Where to get a barrel spiral fluted....

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duncansuds

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Hello. I have looked through the forum, but could not find an answer. I am looking to get my hart barrel spiral fluted. I am wondering if anyone knows where or who I can can get to do this? The barrel is in near perfect condition, and I am looking to add some good looks to it as well. I am not looking to purchase a new one. Any replies would be greatly appreciated.
 
Why not ask Hart what they think of it?

Would it void their warranty?

Personally, I wouldn't bother with it unless it was done as part of the manufacturing process.

From what I've read, it is very easy to f**k up a good barrel unless it is done properly (before the chamber is reamed) and is cryogenically stress relieved afterwards.

I'd want it done BEFORE the barrel is heat treated.
 
From Harts website,....


Should I flute my barrel?


F]luting allows you to use a larger diameter barrel with the same weight as a smaller barrel. The smallest barrel we will flute is .650 at the muzzle. We recommend that you allow us to flute your barrel, as fluting is done before the final lapping, thus allowing us to maintain our guaranteed specifications. We offer six flutes, eight flutes (minimum muzzle diameter of .870), interrupted fluting, and octagon.
 
Well I will call them to see what they think, not worried about any sort of warranty, it's a barrel that has already been through one rifle, now going to be cut, re-threaded and chambered, hopefully fluted.

Thanks for the replies so far
 
spiral fluting isn't something you see a lot of. Only production gun that I know of that has it comes from PGW... why not drop them a line and see if they have any info that might help you out
 
Like has been said before, machining the outside of a barrel changes the diameter of the bore. Don't expect your barrel to shoot anywhere near what it shoots now when you are done.

Gunsmiths like to spiral flute and flute barrels for customers who insist as its easy to set up and it makes them lots of money, and they know they will be putting on another barrel soon. Its one of the more profitable ventures for them.

Hey your gun, do as you please.

Oh and one more thing, if your spiral matches that of the bore you will have a 'mobile' barrel, if its opposite to the contour of the bore, it will be stiffer. Lots of physics in play. You really are going to blow the accuracy of the barrel
 
As far as I'm concerned so long as its got a heavy enough profile and you can find a shop willing to do what you want, go for it.
Odds are it'll shoot just the same, could even be better, no way to tell other than doing it.
 
Bartlien states it's OK to flute a cut-rifled barrel after the fact but not button-rifled. Has to do with stress-relieving.

Regards,

Peter
 
Spiral fluting doesn't cause PGW's rifles any problems. If your barrel is cut rifled go for it. If its button-rifled or hammer forged it wouldn't be worthwhile. Don't know why all the other replies are so "freaked out" about fluting. I had a few heavy barrels fluted with before and after load data that shows fluting had no effect on accuracy.
 
fluting may cause issues with ANY rifling style depending on the amount of untouched steel left around the bore.

Krieger puts very strict limits on how small a contour they will flute. Likely more a nod towards barrels bursting then accuracy.

I have seen some very thin barrels fluted in both cut and button rifle with excellent results BUT there is a very real risk of rupture under extreme conditions.

On a heavy contour, really isn't going to change much of anything.

Either way, it is a cosmetic feature so a user simply has to weigh the risks and costs then decide what is best for their rig.

Jerry
 
Thanks for the replies. Lots of good points to be considered. The barrel is 1.2" - .920 over 24". Nice and thick, we may give it a try. Still waiting on a reply from Hart.
 
Mystic Precision said:
Either way, it is a cosmetic feature so a user simply has to weigh the risks and costs then decide what is best for their rig.

Jerry
Click to expand...

Hi Jerry fluting is far more then cosmetic, but the greatest appeal for most people is because it looks good.

http://www.varmintal.com/aflut.htm

http://www.snipercountry.com/articles/realbenefitsbarrelfluting.asp

The benefits of fluting are to add rigidity to a smaller contour. Think of it as adding ribs to a small barrel instead of taking weight out of a large barrel.
To make weight for shooting discipline (while trying to retain the other beneficial features for over weight profiles)
Fluting reduces vertical in group size which is normally only obtained by going to a shorter thicker barrel


Down side is cost using US prices a typical barrel will run $350 fluting on top of that is another $155 dollars or 44% more in cost. You should factor in the amount of shooting and the caliber you shoot in the equation,
if you decide to flute

Some companies will not go beyond a certain depth in fluting to prevent bursting as Mystic has pointed out. check out Bartlien or Border barrels for their spec.

Nick Taylor the 2013 world FTR champion shot a fluted barrel that he personally fluted.
Skip Otto a hall of fame Br shooter would without fail flute his barrels.

Trevor
 
Trevor60 said:
the greatest appeal for most people is because it looks good.



The benefits of fluting are to add rigidity to a smaller contour. Think of it as adding ribs to a small barrel instead of taking weight out of a large barrel.
To make weight for shooting discipline (while trying to retain the other beneficial features for over weight profiles)



Trevor
Click to expand...

In many cases the 'looks good' is the appeal...

Personally I think spiral fluting looks weird.

I disagree with the way you worded your second paragraph.

Fluting will never add rigidity. A fluted barrel was more rigid before it was fluted. It does however allow a barrel of lighter weight to be as rigid as as an unfluted barrel of the same weight.

Fluting does not increase accuracy, the best fluting can do is accuracy may not suffer. If fluting increased accuracy, every serious Benchrest competitor would be using them.
 
Your spiral flutes that are purely decorative is done with helical milling. Think what you'd call a drill bit. Not every shop, that would be required to have a firearms business licence to work on firearms, has the capability. Pricey too.
 
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