DMK
Member
It does have a benefit. It makes the barrel lighter without giving up as much stiffness. In the right context, it is not snake oil. But it does not defy the laws of physics either.Fluting a barrel must have some benefit or everyone of us (including me) who's paid that extra $50 bucks to get it is a flaming maroon suckered in by shyster gun company marketing weasels.
A fluted barrel is not stiffer than an HBAR of the same diameter and length. It is stiffer than a thin barrel of the same weight and length.
Again, everything is a compromise. Know what you are giving up to get what you want.