Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Flutes barrel decisionw

I'm going to build a .257 ai I have a mod 700 long action that was a 30-06 I have a Alaskan 2 stock I'm going to have the action trued and squared up and I want to go with a #4 contour 24 in but I don't think shillen makes a flutes barrel so my question is what company makes the best fluted barrel or should I get the shillen and have it fluted and by who I want to cerakote the action and bead blast the barrel who from experience has any answers to my problem I'm very excited about this build but don't want any regrets

Expect to get a bunch of advice, some of which you may not want to hear.

Well I'm not changing anything except maybe not fluting in my opinion shillen it top of the mark for barrel quality so if it doesn't get fluted no biggie I just think it looks good my sako finnlight are the best looking rifles I own in my opinion

I have two fluted Benchmark barrels (fluted at the factory) and those two are my most accurate rifles. I am not saying the flutes made them accurate, just that with these two specimens, it didn't hurt the accuracy. One is a #5 and the other is a #14 (heavy palma).

I would not hesitate to go with another fluted Benchmark. YMMV.

Skip the flutes and go with a #2 or max #3 contour. Better yet on a long action build a 25-06/25-06ai if it must be 25 caliber.

And it begins ...

Twistedbarrel.com flutes with all manner of designs. I saw one the other day. It was spectacular. When my new barrel gets here it will not pass go or collect two hunderd dollars. It will go to Twisted Barrel. Then it will get a salt bath nitride treatment.

Just get a Tikka...







... kidding.

So you're against other barrel makers and the use of periods. Good luck sounds like you have already made your mind up.

I'm. Not saying that I'm saying that I think shillen is the standard what I am not going to change is it being a .257ai and the #4 contour it is a long action so I can run the a bombs out I wanted a heavy barrel and the 257 is fun to shoot off the bench and will be a great doe patrol rifle I just wanted to know if there is a fluted barrel that compares to a shillen I enjoy the vast knowledge of some of the guys on the fire because we r hunters and rifle nuts thanks to all for the advice

If you are set on the .25cal, I'd skip flutes and go #3 contour. A 24" #3 in .25cal is mag-sporter weight or better and will still have some degree of good balance. Most certainly go 1-9" twist, as there's no reason not to. Bullets are getting longer, not shorter.

Were it mine, and I know it's not, I'd just skip the .257AI and go 25-06, as the LA 700 mag box has plenty of room to run out the long bullets (even in 280 or 30-06). There's more than enough room to run out to the land in a 25-06 with whatever bullet you pick. Powder capacity is not that much different, but feeding will be better, factory loads are available if needed, and possible re-sale value is better. I doubt a guy could tell by pulling the trigger if he was shooting a 25-06 vs a 257AI. A nice 24" 1-9 #3 sporter in 25-06 seems like a more practical and flexible route than a 24" 1-10 #4 sporter in 257AI. Just my 2 cents there......

Hey since you live in Fl you should contact Mark Isom he is a good gunsmith in that area.

Lilja makes a #4 fluted in stainless.

I believe that Karl told me that he does the fluting for Benchmark.

I think giving up the fluting is the way to go since you want a Shilen barrel. On a #4 it's not far from a cosmetic feature anyway.

Best of luck with it.

The reason I want 257ai is because my wife and son(when he gets older) will be able to handle the recoil especially from fire forming loads the rifle is really going to be a bench/shooting house rifle so that's were I'm at on the reason for my decision I really think fluting looks good but it's not a deal breaker does anyone prefer a certain barrel over a shillen

If you are asking who the secret voodoo witch barrel makers are, only a select few know. And they don't post on the interwebs.

For the rest of us, all the aftermarket barrel makers make some really good barrels, and now and then a bad barrel gets through the line.

But since you want a name, I would get a Bartlein 2B, a Lilja 3, a Pac Nor 2, a Hart 3, with maybe a Benchmark or Broughton thrown in for good measure.

From Shilen's website:
"Fluting is a service we neither offer nor recommend. If you have a Shilen barrel fluted, the warranty is void."

Shilen makes good barrels but there are plenty of makers that are just as good or better. Right now my preferred maker is Bartlein. Bartlein's contours are a little differently numbered than Shilen's and a Bartlein #3 contour is roughly the same as Shilen's #4. Bartlein will flute the barrel from the factory and you'll still have the warranty, something to consider.

Personally I'd step down a contour and skip the fluting, it's mostly cosmetic & I don't care about that, but if you want fluted I'd prefer a Bartlein fluted from the factory with a warranty.

I did a flutted bartlein 2b on my 6 creed and love it. Would also scratch the long action build all together if it's for a low recoil family rifle. Not saying it would suck or wouldn't work but why in the world long action 257AI for bench shooting young children wife fun gun? Not being a smart azz either. What your wanting screams 223 223AI 22-204 204 or something like that. I understand not all people like the same custom rifles. I just wonder if you've built enough of them to know what you like and don't like yet? I've tore as many apart as I've had put together it seems. Asking advice on the internet helps a bunch it's nothing like getting out shooting different guns and finding out for yourself what you like.

I really like 25 cals too. Built my wife a 250AI back when they worked well. She loves it.

I'd get Karl to flute it after it's been fitted for proper timing.

I have a spare Brux #4 .257/10 if you need a bbl fast.