Barrel Fluting vs accuracy

[Dnk9444]

I have a Rem700 im gonna put a new barrel on. I was leaning toward a fluted barrel. I've read that if not fluted correctly it can cause accuracy issues. Is this the case?

 

[nksmfamjp]

Just have the barrel maker flute it.

 

[Rick Richard]

How would you know unless you did before fluting testing vs after fluting testing on a SPECIFIC barrel. Even if it was a real hack job the barrel still may shoot as desired. So, is the question out of concern or curiosity? If out of concern, don't worry about it and do it if that is what you want. Curiosity? Test and let us know the results. Good day and have fun.

 

[choprzrul]

Could the reverse also be plausible? An unfluted barrel that shoots crappy might come around and shoot great after fluting??

.

 

[Rick Richard]

Could the reverse also be plausible? An unfluted barrel that shoots crappy might come around and shoot great after fluting??

.

Anything is possible, but doubt it.

 

[Dnk9444]

I was just curious if anyone knew. I was thinking of buying a prefit and having it fluted. But didn't wanna chance it hurting accuracy if this was a real issue. I had just read that it was a possibility

 

[Rick Richard]

I was just curious if anyone knew. I was thinking of buying a prefit and having it fluted. But didn't wanna chance it hurting accuracy if this was a real issue. I had just read that it was a possibility

I have done several barrels where I purchased and then had someone else flute…no issues ever. I will say purchase a premium barrel though to minimize issues. Good luck.

 

[ElCidAviator]

I have a Rem700 im gonna put a new barrel on. I was leaning toward a fluted barrel. I've read that if not fluted correctly it can cause accuracy issues. Is this the case?

That's a really interesting question. If you take an extreme, say you straight flute one side of the barrel and not the other, I would guess that would screw with the harmonics enough to hinder accuracy. If that is indeed the case, and I'm only speculating, then I would think a poor or uneven fluting job could decrease accuracy.

I'm very interested to hear what others think on the subject.

 

[Boss Hoss]

FWIW----there is an art to this and unless your Smith is very good at fluting there will be stress imparted which will not be a good thing for accuracy. All of my tubes including 1k competition rifles are fluted with only a few exceptions. The best option is to get one already fluted by the maker to avoid this if you are unsure.

 

[Dnk9444]

I was looking at a prefit from McGowan and having them flute it.

 

[Texis]

Shilen does not sell fluted barrels, and will not flute a barrel on request. They claim the stress relief on the barrel is altered by fluting (it would move / warp etc) as it is performed after final machining and lapping of the barrel. Other manufacturers must have process they feel comfortable with I assume.

 

[varminthunter89]

As i understand it, fluting has to be done slow enough so as no to bend the barrel under stress. Also, the number of flutes should be evenly arranged, e.g. if you flute one side you better flute the other 180 degrees apart. The barrel makers are theoretically the best to flute because they stress relieve after fluting (those that do it). Most everyone in the thread so far is right. Fluting generally has no effect on barrel accurace if its done right. Aftermarket flutes are fine if they are done consistently by a good smith so that if stress is introduced, it is done evenly across the entire barrel. Uniformity is the name of the game in every part of the making of a proper barrel.

 

[4g64loser]

As i understand it, fluting has to be done slow enough so as no to bend the barrel under stress. Also, the number of flutes should be evenly arranged, e.g. if you flute one side you better flute the other 180 degrees apart. The barrel makers are theoretically the best to flute because they stress relieve after fluting (those that do it). Most everyone in the thread so far is right. Fluting generally has no effect on barrel accurace if its done right. Aftermarket flutes are fine if they are done consistently by a good smith so that if stress is introduced, it is done evenly across the entire barrel. Uniformity is the name of the game in every part of the making of a proper barrel.

One of the (now.retired) benchrest smith's that's done some of my work told me that if I wanted a fluted barrel to buy a single point cut blank and have the make.flute it. The few I've done, I've done that way (krieger). His admonition to never flute a button rifled barrel due to the greater stress of that rifling process makes sense to me as a layman who has never rifled a barrel. Considering shilen (button rifled) won't flute and some other button outfits will only lightly flute on their heavier contours, I'd say it makes some sense.

Leads me to wonder about hammer forged barrels (thinking about cz and fn mainly, as both hammer forge and produced sniper.rifles with fluted barrels over the years). Still got one of the FN SPRs in the locker at one of my jobs. Shoots pretty well for the number of people who have been trained on it/number of rounds on it. I don't want to scope it. Moderately deep fluting on a pretty thick barrel.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I have/had 3 different fluted barrels.
Two Bartlein #3b, one straight by Bartlein on a 7RM (still have), one spiral by LRI on a 6.5SS (sold to a buddy who still has it)
One Rock Creek Sendero spiral fluted by LRI on a .300RUM.

All are tack drivers.