My barrel needs to go on a Diet!

[25WSM]

I would not recommend fluting a barrel that is finished. Fluting should only be done prior to final lapping not after.

If done properly on a properly stress relieved barrel after fluting then lapping... fluting will have no effect on accuracy.

If you think that a cut barrel doesnt have stress...that is incorrect.
I would never make a cut barrel without stress relieving the steel first.
The mill does a half *** job of stress relief so its there from the mill.
Cut or button

 

[David Malcom]

My .260 shoots wonderfully, but the barrel is a bit too heavy to hunt with.

It is 24" long, set up for a switch lug, & has a timed Muzzle Attachment on the end.

If I can get it fluted without compromising accuracy I'd like to do so.

Realistically, How much weight can be removed?

Are there any East/ South East Smiths that are known for successfully turning down or fluting a Barrel?

There is a sponsor on here that is on the Left Coast, but I assume shipping back & forth would take the better part of 2 weeks.

I'd prefer to have this one fluted or turned, (whatever is possible), but if it will affect accuracy that's a no go for me: I'll just get another barrel in the contour/ weight that's more agreeable for hunting that will also support a suppressor.

Thoughts?

Call Billy Dale at Dilly Dale custom guns. He is just outside of Richmond Va.

 

[westexhunt]

I started cutting ALL mine to 16" (or as short as the applicable suppressor mfg will allow). So much easier to handle these suppressed rifles now (most of the time they are being deployed from a ranch truck).

 

[Triple BB]

Call Twisted Barrel. He spiral fluted mine and took off quite a bit of weight which was the intent. He can tell you if its worth doing on a finished rifle.

 

[Andrew Cowling]

Some quite interesting comments on here.
Fliuting before fitting makes no difference to the barrel after fitting.
Fluting changes the barrel harmonics regardless of when it is done. The only difference is that if it is done before fitting is that when you start shooting it you work up a load in the usual fashion. Fluting after fitting the change in harmonics is noticeable and a new load is needed to regain the accuracy.
What has to be remembered is that fluting doesnt make a barrel stiffer. It will however be stiffer than a barrel of the same weight NOT of the same profile.

 

[25WSM]

Which post are you referring to about finishing?
Shep

 

[Hirschi1]

Before:

After:

I didn't see any loss/change in accuracy.....

I like it, shaved weight with the rifle scope also I see. Nice change.

 

[Hirschi1]

Some folks are past sixty and "bulking up" as someone suggested would take years. How much would that cost in the gym? What do they do in the meantime?

I am 5'7" 155 pound seventy-five year old and will be carrying a Weatherby titanium.

I think I read the same post you mentioned. I wonder if he had ever carried a light weight rifle or shot one. I sure love mine. 7.5 pounds with scope and sling. Now I wouldn't use a light weight to shoot steel all-day, but to hunt high elevations I would choose the 7.5 pound rifle any day over a 16 pound chunk of steel. The recommendation of a treadmill is good advice.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Six or seven years ago I bought a Weatherby Mark V six lug ultralight in .25-06. I had a Proof Research stock installed and a Swarovski z5 5-25X52 in Talley lightweight rings. The rifle came in at 6lb 15 oz. Sometimes I'm a slow learner. After a few times having problems with the scope I switched it out for a Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30x50. The rifle gained four ounces. I made an aluminum brake it gained another ounce. So now I carry a monster rifle weight of 7lb 4oz.

The beauty of the new titanium is it will start about a pound lighter than the .25-06 did. Weatherby claims 4.9 pounds.

 

[Daves762]

Apparently you don't get the meaning of "Work smarter, not harder"

Well I'm not that smart, but I can work really hard. You gotta go with what ya got!!!!

 

[Stgraves260]

I have a 27" MH Krieger barrel on my 260 Rem. It took off 1.5 lbs when I got it fluted. Accuracy if great. I'll post some pick.

My .260 shoots wonderfully, but the barrel is a bit too heavy to hunt with.

It is 24" long, set up for a switch lug, & has a timed Muzzle Attachment on the end.

If I can get it fluted without compromising accuracy I'd like to do so.

Realistically, How much weight can be removed?

Are there any East/ South East Smiths that are known for successfully turning down or fluting a Barrel?

There is a sponsor on here that is on the Left Coast, but I assume shipping back & forth would take the better part of 2 weeks.

I'd prefer to have this one fluted or turned, (whatever is possible), but if it will affect accuracy that's a no go for me: I'll just get another barrel in the contour/ weight that's more agreeable for hunting that will also support a suppressor.

Thoughts?

 

[Stgraves260]

 

[Stgraves260]

The buck was taken just under 300 yards but the 290 hog was taken at 997 yards. The 5 shot group was at 300 yards. I'm very happy with fluting. I thank if your really want to take weight of thought you mite have to go with carbon fiber.

 

[25WSM]

Stgraves you can lose another 2 pounds by changing scopes. Those are unbelievable scopes that I love but dang do they have to weigh as much as a bus? I want a scope like a Razor or similar but around 20 oz. As far as the carbon fiber barrel here is what I just observed. I wish I remember the exact weights but I'm in the hospital still for day 19 but coming to an end. Surgery tomorrow. Finally.
I'm building a new rifle right now for myself finally.
Gunwerks GRZ short mag
Proof sendero light
McMillan HTG
6.5 saum sorry Sherman I already had the reamer back in the gap days. Dies too. I would drink your coolaide no problems.
So I am doing a 28 nos right now also on a shilen select match number 4 contour. I had Marty at twisted barrel do spiral flutes on it. My customer was eyeing up my proof carbon and wanted to hold it. I said sure and he said I thought it would be lighter than mine. I said me too. But the 26 inch shilen all chambered up and crowned and spiral fluted was coming in 3 oz less than my proof.
I flute almost every rifle I build because it's what my customer wants and I can tell you I haven't seen any lack of accuracy.
Someone help me on the scope and my personal rifle will be finished. Looking at the HD6 Leupold right now.
Shep