Fluting a m24 barrel?

[Lrdchaos]

Currently building a 6.5prc and I’m thinking about having the barrel fluted for aesthetic purposes only. The gun will be fairly heavy overall and run a TB 30p-1 suppressor. Is the m24 heavy enough to spiral flute without giving up too much weigh on the front of the gun? Will the suppressor have any affect on the barrel if I flute it?

 

[jcmullis2]

It’s a fairly heavy barrel but I wouldn’t flute it. There was a thread on fluted barrels and the thinking of some knowledgeable guys was that it didn’t improve anything but weight. Not worth the money in my humble opinion.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

My personal feelings and limited experience is that fluting doesn't bring enough to the table to mess with it. I ran a Rock Creek M24 contour barrel in the way back when that shot lights out and it made for a great package, albeit hefty. I rebarreled to a Rock Creek M24 with deep flutes thinking that I'd shave weight and have an awesomer package but the reality was that it just wasn't as good as the barrel it replaced. Granted, no two barrels are alike and from time to time this gun shot really good but if it heated up too much it got weird and overall it just wasn't as consistent. Anecdotal evidence but it was enough to turn me off to fluting in general. I'd read an article some years back that was about Accuracy International, in it they talked briefly about how AI did extensive testing on fluted vs non-fluted barrels and decided to only offer non-fluted barrels on factory rifles. So that lent some credence to my personal observations.

 

[b6graham]

unless you do one of the crazy LRI flutes you're not removing much weight at all

GUNSMITHING SERVICES: Barrel Fluting

Notes regarding barrel fluting: Barrel fluting is a machining process that is very dependent upon well-executed work holding. We have a well-vetted process for ensuring a visually clean appearance in our finished work. Please note that IF your barrel is coated, blued, blasted, or "finished"...

www.longriflesinc.com

1/4-1 pound

 

[jcmullis2]

unless you do one of the crazy LRI flutes you're not removing much weight at all

GUNSMITHING SERVICES: Barrel Fluting

Notes regarding barrel fluting: Barrel fluting is a machining process that is very dependent upon well-executed work holding. We have a well-vetted process for ensuring a visually clean appearance in our finished work. Please note that IF your barrel is coated, blued, blasted, or "finished"...

www.longriflesinc.com

1/4-1 pound

I knew it couldn’t be much weight. It does look really good but when you’re barrels aren’t lasting a couple of thousand rounds why spend the extra coin.

 

[b6graham]

I knew it couldn’t be much weight. It does look really good but when you’re barrels aren’t lasting a couple of thousand rounds why spend the extra coin.

sometimes 1k rounds is 5-10 years depending on the rifle. for some it's a lifetime

 

[Guns&WhiteWater]

Currently building a 6.5prc and I’m thinking about having the barrel fluted for aesthetic purposes only. The gun will be fairly heavy overall and run a TB 30p-1 suppressor. Is the m24 heavy enough to spiral flute without giving up too much weigh on the front of the gun? Will the suppressor have any affect on the barrel if I flute it?

If it’s a cut rifled barrel and your not shooting benchrest comps, then flute away. They look great and if it makes you happy, do it. My straight fluted 308 M24 shoots lights out and wears a TBAC U7.

 

[swampbuck]

To me it isnt worth the money. $150 or so puts me almost 1/2 way to buying the next barrel. Also there are several people that don't flute do to accuracy issues with barrel heating. AI, Shilen, Tac Ops to name a few. There are very accurate fluted barrels out there but I think your chances of getting a lemon increases a lot with fluting. When you look at rifles on the internet you see a lot of pictures with spiral skip fluting and all kinds of asthetic finishes. If you go to a long range class or match with real shooters and real duty rifles and real comp rifles you won't see hardly any fluting.

 

[moosemeat]

For your purposes, flute away. You did say it was aesthetics mainly. People pay for other aesthetic options. Cerakote camo. Custom chassis ando. I understand barrels are consumables. But $150 to shave a half pound and add some style is worth it to some.

 

[Stoweit]

Does fluting introduce stress into the metal of the barrel?

 

[swampbuck]

In a button barrel it is said that fluting can relieve stress and impact your bore diameter. Frank Green has spoken on this before but long story short he advised not to flute a button barrel.

 

[moosemeat]

Bartlein offers fluting on their own barrels as do Krieger.

 

[jcmullis2]

Bartlein offers fluting on their own barrels as do Krieger.

I think it has a lot to do with how the fluting is done. With the right equipment and skills it’s less likely to introduce problems in the barrel. Just because they make fluted barrels doesn’t mean people are buying them for the same type of shooting. They make truck axle shaped barrels too but the hunter might want something different. Just saying

 

[acudaowner]

depending on your expected barrel life if the barrel is the expendable part of a rifle and some rounds kill barrels in a few thousand rounds it could look pretty but make little sense if your barrel will last for a life time like a 22lr it makes more sense then at least to me , again its your money if you want it fluted get it by all means .some of the people on the forums have shown pics of really pretty carved barrels . Good luck if you do get it done remember send pics please .

 

[moosemeat]

I think it has a lot to do with how the fluting is done. With the right equipment and skills it’s less likely to introduce problems in the barrel. Just because they make fluted barrels doesn’t mean people are buying them for the same type of shooting. They make truck axle shaped barrels too but the hunter might want something different. Just saying

If he has a competent smith(LRI or the like) do the work from a cut rifled maker he should be fine. The value is only determined by the customer and what they thinks it's worth. I dont believe it will have a measurable impact on accuracy, but he hasn't said the use of the rifle.

 

[moosemeat]

M24 is a pretty hefty profile and weight lose will depend on depth of fluting and pitch rate. In my LIMITED experience putting a suppressor on any barrel changes the POI.

 

[ma smith]

if its $150 dollars to save 200 grams (7-8oz), that's pretty expensive weight savings. but its not the most expensive cost / gram ratio ive seen. People routinely spend up to $1/gram to buy lighter tent/sleeping bags and backpack.

If you are going for 'practical', I would actually calculat or test the affect on the balance overall of the rifle.

 

[Lrdchaos]

I appreciate the feedback guys. The rifles will be built using a McMillan a5 with sniper fill, deviant elite action, m24 barrel at 24”, and it will run a 30p-1 suppressor. I also have a gen 2 razor that will sit on top, so it’s going to be pretty heavy. I’m not sure the reduction in weight will be that big of a deal when I hang the can off the end.
All my rifles have a poi shift with the can.

My concern more than anything was taking too much weight off, which it looks like it will take 8-10oz off.

I normally shoot 400 rounds a year so the barrel will last a while.

 

[YAOG]

Currently building a 6.5prc and I’m thinking about having the barrel fluted for aesthetic purposes only. The gun will be fairly heavy overall and run a TB 30p-1 suppressor. Is the m24 heavy enough to spiral flute without giving up too much weigh on the front of the gun? Will the suppressor have any affect on the barrel if I flute it?

Save your money and spend it on something that works, like more ammunition.