Fluted Barrel or twist rifled?

[jedimaster]

Ok so what the heck is a Fluted Tapered Barrel and how does that differ from a normal twist rifled barrel?
Do you need to shoot rifled slugs from a fluted barrel?

 

[Sharptail]

Tapered means that the barrel is thicker at the breech end than at the muzzle. Flutes are shallow grooves cut longitudinally down (the length of) the barrel. They have the advantage of increasing the surface area of the barrel for more efficient cooling and stiffness (supposedly, not all agree). Fluted and tapered barrels are different only on the exterior, the rifling on the interior of the bore is not affected. Rifled slugs are meant to be shot from smooth bore barrels (shotguns). I hope this explanation helps.

Sharptail

 

[jedimaster]

Ahh ok thanks, I thought when they said the barrel was fluted and tappered it meant the grooves were on the inside.

 

[prosper]

They have the advantage of increasing the surface area of the barrel for more efficient cooling and stiffness (supposedly, not all agree).

it's simple. Flutes DO increase surface area which does have a measurable effect to speed cooling but it's not as much as you might think. It also lightens the barrel without reducing stiffness too much (though it's impossible to INCREASE stiffness by REMOVING material.)

 

[Huntsman]

FYI;
The 25mm M242 utilizes a 'fluted, tapered barrel with progressive rifling'
What does it have to do with bp? Nothing, but I thought I'd add my .02 cents

 

[JacquesT]

M242...

You are referring to the main gun of the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV III) we use in Afghanistan ...?

FYI;
The 25mm M242 utilizes a 'fluted, tapered barrel with progressive rifling'
What does it have to do with bp? Nothing, but I thought I'd add my .02 cents

 

[Huntsman]

You are referring to the main gun of the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV III) we use in Afghanistan ...?

Correct