John Boy.... Are rifle barrels fluted including the chamber or just the exterior of the bore ?
Dillon Buck,. I believe the metal bridging between cylinders does increase strength. Like the back strap on a revolver vs the open top of say a Navy 51.
It doesn't need to be a gunsmith to flute the cylinders. A good machinest with a mill and a ball end mill could do it..
Jmho......
