Cutting Fluted 243 Barrel?

[satchamo]

I have a 1:8 twist 243 roughtech that i initially was going to just rebarrel to 6 cm to take advantage of the factory loaded heavies AND go shorter than the 23ish in barrel on it now. As of now - I've been having to order straight from Copper Creek or Unknown to shoot the 103 ELDX (will be switching to M's) and it's getting pricey.

BUT I have equipment to reload, I just hadn't had time but I'm giving more thought to reloading the 243 myself and sticking with what I have so my question is can fluted barrels like the roughtech barrels be cut down? Or will it look just ridiculous? The goal would be to cut to 18ish so I can run my DD enticer on the front.

I guess my next question is how does 243 run on shorter barrels like that vs the 6 cm? Is it the same velocity loss or? I wasn't sure if they both used the same powders.

 

[KyleR1985]

Barrel OD at point you want to cut - depth of flutes X2 = OD that can be threaded/shouldered.

For 1/2 threads, you’d need an “inside the flutes” OD of 1/2”, plus whatever shoulder you’d want.

Example:

OD at cut point .75”

Flutes .1” deep X2 = .2”

Inside flutes OD of .55”

Solid shoulder left - .025”

You’d also have thicker shoulder where the non fluted material is left. From a support standpoint it will do what you want. It just won’t seal.

Not sure what the minimum shoulder needed for suppressor or adapter seating is, but you can get there with the above.

 

[Mountainrancher]

It should be fine plenty of smiths can cut back a barrel and thread in the flutes. Here’s my superlite barrel cut into flutes with an adapter done by black canyon customs. Kampfield and unknown will also do it.


As far as velocity loss the consensus seems to be around 30fps no matter the cartridge.

 

[Bowfinn]

I have a rough tech barrel that is cut to 18 inches and threaded to 5/8 without an adapter. Best photo I have right now.