Fluting a Bull Barrel

[BlayGlock]

This is a total noob question. I have an 18" RRA Varmint heavy bull barrel. Can I have it fluted aftermarket or does that have to be done at the time the barrel is made? Main reason I want it done is weight savings.

 

[wnycollector]

Here you go http://www.adcofirearms.com/shopservices/shop_.cfm?code=21

 

[BlayGlock]

Thank You.

 

[Sunray]

"...weight savings..." Fluting doesn't reduce the weight by much. Fluting is primarily decorative anyway.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

It's less for weight as it is for cooling the barrel. The grooves help to dissipate heat much quicker.

 

[Sunray]

"...for cooling the barrel..." That's the theory. There's a dissertation on the actual effect. Forget where I saw it, of course.

 

[USSR]

As someone who has had two rifles built with fluted barrels and uses them in competition, here is my take on this. Fluting should only be done on cut rifled barrels prior to reaming the barrel, which is done just before the barrel is rifled. Any change to the barrel contour after the rifling has been done CAN have an impact on the bore dimensions. Why have a barrel fluted? Aside from the aesthetics, the only reason, IMHO, is to reduce the weight of a heavy contour barrel to better balance a rifle or have it meet weight in some form of competition. Forget about the cooling faster thing. My barrels still need a long, long time to cool down after a string of 30 shots over 30 minutes.

Don

 

[BlayGlock]

Ussr nailed it. The rifle is a tad front heavy and I would like to better balance it. Not worried about the heat.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Adco has an excellent reputation for fluting and other barrel-reduction services. However, keep in mind that you can buy a brand new barrel in a lighter contour for $150-200 and install it yourself with a receiver block, barrel wrench and a torque wrench.

 

[brian923]

Fluting also changes barrel harmonics. So keep that in mind if you already have pet loads worked up for the rifle. Fluting also stiffens the barrel some, due to the added surface area. I don't know scientifialy if that is true, but it makes sense to me??

 

[Joe Demko]

As I understand it, a fluted barrel is stiffer than a circular barrel of the same weight. Fluting a bull barrel doesn't stiffen it, but you do end up with a stiffer barrel than a smaller diameter circular barrel that weighs the same as the fluted barrel.
I could be wrong, though. I studied biology not engineering.

 

[Rottweiler]

Joe's right. A fluted barrel will be stiffer than an a non fluted of the same weight, but will not be as stiff as a non-fluted barrel of the same outer diameter

 

[BlayGlock]

This barrel has not been fired yet so I do not have any loads worked up for it.