Stupid Questions

[hj_S14]

Yup, you're correct. Not the whole bolt was fluted only partial of the bolt; totally make sense. Thank you for the info.
and of course thanks to everyone who chimes in your knowledge as well.
J

Notice how those flutes are NOT on the bottom of the bolt?
That's because AI understands that flutes on the bottom would screw with the ammo in the mag and how the bolt feels when you close it.
Those longer top flutes probably serve the same "sand cut" duty in the newer design of the AX receiver.
They leave a place for sand and other debris to collect while the bolt is being moved through the action.

[FourT6and2]

The AI bolt has fluting unlike other bolts. The flutes are never exposed to the ejection port so water and debris is harder to get inside the action. Also, the part that rolls over the magazine doesn't have flutes to potential interfere and even damage the rounds in the magazine. The AI does have graduated flutes on the side opposite the ejection port to help clear excess lube or water that can get into the action and these act to channel it out. Unless the AX is different, you don't see the flutes unless you pull the bolt. This is why AI has made the only functional, non-cosmetic fluted bolt.

[LynnJr]

Hi LynnJr,
I've seen a lot of post from you and I'm some what a rookie here when it comes to shooting at any range . What's benchrest type groups? Like the one who shoots on the bench?
J

CalGuns is made up mostly of beginner level shooters.
There is a small subset of Precision Rifle Shooters thrown into that mix.
There is an even smaller subset of F-Class,Palma and HighPower Shooters here as well.
The smallest group here is Benchrest Shooters who only worry about putting 5 or 10 shots into the world's smallest groups.
When it comes to bolt fluting you will see it on Benchrest rifles were weight restrictions make it necessary.
What you won't see on Benchrest rifles is fluted barrels.
For hunting rifles and other forms of shooting flutes don't affect the groups enough to matter and as has been posted most can't see the difference.
If your trying to beat the current 5 shot record of 0.005 inches at 100 yards with a 10.5 pound rifle leave the barrel alone.

[bsumoba]

When it comes to bolt fluting you will see it on Benchrest rifles were weight restrictions make it necessary.
What you won't see on Benchrest rifles is fluted barrels.
For hunting rifles and other forms of shooting flutes don't affect the groups enough to matter and as has been posted most can't see the difference.
If your trying to beat the current 5 shot record of 0.005 inches at 100 yards with a 10.5 pound rifle leave the barrel alone.

Agreed. Fluting on a barrel is not very popular in the precision rifle world. Most precision shooters and F-Class/Benchrest guys are leaving them as is. Most of us don't even put a finish on the barrel. The barrels are chambered and then it gets spun on the action.

[TMB 1]

CalGuns is made up mostly of beginner level shooters.
There is a small subset of Precision Rifle Shooters thrown into that mix.
There is an even smaller subset of F-Class,Palma and HighPower Shooters here as well.
The smallest group here is Benchrest Shooters who only worry about putting 5 or 10 shots into the world's smallest groups.
When it comes to bolt fluting you will see it on Benchrest rifles were weight restrictions make it necessary.
What you won't see on Benchrest rifles is fluted barrels.
For hunting rifles and other forms of shooting flutes don't affect the groups enough to matter and as has been posted most can't see the difference.
If your trying to beat the current 5 shot record of 0.005 inches at 100 yards with a 10.5 pound rifle leave the barrel alone.

I think there is a lot of beginner level shooters here, but I wouldn't say mostly. There is a few that fit into some of the other groups you listed who tells everyone that if they don't compete they don't know anything though

You will see fluted bolts in lightweight hunting rifles too.

[LynnJr]

TMB1
Most visitors here don't post they come to read what the more experienced shooters have to say or they are here seeking knowledge.
When one is seeking knowledge in the shooting sports it is my opinion you should seek that knowledge from those who actually know rather than those who don't.

[TMB 1]

TMB1
Most visitors here don't post they come to read what the more experienced shooters have to say or they are here seeking knowledge.
When one is seeking knowledge in the shooting sports it is my opinion you should seek that knowledge from those who actually know rather than those who don't.

I agree and just because someone's shooting sport is hunting. It doesn't mean they don't know what they're talking about.

[LynnJr]

I am a long-range hunter who got into Benchrest only so I could improve my hit to miss ratio on animals.
On my hunting rifles they all have tight necked chambers match barrels and extremely light triggers with all top notch case prep.
Most hunters would consider my hunting rifles target rifles.

