I have been looking (dreaming) at some varmint guns specifically the Weatherby Super Varnint Master. And I was wondering what y'all thought about fluted barrels. I am thinking of a 22-250 so I can reach out and touch some prairie dogs. My friend's father in law has a bull barrel in a 22-250 (i think) and supposedly it cooled down faster than my friend's standard barrel in the same caliber. I suspect the fluted barrel will cool faster yet. So please tell me your opinions of fluted barrels. Thanks.

What I have been told about heavy fluted barrels is that they take longer to heat up due to there lare size and cool quicker since there is more surface area exposed to allow more efficient cooling. All this being said is it basically allows you to shot more and not have to worry as much about loss of accuracy do to a hot walking barrel.

I think I pretty much agree with FNMauser's opinion. I have a Kimber 84M Varmint .22-250, and I think it does cool down somewhat quicker than a friend's heavy barreled .223. I bought mine, however, just because I liked the way it looked.

Have three fluted barrels - one stainless and two blued. They DO take longer to heat up and are prone to quicker cooling off that standard barrels.

Some will tell you the flutes will add strength to barrels, but I'm not one of them. Stands to reason, if you take something away, it means less support or strength.

this is what I've read on fluted barrels and strength

if you have a standard barrel and a fluted barrel of the same weight, the fluted one is stronger

if you have a standard barrel and a fluted barrel the same weight before the fluting (i.e. the fluted barrel will weigh less) the standard barrel will be stronger. Due to taking away material.

So if you start out with a bull barrel and flute it, it will be stronger than a standard barrel, but not stronger than the bull barrel it originally came from.

I really like the way fluted barrels look, I think I am definitely going to get one, probably after I graduate though :(

Not stronger, stiffer. Two different qualities. Less barrel vibrations theoretically mean better accuracy which is why short, stiff barrels typically outshoot long skinny ones.

You do get more surface area with a fluted barrel, but consider that air is an insulator, not a conductor, so the difference isn't all that great. Still, every little bit helps.

The carbon-fiber wrapped barrels are supposed to be the best of all worlds in these respects....

The carbon-fiber wrapped barrels are supposed to be the best of all worlds in these respects....[/QUOTE]

Carbon Fiber Wrapped Barrels???!!!! Where can I find these??? And what make rifle (Savage/Remington/etc) are they easiest to replace the old all metal one?

Right here:

http://www.christensenarms.com/carbonhunter.htm

The Savage is by far the simplest American bolt-action centerfire to replace barrels on, but I don't see it listed on that site.

[QUOTE=MikeG]Right here:

http://www.christensenarms.com/carbonhunter.htm


Wow. I'm impressed. I guess maybe I knew about this co but forgot... I work with carbon fiber / epoxies, or I should say I subcontract out work to people who make things out of carbon fiber and epoxy... my latest "project" you can see on this website" http://www.icmachines.com

It is nearly all being made out of carbon fiber / epoxy.

Do you own or know anyone who owns one of these Christensen arms rifles? How accurate / good are they???

I want one. (I think.....)

Thanks,

There's even a carbon fiber wrapped barrel rifle in the Winchester line now.