.50 Caliber barrel length, diameter and fluting data

Our standard length for .50 caliber barrels is 30" but they can be made in lengths up to 45". The majority of these barrels are made 30" - 36".

The .50 caliber barrels are usually made from 1.750" diameter chrome-moly or stainless steel. And for even bigger diameters we have 2.062" diameter stainless steel and 2.25" diameter chrome-moly steel on hand.

We also flute a lot of .50 caliber barrels. A fluted Sporter contour barrel 30" long is a popular option for a 32# weight class rifle. And almost all of the .50 caliber barrels that we make for Special Forces are fluted. With .50 caliber barrels we flute both chrome-moly and stainless steel barrels with a 5/16" wide cutter and machine six flutes into the barrel. The flutes are stopped 1.5" from the designated finish length unless specified otherwise. The maximum overall length for a fluted .50 caliber barrel is 34".

There are two advantages to using a fluted barrel. Improved accuracy is one advantage because of increased barrel stiffness. If we compare a fluted barrel to one that is not fluted, both weighing the same, the fluted barrel is stiffer. This is because the fluted barrel will be of a larger diameter than the unfluted barrel of the same weight and length. Increasing the diameter of a barrel greatly increases its rigidity. Fluting may also allow for a longer barrel, if weight is a consideration. Another advantage to fluting is the increased cooling rate of the barrel because of the greater amount of surface area exposed to the air. Please look at our FAQ section on fluting too.