[TMB 1]

I'm an all terrain hunter that doesn't like to lug around a 10+lb rifle if I don't have to. If a 5-6lb fluted bolt & barrel rifle will shoot the same size group as a 7-8lb non fluted rifle that's a good thing that is not impossible. There are a lot more types of shooting than just long range and benchrest. People that don't know would be amazed what cast bullets or even a non free float barrel can do, but if all you listen to is the few

[russ69]

...and it seems only benchrest type people worry about it ...

Good rifleman want to know what is happening in the benchrest world so we can apply the right processes and procedures to our rifles. It's because we are concerned with rifle performance we want to know what the best rifle makers and shooters are doing. You can ignore it if you want but it wont change the fact that bench shooters know what they are doing. LynnJr did a nice job of explaining it.

[TMB 1]

Good rifleman want to know what is happening in the benchrest world so we can apply the right processes and procedures to our rifles. It's because we are concerned with rifle performance we want to know what the best rifle makers and shooters are doing. You can ignore it if you want but it wont change the fact that bench shooters know what they are doing. LynnJr did a nice job of explaining it.

I don't think him or anyone else is saying bench shooters don't know what they're doing, but not all benchrest processes & procedures are right for all rifles.

[LynnJr]

I actually tried a 30 inch fluted Lilja barrel one time. The rifle weighed right at the 17 pound limit and as I let it slide inside my fist so it could rest on my boot the flutes cut lines into my hand.
I had my gunsmith fill the flutes with paint to match the stock but it was my first and last fluted barrel.

[bsumoba]

I don't think him or anyone else is saying bench shooters don't know what they're doing, but not all benchrest processes & procedures are right for all rifles.

I agree with this statement with a minor change...the processes used in the highest levels of shooting competitions such as F-Class and Benchrest are not necessarily right for all people.

If you decided to use similar processes to handload for your AR, hunting rifle, bolt action rifle or recreational rifle, you will most likely see an increase in accuracy. Whether you care about it or not, if your AR shoots MOA groups at 100 yards and you are okay with that, then keep doing what you are doing to get that MOA accuracy. If you want 1/2 minute accuracy or better, then you might want to listen to the guys handloading and getting the most accuracy out of their guns, which is usually the benchrest and f-class guys because we are probably the most anal shooters out there when it comes to what we expect out of the guns and we test and test and try different processes and shoot thousands of rounds a year to validate those processes make a difference.

I can tell you that I have done quite a bit of testing the last year on processes that are suppose to increase accuracy per the internet forums and guys posting what they are doing or guys talking at the range. I can tell you from my experience that for me, some work and some I could not get it to increase accuracy consistently.

[Divernhunter]

Related to this is to remember that when benchrest shooting and such that TARGET bullets are used for the smallest possible groups.

When hunting a target bullet is a poor choice. It may be more accurate but a hunter needs to have good terminal performance and needs to use a HUNTING bullet. The hunting bullet may/will not be as accurate as a target bullet but will do better when it contacts the animal.

A good hunter needs to respect the animal enough to use the proper bullet for that animal and the shooting conditions.

An example is using a non-lead bullets(IE Barnes TTSX or TSX) and shooting it at low speeds or too heavy of a bullet that results in low speeds. Then they complain about lost game or poor bullet performance. It is not the bullets fault since a lower speeds there is little expansion with the barnes type bullets.

My 2 Cents

[TMB 1]

I actually tried a 30 inch fluted Lilja barrel one time. The rifle weighed right at the 17 pound limit and as I let it slide inside my fist so it could rest on my boot the flutes cut lines into my hand.
I had my gunsmith fill the flutes with paint to match the stock but it was my first and last fluted barrel.

I only have one fluted barrel. It shoots fine and has never cut my hand.

I agree with this statement with a minor change...the processes used in the highest levels of shooting competitions such as F-Class and Benchrest are not necessarily right for all people.

If you decided to use similar processes to handload for your AR, hunting rifle, bolt action rifle or recreational rifle, you will most likely see an increase in accuracy. Whether you care about it or not, if your AR shoots MOA groups at 100 yards and you are okay with that, then keep doing what you are doing to get that MOA accuracy. If you want 1/2 minute accuracy or better, then you might want to listen to the guys handloading and getting the most accuracy out of their guns, which is usually the benchrest and f-class guys because we are probably the most anal shooters out there when it comes to what we expect out of the guns and we test and test and try different processes and shoot thousands of rounds a year to validate those processes make a difference.

I can tell you that I have done quite a bit of testing the last year on processes that are suppose to increase accuracy per the internet forums and guys posting what they are doing or guys talking at the range. I can tell you from my experience that for me, some work and some I could not get it to increase accuracy consistently.

I don't use most the reloading processes I read on internet forums, but I have read some that were right on. Reloading is only part of the process though. Not everyone wants to use a heavy rifle for everything.