To Flute or not to Flute?

[Redmt]

I was scanning the Internet where everything is true and verified. I was reading up on fluting as a way to lighten up a heavy barrel. As I get older, lighter is better. A bunch of the rifle manufacturers sell off the shelf rifles with fluted barrels. Savage is one of them. My deceased squirrel killer buddy had a 17hmr heavy stainless barrel that was helical fluted out of the box. It was a bunch lighter than mine, so mine is out being helical fluted now. The quandary comes in as I'm reading the Shillen website where they plainly say that fluting cancels their barrel warranty. Who's got some interesting thoughts on this?

 

[Caseknife]

I have heard in the past, don't know if it is true or not, but fluting if done incorrectly will have an adverse affect on the accuracy. I would think that any good gunsmith/machinist worth his salt would know how to make uniform cuts, but it may also be affected by steel quality.

 

[Redmt]

The shop fluting my 17hmr has a very high end CNC, has been doing it for a very long time and has an excellent reputation. I think my question is why would Shillen be so opposed to fluting?

 

[MTLabrador]

If I buy a rifle with fluting from the factory I don’t have a problem with it, but I would never pay extra to have it done. The only rifle I have with fluting is my Sako Finnlight, it looks nice but it makes no real difference.

 

[Redmt]

If I buy a rifle with fluting from the factory I don’t have a problem with it, but I would never pay extra to have it done. The only rifle I have with fluting is my Sako Finnlight, it looks nice but it makes no real difference.

It'll make a difference when you get older and toting an 8# rifle around gets old.

 

[cahunter805]

If you’re looking to save a bunch of weight a short shank and smaller contour is where to start if you are rebarreling or building a rifle.
If you are trying to reduce the weight of your current barrel fluting is a good option or shortening the barrel.
I like the look of a fluted barrel so most of my rifles are fluted in either spiral or straight.

 

[Redmt]

The point of my original post was as to why Shillen, or another manufacturer, would cancel any warranty if their barrels are fluted?

 

[cahunter805]

The point of my original post was as to why Shillen, or another manufacturer, would cancel any warranty if their barrels are fluted?

There are some who say fluting can cause POI changes as the barrel heats up and some people say it causes inconsistencies in a barrels strength.

I have personally shot a barrel and developed a load. Then pulled the barrel and had it fluted. Screwed it back on and it shot exactly the same if not better in fact.

 

[Redmt]

There are some who say fluting can cause POI changes as the barrel heats up and some people say it causes inconsistencies in a barrels strength.

I have personally shot a barrel and developed a load. Then pulled the barrel and had it fluted. Screwed it back on and it shot exactly the same if not better in fact.

That's very understandable if you start with a pencil barrel and turn it into a noodle. If there's inconsistent machining done that would certainly be an issue with heat warp. I would think that a knowledgeable machinist with CNC equipment would all but eliminate any errors.

 

[Richard22]

You have to wonder how many rifle makers test the accuracy of their barrels before and after fluting. My gut is most don't but simply flute them to create a cosmetic appeal. If they would have been more accurate without fluting the world will never know. The same is true for free floating. Case in point, Weatherby doesn't free float the barrels on their Vanguard but use a pressure post to create more consistent harmonics, something they discovered through testing of the barrels on this model. Yes, free floating doesn't guarantee greater accuracy, and I suspect some barrels would be more accurate without fluting for the same reason. More consistent harmonics produces greater accuracy.

 

[kansasdad]

The shop fluting my 17hmr has a very high end CNC, has been doing it for a very long time and has an excellent reputation. I think my question is why would Shillen be so opposed to fluting?

In the dental world, every big name lecturer cautions again finishing work that another doctor started. “Once you touch it, any subsequent problems is yours” mentality.

I can see a barrel manufacturer not wanting “major” modifications done to their product. Reputations are hard to create. They want to continue to be known as a reliable barrel maker. Some other dude messes up, and Shillen is still stamped on the barrel.

 

[300xbm]

The point of my original post was as to why Shillen, or another manufacturer, would cancel any warranty if their barrels are fluted?

There is a whole list of aftermarket parts you can have the Best mechanic in the Country put on your Brand New Truck that will void the warranty. Most manufacturers of most anything will not honor a warranty if their product has been altered. Most likely your gun will shoot fine after, but for manufacturers it is just good business sense.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Is this an already chambered and mounted barrel or are you getting a new barrel? If you are getting a new barrel, why don’t you order one from a company that will flute their own barrels, like Benchmark.

 

[cgasner1]

Or get a carbon barrel

 

[Redmt]

Is this an already chambered and mounted barrel or are you getting a new barrel? If you are getting a new barrel, why don’t you order one from a company that will flute their own barrels, like Benchmark.

One thing is that I'm following the advice of p_ham on the barrel replacement on my Ruger #1 Stainless Laminate. If he says that he likes Shillen then that's what it will get. I don't have any experience in re-barreling a rifle. He has a great reputation for working on #1's. It wouldn't be very smart to go against his recommendations.
I was thinking about getting the barrel fluted for weight savings. Shillen says no warranty if it's fluted. I was wondering what some of the deep thinking HT thought about fluting barrels.

 

[antelopedundee]

The point of my original post was as to why Shillen, or another manufacturer, would cancel any warranty if their barrels are fluted?

It induces stress in the metal. I expect that they would recommend doing it BEFORE stress relieving. Might not make a big difference in a "hunting" rifle, but might well matter for a match grade barrel. It's their barrel and they can warrant it as they see fit.

 

[antelopedundee]

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[BAKPAKR]

One thing is that I'm following the advice of p_ham on the barrel replacement on my Ruger #1 Stainless Laminate. If he says that he likes Shillen then that's what it will get. I don't have any experience in re-barreling a rifle. He has a great reputation for working on #1's. It wouldn't be very smart to go against his recommendations.
I was thinking about getting the barrel fluted for weight savings. Shillen says no warranty if it's fluted. I was wondering what some of the deep thinking HT thought about fluting barrels.

What does @p_ham say about fluting a Shilen barrel? If you stick with a Shilen barrel, and if not voiding the warranty is a concern, could you just go with a lighter contour barrel to save weight?

 

[Redmt]

I haven't talked to him. I don't want to bug him and be a pest. We are going with a lighter contour barrel.

 

[Deez Nutz]

I went through a similar predicament about fluting a factory barrel after hearing about how fluting can more or less ruin a good barrel due to adding/taking away stress in the barrel bla bla bla. I called up Karl Kampfeld and asked him directly. He said he would not guarantee that the barrel would be as accurate if I had him flute it, but he never had a customer come back saying that the fluting process resulted in a less accurate barrel.

I went ahead and had him do the fluting and I did not notice a change in accuracy.