Author Topic: Barrel Flutting/Weight reduction (Read 479 times)

tbmaker · « **on:** November 18, 2005, 11:29:54 AM »

For the sake of strictly reducing some weight off of a sportered Swede 96, plus it looks cool.
How many ounces could be trimmed off the barrel reasonably?

I don't mind the weight and the rifle shoot's excellent but my sons are hitting deer hunting age and I don't want to burden them with weight without reason.
The first year the oldest will carry a little 257 Rob. 20" barrel, sportered turk mauser. The following year the younger one comes up and he will get the 257 and the older will move up to the 6.5.

It also wears a Boyd's JRS Laminate stock, go synthetic??

Thanks,
Wayne

cntryboy1289 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2005, 08:59:33 PM »

YOu might lose somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 ounces. I might suggest that removing a couple of inches of the barrel will drop more weight for you. You didn't specify what contour the barrel had now, but with a 6.5, you could take it down to 20 inches without a problem. Good luck with the decision, but fluting doesn't appreciably lower the weight of a gun. The most weight savings I have seen is around 12 ounces.

The synthetic stock combined with a shorter barrel would be the way I would go.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2005, 09:11:09 AM »

You can also loose a lot of weight by lightening cuts in the stock. The forearm and butt stock can both loose a lot of weight safely. Fluting a sporter weight barrel such as the '96's may not gain much. Shortening it would likely gain more. I's cut it back to 22" or so.. and remove the steps... carefully!!

Idaho_Hick · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2005, 07:16:21 AM »

You say the rifle shoots well now, so I personally would be very leery of doing anything with the barrel. There is a lot of voodoo magic attributed to the steps on those mauser barrels.

I have said this before, and no offense intended, but I think making a rifle light and short barreled for a beginning shooter is a mistake. The heavier a rifle the less it recoils, and the longer the barrel, the less muzzle blast experienced. These factors help both the young and old shoot better.

My first hunting rifle was an '03 springfield and I would have sooner complained about my grandmas cooking than about my new rifle. Have your boys actually complained about the swedes weight? Also, depending upon the degree of sporterization, the swede as it is might be easier for your boys to shoot now than the short Turk. Just a few thoughts.

tbmaker · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2005, 11:46:28 AM »

The only rifle they have shot so far is the 257. They enjoy that.
Haven't had them try the swede yet.
Thanks for the replies, leaning towards just leaving as is with the military barrel.

Keith L · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2005, 12:57:22 PM »

I can think of few more important life lessons than how to appreciate, use, and care for a fine firearm. Good for you giving such a lesson to your kids.

tbmaker · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2005, 11:50:24 AM »

gunnut,
Where would I make the cuts in the laminate stock to reduce the weight?