.223 Ultra Varmint with Fluted or Standard

[Indrid Cold]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum if you hadn't noticed already. I'm planning to buy a Ultra Varmint in .223, but I don't know whether to get the standard model or the one with the fluted barrel and synthetic stock.

Accuracy is my primary concern. I seem to remember reading a post where someone had said that the fluted barrels were "a joke" but no details were given. Has anyone else heard anything that would suggest that the fluted barrels might be any worse than the standard heavy barrels?

Input from anyone who owns either model would be greaty appriciated. Thanks in advance!

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard!!  I don't know who said they were a joke, but I remember it being said. I don't think they are, they're pretty nice looking if you want my opinion, I have both, I'd get the bull barrel over the standard barrel, and I'd get the 24" over the 22" bull, but whether you actuall need the fluted is just a personal choice. Here's my .22-250.

[stimpylu32]

I have an 04 22 inch bull barrel with the 1 in 12 twist that i just love , the other weekend i was having no problem hitting tennis balls at over 100 yards with Remington factory 50 grain ammo .

It likes my hand loads even better . From what i have seen and heard the fluted shoot even better , but have heard mixed reviews on the standard contour barrels .

The new 1 in 9 twist will shoot the 60 and 70 grain bullets that the 1 in 12 don't like very much .

I personly like the bull , but the fluted looks cool , so either will work well .

[myarmor]

...I don't know whether to get the standard model or the one with the fluted barrel and synthetic stock.

Accuracy is my primary concern..... Thanks in advance!

All models can be good shooters, Standard or Bull Barrel.
But with your question and concern, I would go ahead and get the Fluted Bull. The 24" Bull Barrel Ultras are awesome. And even if the flutes are a bit shallow, they still will help cool off that barrel faster than none IMHO.
Welcome to the Forum :toast:
-Aaron

[Indrid Cold]

Thanks for the info so far. I decided to go with the fluted since no one seems to have heard anything negative about them. However I may have to go with the standard bull anyway, since now I can't find a fluted ultra anywhere!

Wal-Mart has it listed on their site, but when I went to the store to order one I was told their supplier didn't have any in stock and couldn't say when they would.

I called every other gun store in my area and none of them had a fluted ultra in .223 or any other calibler. In fact H&R doesn't even have it on their site anymore, so maybe it's been discontined.  :cry:

[quickdtoo]

Hopefully it's just an oversight, they've had a bunch of errors on their web site. I sent H&R an email asking about it. :?

Davidson's has 4 of em in stock.

Tim

.223 Ultra Varmint

[knight0334]

I have a 24" Ultra Bull that I'm very pleased with.  I only have about 30 rounds through it so far, my last group being about 5/8" at 100yrds.  I'm still in the breakin period too for probably another 50-100rds.

I've never been much of a fan of small calibers, with exception to my .225 Winny.   ..But my .223 Rem really impressed me.

[quickdtoo]

In fact H&R doesn't even have it on their site anymore, so maybe it's been discontined.  :cry:

This is the reply from CS...

We are told that it is still under construction they should be on it in the near future.

[Fred M]

Eh guys, I am the one that said the fluted 223 is a joke.
I a have not changed my mind yet.

The flutes are so shallow to have any beneficial effect on cooling or accurracy. The flutes only decrease the barrel sectional stiffness. It is a sales gimmick to give the barrel a superior look, and that is the only thing the flutes have going for them, looks. If you like looks it should be reserved for women.

The 24" bull barrel in  is the way to go, and in no way are you assured they will perform to varmint standard accuracy. The two I had did not.

Try to get a stainless 24" bull barrel with them you have a better chance for accuracy.

[Indrid Cold]

The flutes are too shallow to have any beneficial effect on cooling or accurracy. The flutes only decrease the barrel sectional stiffness. It is a sales gimmick to give the barrel a superior look, and that is the only thing the flutes have going for them, looks. If you like looks it should be reserved for women.

I'm not concerned with how the flutes looks or whether or not they aid cooling. I would prefer to have the Choate stock that comes on the fluted though. The fluted ultra also weighs slightly less, which matters to me since this will be a carry gun also.

That being said, accuracy is the most important consideration to me. If a lot of people had said that the fluted ultra seemed to be less accurate than the ultra with the standard bull then I would go with the standard. So far everyone I've heard from (here and elsewhere) that's owned or fired the fluted has said accuracy is equal or better than the standard bull.

The bottom line is I'm willling to pay the extra $40 for the fluted (mostly for the stock) if it can expected to perform at least as well as the non-fluted ultra.

The 24" bull barrel is the way to go, and in no way are you assured they will perform to varmint standard accuracy. The two I had did not.

By varmint standard accuracy I'm assuming you mean MOA or better. What kind of accuracy did you get with your ultra varmints, with what ammo and in what caliber?

[poncaguy]

I have a Fluted 204 and 223, and a bull barrel 22-250. All are very accurate, see no difference in accuracy...........poncaguy

[Ditchdigger]

Ingrid cold,Fred and I both consider a serious varmit gun to shoot 1/4" or less at 100 yds. A very good handi will avg. 1/2" sometimes with good handloads. Its pretty rare for one to shoot better than 1/2" at 100 yds. If 1/2" will work for you,I'd get the 24" bull with out the flutes.  Digger

[Indrid Cold]

I realize a handi probably isn't going to shoot as well as a "serious" bolt-action varmint gun, but the fact that a handi costs less than half as much balances it out for me.

If the ultra I get shoots MOA with at least one factory load I'll be happy. I don't handload now, but I'm planning on getting started in it soon. If I could ever get 1/2 MOA with a handi I'd be a very happy camper indeed, but that's a bit beyond my expectations, even with handloads.

[Fred M]

Digger
You just about got it right. My custom Handi 257 Roberts deer rifle shoots just a tad under a 1/2" and the Handi 6x47is a good 3/8 gun and that is with a fine cut rifled barrel and not just with one or two fluke groups.

I am not knocking the Handi I amjust calling the shots as they are. Because of the barrel making process by H&R the Stainless barrels have an advantage.

You know what they say. " You can take a horse to the water but you can't make him drink.

If both the fluted and the bull barrel shoot with the same accuracy, I then say neither qualifies as a varminter. But then there are big varmints like the tusker hogs. :lol:

[bdestafeno]

I just brought a .223, flutted with the Choate stock.  I like the stock very mutch, easy to shoot off the bench and prone as well.  No its not a 1/4 inch rifle but it shoots ballistic tips with my favorite load into a honest 3/4" 3 shot groups..It is much better than the .308 that I have also.   I did JB the barrel and polish the chamber.  With only 50 or so rounds it is off to a good start.  I like it.

Lefty

[Victor3]

I've always thought that the fluting of any bbl is probably kind of useless if you're looking for added cooling. Yeah, it will cool down faster due to added surface area, but guess what - The removal of the material also makes the bbl heat up faster. :cry:

[jmckinley]

I have the 223 Fluted and this weekend using Ultramax 55 NBT I had a 5 shot group at 100 into less that 3/8 of an inch. I can't shoot any better than that. I love the fluted so much I see a Fluted 243 in my future.

                   Jess