Fluted barrel?


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Guest RandyWakeman

Re: Fluted barrel?

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What are the advantages of a Fluted barrel?

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Fluting weakens a barrel. To retain the same strength, you need to start with a larger barrel profile.

Team Lilja flutes some of the .50 BMG barrels: The Montana team also flutes many of their barrels. Fluting offers several advantages. Weight reduction without a loss in barrel stiffness is an advantage where accuracy is important. And a fluted barrel has much more surface area exposed to the air for cooling. The 50 BMG cartridge can heat up a barrel quickly and the fluting makes a noticeable difference in the cooling rate of a barrel.

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Re: Fluted barrel?

Fluting does not add stiffness. When comparing a pair of barrels that have the same diameter, length and material, the solid barrel will be heavier and stiffer. When comparing a pair of barrels that have the same weight, length, and material, the fluted barrel will be stiffer asit has to start with a larger diameter piece of steel. Varmint Al has a web page about fluted barrels from an engineers prospective.

Fluting does increase the surface area to expose more metal to the air for more rapid heat dissipation. I have not found the difference to be significant though. I do have a couple guns with fluted barrels, mainly for weight reduction.

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Guest RandyWakeman

Re: Fluted barrel?

The main issue is that when you flute a barrel, you warp it. Rotate it 180 degrees, hopefully it warps back in kind. With a 6 flute barrel, it takes an expert to get the job done-- and then the barrel still must be hand-straightened.

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