I was thinking about fluting my AR as well ... great minds think alike
I'm not seeing how that's possible.
What difference would that make, as long as the proportions are equal in both scenarios you describe?
Taking a barrel and cutting flutes into it will 100%, take-it-to-the-bank, certainly make it less statically stiff than it was without the flutes. This fact is shown easily with elementary engineering principles and is not up for debate. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are wrong.
Equally true is that a barrel with flutes will be statically stiffer than another, non-fluted barrel of equal weight and length. Again, this is not up for debate. This is because material on the outer diameter contributes more to stiffness than material near the center. A fluted barrel will necessarily have a larger outer diameter than a non-fluted barrel of the same weight.
By all accounts, fluting a barrel has little effect accuracy, either positive or negative. If done properly by a skilled gunsmith, fluting may lighten your rifle a bit, and it may have a subtle impact on the rifle's accuracy, possibly a positive one. Done poorly, fluting can wreak havoc on the sensitive tolerances of a modern match-grade barrel.
Pinecone, your understanding comports with mine with one minor exception. Some companies are doing some exceptionally stupid fluting that gives you the worst of both worlds... The weight of an HBar, and the stiffness of a non HBar.
Consider this barrel:
View attachment 127649
Thus my use of the word "usually" in my post above.
I am going with the thought process that the fluted barrel is stiffer given the two are of same diameter. Lighter and stiffer. Think I-Beam.
Not sure I understand what you are saying... What do you mean by proportions?
Let me explain it a different way in the hopes of clearing up any confusion:
1-For a barrel of a given diameter and length, non fluted is stiffer than fluted, but non fluted will weigh more.
2-For a barrel of a given weight and length, fluted will usually be stiffer, but the fluted barrel will have a greater diameter.
At least that is what I have heard and read.
An I beam is not stiffer than a solid beam of steel having the same external dimensions.
While I understand the theories of fluting - lighter/more surface area for cooling/etc. - how much weight is being saved ? Just do a few more pushups.
They do look cool, though.
An I beam is not stiffer than a solid beam of steel having the same external dimensions.
After reading all this HBAR fluted stuff, I'm glad my HBAR junk isn't fluted...........I deleted the rest of the post......
Pinecone, your understanding comports with mine with one minor exception. Some companies are doing some exceptionally stupid fluting that gives you the worst of both worlds... The weight of an HBar, and the stiffness of a non HBar.
Thus my use of the word "usually" in my post above.
Done poorly, fluting can wreak havoc on the sensitive tolerances of a modern match-grade barrel.
I am going with the thought process that the fluted barrel is stiffer given the two are of same diameter. Lighter and stiffer. Think I-Beam.
Fluting just adds cost more than anything else. From what I've heard, it's purely cosmetic.