Originally Posted by
Lefty223
I think good/bad is a poor choice of words, so I'd suggest pros/cons or advantages/disadvantages and maybe even cost/benefit analyses.
GIVEN - A hollow cylinder is stronger than a solid cylinder of equal mass and the same material. And that most of the 'strength' of a cylindrical shape comes from the outer dimensional portions, i.e., cube of the radial IIRC.
GET - Take a solid cylindrical rod and drill out 1/2 the volume from the center ... you do not lose 1/2 the strength. The strength to weight ratio is better for a hollow pipe than a solid rod.
ASSUMPTIONS - I assume the logic (fluted vs unfluted barrels) somewhat follows these same engineering principles. (It is the mass component that confuses me.)
So maybe for a true comparison you'd have to compare barrels of the same length and weight, where the diameter of the fluted barrel and the #, length and depth of the flutes fit that weight/length parameters.
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