1911 9mm Barrel Fluting Question

Does anyone know if fluting a 9mm 1911 match barrel can affect its accuracy?

I'm considering having this done to lighten the pistols weight.

Thanks in advance.

Reduction in weight will be so slight as to be inconsequential. 1911 barrel is thin anyway and don't believe any reputable machinist/gunsmith will do it.

Are you shooting with irons or optics? I’ve lightened slides under the optic rail to shed some weight. Cuts are hidden.
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:Are you shooting with irons or optics? I’ve lightened slides under the optic rail to shed some weight. Cuts are hidden.
Jon

The 1911 will be a longslide with iron sights. Thanks for your input. The pistolsmith building it says he can flute the barrel. I'll probably have this done. I just wasn't sure if fluting can affect accuracy. My desire is to lighten the weight of the pistol without having it "look" lightened.

Not to be an ass, but why would you go with a heavier long slide if you knew weight could be an issue? You can have the slide internally lightened just like the old National Match 1911’s. I would go this route before fluting a barrel. 
Jon

I have a CLARK LONG HEAVY SLIDE gun and don’t find the weight excessive at all. It handles, balances, and shoots very well.
Kurt

Jon Eulette wrote:Not to be an ass, but why would you go with a heavier long slide if you knew weight could be an issue? You can have the slide internally lightened just like the old National Match 1911’s. I would go this route before fluting a barrel. 
Jon

No offense taken on your question. I just like the looks of a longslide.  I've owned a 9mm version before with a 2 piece guide rod, but I thought it was just a little heavy for me. For this next 9mm build, I wanted to explore what could be done to lighten it while still retaining the traditional"look".  Unfortunately, the pistolsmith building it doesn't offer the National Match internal slide lightening you just mentioned. He can flute the barrel though.

As a side note, in the distant past, I once owned 45acp longslide that had a full length 2 piece guide rod and it's weight was to my liking.  For this 9mm version, I figure if the barrel were fluted and I forgo a full length guide rod, I should be ok.

Jon, just wanted to mention I've always enjoyed reading your posts over the years. They've been very insightful. In fact I was hoping you would reply to this one.

Thank you

The builder can flute a 1911 barrel, but he cant do national match lightning??? Sounds strange to me... I use a ball end mill and simply plunge in and go back and forth... pretty simple...

Heavy slide with a light barrel sounds like the worst of both worlds to me.
I'd also be concerned if the smith is claiming he's going to reduce weight a noticeable amount by fluting a standard bushing barrel (different story on a bull barrel).

But, to each their own.

Just for fun. I whipped up a simple model of a fluted 1911 barrel. The flutes themselves actually. Using a .125 ball end mill, .05 deep for a .06 wall (based on a 45 barrel I have), and a flute length (3.4") for a 1" longer barrel, i get a weight reduction of .53 oz for 8 flutes.