Iclimb
Well-Known Member
Looking at a bartlein barrel and I'm wondering what the smallest contour I can go with a still flute? May be question for them. Anybody have experience fluting small contour barrels? Pics?
What is the smallest contour barrel you can flute
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J E Custom
Well-Known Member
Most barrel makers will have there minimum based on the bore and contour. (The bigger the bore the bigger the contour they will require.
You can look on there site and based on the bore they will have a minimum contour
You cant just say a #5 because barrel makers have different numbers for the same contours as other barrel makers. So you have to decide what barrel maker you want and go from there.
There is an unwritten rule of thumb though. Minimum barrel wall thickness at the muzzle for threading or fluting needs to be .200 thousandths. and depth of threads or fluting should not exceed
.040.
Using this "Rule" A .30 cal barrel would have to be around .700 at the muzzle to be safely threaded or fluted. .650 would be my minimum muzzle diameter for fluting or threading a brake on a thirty caliber.
J E CUSTOM
Iclimb
Well-Known Member
Thanks
65WSM
Well-Known Member
I own a couple of Bartlein barrels for deer rifles in 6.5-284. I asked them to flute the blanks and they came up with the poorest excuse for fluting you ever saw.
Many barrel makers lack experience with hunting rifles and the idea of a light barrel bothers them. Rock Creek has done the best job fluting a hunting barrel, I also have two by them, a 6.5 WSM and 6.5-06 Ackley. They will flute their #3 which is a pound lighter than Bartleins and of course, has a smaller contour. The Rock Creek barrels are the lightest I own. The rifle weighs 7.5 lbs with a 2.5-10 Sightron in Conetrol rings. With a 26 inch barrel it is as light as I want to wave around at game animals. I backpack and Xcountry ski with the rifle for deer.
I have several Krieger barrels but they start at #5 for fluting. I like their 10 groove for varmint weight barrels but not much for weight reduction.
Recently I had a McGowen barrel blank fluted at the factory. I was disappointed. Shallow flutes and short length.
Shilen does not flute barrels.
Many barrel makers lack experience with hunting rifles and the idea of a light barrel bothers them. Rock Creek has done the best job fluting a hunting barrel, I also have two by them, a 6.5 WSM and 6.5-06 Ackley. They will flute their #3 which is a pound lighter than Bartleins and of course, has a smaller contour. The Rock Creek barrels are the lightest I own. The rifle weighs 7.5 lbs with a 2.5-10 Sightron in Conetrol rings. With a 26 inch barrel it is as light as I want to wave around at game animals. I backpack and Xcountry ski with the rifle for deer.
I have several Krieger barrels but they start at #5 for fluting. I like their 10 groove for varmint weight barrels but not much for weight reduction.
Recently I had a McGowen barrel blank fluted at the factory. I was disappointed. Shallow flutes and short length.
Shilen does not flute barrels.
