Barrel smiths...

[CavTrooper]

Would there be any negative effect shortening and fluting a finished rifle barrel?

Are there any quality smiths in SoCal who could do this work?

Thanks for the info folks!

[crob241]

cutting a brl.

Not counting the legal issue and making it too short if it is done correctly and not just with a hacksaw, crowning it when done then no. Fluting is something else, depending on what kind it is it may be cheaper to get one already the right length and fluted. Look in any of the gunsmith catalogs like midway and brownells and they are full of barrels. They is a guy goes by the name of ar15barrels that is on this board, check with him, I think that is what he does, thnx

[gunboat]

I can understand shortening a barrel, but why flute it?

[ar15barrels]

I do shortening and threading work, but I don't do fluting.
One potential downside to fluting a barrel is that you release stress in the barrel in an un-even fashion.
All button rifled barrels will have some stress left in the barrel from the botton rifling process.
Cutting grooves in the outside of the barrel will relax SOME of the stress in those areas, allowing the bore to relax in those areas.
This can make minor changes to the bore dimensions.
As the flutes are straight, the changes would not follow the grooves.
If a barrel were to be fluted, the best fashion would be to time the fluting with the lands, giving you a spiral fluting job.
That would be very difficult to setup and run and therefore cost prohibitive.

The article linked above is very good.

Fluting does NOT increase stiffness and it does a poor job at reducing weight.

The main factor in heat dissipation is overall weight.
Fluted barrels of the same diameter are lighter so they heat up and cool faster.
Heavy barrels take longer to heat up and also to cool down.
If you want a barrel that cools quicker and is lighter, simply go with a smaller profile.

[CavTrooper]

I do shortening and threading work, ...

On any rifle barrel or just AR barrels?

Im getting a good deal on a "drop in" barrel for one of fine Savage rifles, its gonna be 26"... I want it to be 18" and threaded for a muzzle device, either a Vortex flashhider or a break... not sure yet.

Can you swing this or refer me to someone who can?

[ar15barrels]

On any rifle barrel or just AR barrels?

I work on AR's, 10-22's, Glocks, TC Contender/Encore, Savage, Remington and about anything else that I can remove/install the barrel from.

If you bring me just the barrel, you are looking at $60 to shorten, thread and re-crown.
I can also do the barrel removal and installation for an extra charge depending on how much work you do yourself before you show up.

[CavTrooper]

IIf you bring me just the barrel, you are looking at $60 to shorten, thread and re-crown.

Excellent, when the bbl arrives Ill get in touch with you.

Thanks.

[buffybuster]

I do shortening and threading work, but I don't do fluting.
One potential downside to fluting a barrel is that you release stress in the barrel in an un-even fashion.
All button rifled barrels will have some stress left in the barrel from the botton rifling process.
Cutting grooves in the outside of the barrel will relax SOME of the stress in those areas, allowing the bore to relax in those areas.
This can make minor changes to the bore dimensions.
As the flutes are straight, the changes would not follow the grooves.
If a barrel were to be fluted, the best fashion would be to time the fluting with the lands, giving you a spiral fluting job.
That would be very difficult to setup and run and therefore cost prohibitive.

The article linked above is very good.

Fluting does NOT increase stiffness and it does a poor job at reducing weight.

The main factor in heat dissipation is overall weight.
Fluted barrels of the same diameter are lighter so they heat up and cool faster.
Heavy barrels take longer to heat up and also to cool down.
If you want a barrel that cools quicker and is lighter, simply go with a smaller profile.

BINGO! We have a winner!

[-hanko]

Fluting does NOT increase stiffness and it does a poor job at reducing weight.

If you want a barrel that cools quicker and is lighter, simply go with a smaller profile.

A bit of internet bs that will never die. The fluted barrel will be stiffer than a non-fluted barrel of the same weight, but there's no appreciable weight savings.

+1 on the smaller barre.

-hanko

[Rust]

Another thing to take into consideration is that the bore may not actually be centered all the way down the length of the barrel. If you're taking off an inch or so its not likely to be noticeable, but if you want to cut off a sizable amount you may end up with the muzzle being off center.