fluted vs not fluted

[Striker918]

What the heck are the advantages or disadvantages?? Google seems to contradict itself a lot.

[txfireguy2003]

Fluted barrels reduce weight......a TINY bit. They also reduce stiffness, a TINY bit from a non fluted barrel the same OD. The flutes also add surface area, which in theory will speed up barrel cooling, BUT they also reduce mass, so the barrel heats up faster......net effect on barrel heating......who knows?

In my opinion, the number one reason to get flutes, is because they look cool and don't hurt anything. The number one reason not to, is they cost extra and add little to no advantages in the real world.

I guess if you were trying to build the lightest gun possible, where every ounce counted, then they might be worth it, but they are now making carbon fiber wrapped barrels with better weight savings without.

[Black Ice]

fluted vs not fluted

Fluted barrels reduce weight......a TINY bit. They also reduce stiffness, a TINY bit from a non fluted barrel the same OD. The flutes also add surface area, which in theory will speed up barrel cooling, BUT they also reduce mass, so the barrel heats up faster......net effect on barrel heating......who knows?

In my opinion, the number one reason to get flutes, is because they look cool and don't hurt anything. The number one reason not to, is they cost extra and add little to no advantages in the real world.

I guess if you were trying to build the lightest gun possible, where every ounce counted, then they might be worth it, but they are now making carbon fiber wrapped barrels with better weight savings without.

X2. Glad you said it cause I wasn't going to type that much

[Cajun Blake]

cosmetic ... basically looks cool

increased cost of $125+ for flutes


crunching the #'s

22" #4 contour, unfluted .308 barrel weighs approx. 3.43 lbs.
22" #4 contour, "fluted" .308 barrel will save you around 6-8 ounces depending on depth/length of flutes

fyi - 6-8 ozs. is the weight of an apple

[billfromtx]

I always thought the fluted barrels cool faster as well for those who shoot a lot...

[McClain]

Fluted barrels reduce weight......a TINY bit. They also reduce stiffness, a TINY bit from a non fluted barrel the same OD. The flutes also add surface area, which in theory will speed up barrel cooling, BUT they also reduce mass, so the barrel heats up faster......net effect on barrel heating......who knows?

In my opinion, the number one reason to get flutes, is because they look cool and don't hurt anything. The number one reason not to, is they cost extra and add little to no advantages in the real world.

I guess if you were trying to build the lightest gun possible, where every ounce counted, then they might be worth it, but they are now making carbon fiber wrapped barrels with better weight savings without.

^^ Nailed it!

[super_dave]

It cools faster due to the thickness being less.

The surface area is the same, just inverted.

The weight is less.

[wassaw]

fyi - 6-8 ozs. is the weight of an apple

1/2lb Apple can be all it takes to get you through the day though!

[nimrodtracy]

The benchrest people got away from it, fluting cause stress in a rifle barrel and machining can put lots of stresses into a barrel

[Avezorak]

The surface area is the same, just inverted.

you sure about that? Ive been told by a number of gunsmiths that it increases surface area and by looking at it, it appears to do so.

[WyoBull]

Fluted barrels reduce weight......a TINY bit. They also reduce stiffness, a TINY bit from a non fluted barrel the same OD. The flutes also add surface area, which in theory will speed up barrel cooling, BUT they also reduce mass, so the barrel heats up faster......net effect on barrel heating......who knows?

In my opinion, the number one reason to get flutes, is because they look cool and don't hurt anything. The number one reason not to, is they cost extra and add little to no advantages in the real world.

I guess if you were trying to build the lightest gun possible, where every ounce counted, then they might be worth it, but they are now making carbon fiber wrapped barrels with better weight savings without.

Yep, on the money!

[super_dave]

you sure about that? Ive been told by a number of gunsmiths that it increases surface area and by looking at it, it appears to do so.

If is the same radius as the barrel, which most flutes are, the surface area would be the same.

I used to think that it increased it also.

[Slick8]

Fluted barrels reduce weight......a TINY bit. They also reduce stiffness, a TINY bit from a non fluted barrel the same OD. The flutes also add surface area, which in theory will speed up barrel cooling, BUT they also reduce mass, so the barrel heats up faster......net effect on barrel heating......who knows?

In my opinion, the number one reason to get flutes, is because they look cool and don't hurt anything. The number one reason not to, is they cost extra and add little to no advantages in the real world.

I guess if you were trying to build the lightest gun possible, where every ounce counted, then they might be worth it, but they are now making carbon fiber wrapped barrels with better weight savings without.

I agree completely, but I like the way they look...bottom line, don't kill spikes and call it management and don't flute a rifle for weight savings....

[gusman]

^^^^ that sums it up..��

[txfireguy2003]

It cools faster due to the thickness being less.

The surface area is the same, just inverted.

The weight is less.

You are correct in that the reduced thickness and mass (technically surface to mass ratio) allow the temperatures to fluctuate faster. They heat up faster and cool down faster (marginally, the difference ain't much). You are incorrect in your assertion about surface area being the same. I suppose it COULD be the same, if the end mill used to cut the flutes was the same diameter as the barrel, but I can't say that I've ever seen one like that. They usually have a smaller diameter groove, and occasionally the grooves are deeper than the radius, so they end up with walls that extend out perpendicular to the circumference of the bore.

Standby, there is a YouTube video for this topic, much like every other topic you can dream of. The difference is, this guy actually knows what he's talking about.