factors come into play such as the depth of the flutes, the diameter of the barrel, the amount of material removed per cut, etc, etc...
There is no doubt that you are changing the "metallurgy" if you will.

I recently had a barrel fluted by a well known gunsmith after it came from the barrel maker. In fact the barrel had about 100 rounds through it before I pulled it, re-contoured it, fluted it then re-chambered it. It was a 34" 1.450", .338 barrel chambered for .338-.378 Wby. It shot well as it was, I just wanted to step up in horsepower. I re-contoured it to 1.350" for 5", then straight taper to 1.10" at 33", and put 10 flutes in it. It was re-chambered to .338-.408.
I was a little skeptical about how it was going to shoot.

Much to my surprise, it flat out shoots.

It will routinely shoot .750" at 300 yds.
Philny1 on this forum shot a sub 3" group at 750 yds, and I shot a 3.806" group at 1,680 yds at an IBS match in Ohio in the spring.
I posted on that 1,680 yard group under the competition section.

Did all that work change things around? I'm sure it did, but by the way it shoots, it appears as though it was for the better in my case.

Just my experience with re-contouring and putting flutes in a barrel after it comes from the manufacturer.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Hay joe thanks for that story