To clarify a few things for everyone......
Again I would never flute a button barrel because of the stress induced from button rifling and no way of measuring it/check for stress......if you hit any residual stress points the secondary machining operations like fluting, contouring the barrel or even cutting and crowning it....if you hit any stress point the machining operation will relieve the stress and the bore will open up on you. How much does it open up? This will vary with the contour, type of machining etc....the last place you want it to open up is right at the crown though. I won't say which semi custom factory rifle we had in the shop a couple of years ago. It was a button rifled barrel in .22-250 and it was factory fluted. The guy could never get the gun to shoot under 1" groups. Sent it back to the factory and they told him it was fine and sent it back to him. He brought the gun here and the first thing we did was measure the bore. As you pushed the bore gauges down the barrel you would see the bore literally move a full .001" up and down on the gauge as you pushed it down the bore. We replaced the barrel with the same contour, fluted it etc...and the gun shot like a million bucks.
Most of the time we flute the barrels after they've been rifled and finish lapped. Yes we've fluted before rifling but with not inducing any stress into the blank during rifling we haven't experienced the bores going sour etc....
To give you all an idea on the depth of flutes vs. contour etc....
Barrels up to a .750" muzzle diameter we will only go approx. .050" deep.
Barrels from .775"-.875" muzzle diameter we go approx. .075" deep.
Barrels with muzzles around .900" and larger we go .100" deep.
A couple of months ago we got a barrel back from a customer to have a look at it. Believe it was in .260 if memory serves me correctly. The barrel had been chambered and installed and shot just fine. It was a straight taper barrel like a MTU or a M40 type. After it had been shot some it was decided to flute it (we didn't flute it) and the flutes were approx. .175" deep. The customer always had unexplained flyers and it was no longer consistent. I'll guarantee it was from the depth of the flutes.
Will every barrel be effected? I will say no. The depth of the flutes, contour and the caliber (bore size/wall thickness) all plays a part.
I use to run fluted barrels on some of my comp. guns because I was trying to take weight out of the gun, help with cooling and I thought it looked cool! But I don't run fluted barrels anymore personally, not that I have anything really against them but if I want to save weight as my primary reason I'll drop the contour size.
Any questions give me a shout! Happy to talk to anyone about the subject or help in anyway we can.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
Great info Frank!
I have had several barrels that were fluted but not real deep and they all shot well. I didn't spec those builds nor would I with a fluted barrel. It has just never sat well with me.
I have had several barrels that were fluted but not real deep and they all shot well. I didn't spec those builds nor would I with a fluted barrel. It has just never sat well with me.
Exactly... its Snake oil designed to remove money from a fools pocket.
If you like the way it looks, Cool.
If you want to save weight, then go with a lighter profile or a shorter barrel. It's really that simple.
The FNH A3Gs come with deeply fluted, hammer forged, chrome lined barrels - all of which are considered to be less than ideal for supreme accuracy.
These rifles have a 1/2" guarantee, and most come with a test target well less than 1/4".
Maybe FN scraps 100 barrels before finding "the one" that performs as desired. Maybe they're just really good at making barrels.
Anyway, the point here is there are no "absolutes".
These rifles have a 1/2" guarantee, and most come with a test target well less than 1/4".
Maybe FN scraps 100 barrels before finding "the one" that performs as desired. Maybe they're just really good at making barrels.
Anyway, the point here is there are no "absolutes".
Don't think the A3G is chrome lined. But they do seem to shoot none the less, as do many fluted barrels. But that don't mean fluting is worth the money if you had the option...
Pretty sure they are chrome lined:
FNH USA - Distinct Advantage :: FN SPR? A3G
Never said fluting is patently "worth it", I said there are no absolutes.
Edit to add: So far in this thread we've seen that AI (highly respected rifle manufacturer) claims fluting sucks, Frank (an outstanding barrel maker) say its OK on cut rifled barrels as long as not done too deeply, but not stressed manufacturing barrels, and me (nobody of importance) pointing out FNs most accurate offering has a deep fluted, hammer formed barrel.
So what's the final answer here?
Nailed on the first response: get it if you like it
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OH, roger that HodgdonExtreme. I must of had my wires crossed. I thought the A3G was the only rifle in the FN SPR line up that was not chrome lined. None the less I agree with your deduction on this thread: If you like it get it, if not don't.
They look good. But cost an extra 100 bucks. Like H-extreme said. It's tough when you throw it in the trash once a year or more depending on how much you shoot. Weight savings is minimal.
