accuracy????heavy or sporter barrel

Depends on it's intended use. For maximum accuracy use a target contour. IF you plan on carrying this rifle...you might think about something between the two. Also many barrel makers offer a wide varity of barrel contours and if you can't find what your looking for, all will sell an unturned blank and then turn/have it turned to whatever you like. I wouldn't recommend buying a target barrel and then have it fluted for weight savings. There's a lot of debate on fluting at the moment...Some will and others WILL NOT. According to Shilen, fluting will not increase cooling and it has an adverse side effect on accuracy. They say it messes up the harmonics in the barrel. I tend to believe them. I've never had a fluted barrel that would shoot to my satisfaction.

Gari....just my .02....hope I don't step on anyone's toes
 
Fluting does help cool the barrel down because it gives more surface area for air to reach and it also makes the barrels lighter. I don't know about the harmonics though. I personally like the heavy barrels because of the look and I don't mind carrying the extra 1-2 pounds plus I've heard that it should help increase the life of your barrel.
 
Short, wimpy barrels are useless when it comes to accuracy.....
Take for example, my Remington Model Seven in .223.....
Simply can't shoot a decent group with it!

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The guy that built my .300 mag for me hand-cuts all his own barrels.

Back in 1998 when I ordered my rifle, he would NOT flute the barrel. He said that the extra-machining done when you flute the barrel stresses the steel in places, and it does impact accuracy. If you want the most accurate gun you can get, do not flute the barrel. Heavier barrels help, but the two the single-most important factors for accuracy are having a good, smooth straight barrel to start with, and making sure the barrel has a good crown on the end.

I wouldn't flute the barrel, for cooling, get a heavier bull barrel and don't flute it.
 
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With about 35 rebarrel rifles I have pretty much at least one of each. Difference between a heavy and sporter barrel is the amount of rounds you can fire before barrel heats up. I don't know about buying a factory rifle but I had a 22-250AI built as a light walk around rifle for the high country rock chucks here in Colorado used a #2 shilen shoot great gets about 3 round before it starts to wander my other 22-250AI has a Shilen heavy varmit contour shoot great I can get about more rds off. Let see I've got a tight neck fluted barrels in 22br,6br,6ppc,6.5x284 then a standard neck 30-338,221fireball,6mmremAI I also own most of these calibers in non fluted barrel also and if you get a good chamber job shouldn't be any difference. I'm about ready to order one of those skip fluted barrels from Hart also looked at some sprial fluted ones. I know some barrel makers don't like fluting for various reason others like it so who is right?
Sometime depending on caliber a sporter barrel rifle takes longer to develope loads for cooling the barrel down between shots is the problem. If your looking at a varmit rifle I'd get a heavy barreled rifle I can hold them on target/varmits better. Just my .02
 
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