True-Flite NZ · Barrel contours

Barrel contours,
drawn to scale.

Pick a profile, set your length and calibre, and see the barrel drawn in true proportion with its weight in 416R stainless. Compare two contours side by side before you build.

Open the contour explorer ↓Weight table ↓Barrel Builder ↗
15 contours7 sporter · 8 target
True proportionLength and diameter on one scale
416R stainlessWeights at 7.75 g/cm³, bore removed
Same mathsAs the Barrel Builder

Contour explorer

See it. Weigh it. Compare it.

Sporter No. 3

Drawn to scale · true proportion

24″ · 610 mm
Estimated weight · 416R1.49 kg3.3 lb · unfluted blank
A · B Knox Ø × length
31.2 × 76.2 mm
SH Shoulder
63.5 mm
C Taper start Ø
20.8 mm
E Muzzle Ø
16.5 mm

The all-round hunting profile: carry weight and accuracy in balance.

What do A, B, C and E mean? See the template ↓
Contour
Sporter
Target
16″20″24″28″34″

Like this one? Build it with your calibre, twist, fluting and finish, and see the price.

Build this barrel ↗

Reading a contour

The contour template.

Every True-Flite contour is set by the same few dimensions. This is the contour you picked in the explorer, drawn to scale with each dimension marked. Change the contour or length and it redraws.

Drawn to scale: No. 3 at 24″. Length and diameter share one scale, fitted to the width of the page. On a phone the letters match the measurements listed below.
  1. AKnox diameterThe full diameter at the breech, where the barrel meets the action.
  2. BKnox lengthHow far the full diameter runs before the shoulder starts.
  3. SHShoulderThe smooth radius stepping down from the knox to the taper.
  4. CTaper start diameterThe diameter after the shoulder, where the long taper to the muzzle begins.
  5. EMuzzle diameterHeld constant, so the taper adjusts to your finished length.
  6. LFinished lengthBreech face to muzzle, as fitted. Blanks are supplied 1.5″ longer.

All profiles

The full range at a glance.

Each silhouette is drawn at 26″ on the same scale, with diameters exaggerated three times so you can see the shape. Tap one to load it into the explorer.

Weight by length

Every contour, every length.

Calculated weights in kg for an unfluted 416R blank, .30 bore. Change the calibre or switch metric / imperial in the explorer and the table follows.

Contour18″457 mm20″508 mm22″559 mm24″610 mm26″660 mm28″711 mm30″762 mm32″813 mm34″864 mm
0.951.011.081.141.201.261.321.391.45
1.041.111.181.261.331.411.481.551.63
1.171.251.331.411.491.571.651.731.81
1.231.321.401.491.581.671.761.851.94
1.361.461.571.671.781.881.982.092.19
1.471.591.711.831.952.072.192.312.43
1.771.922.082.242.392.552.702.863.01
1.641.771.902.032.162.292.422.552.68
1.661.791.932.062.192.332.462.602.73
1.872.032.182.342.502.662.812.973.13
2.052.232.422.602.782.963.143.323.50
2.042.242.442.642.843.043.243.443.64
2.202.452.672.893.113.333.543.763.98

Benchrest and 50 calibre are made to suit, so no weight is shown. Fluting and Aerocell take further weight off. Carbon-wrapped barrels weigh about 1.03 kg at 16″ to 1.52 kg at 30″.

Contour questions

Choosing a profile.

Which barrel contour is best for a hunting rifle?

For most NZ hunting rifles a No. 2 or No. 3 is the sweet spot between carry weight and accuracy. Go lighter (Lightweight or No. 1) for mountain rifles, or heavier (No. 4 or No. 5) for magnums, suppressors and long-range hunting.

How accurate are these barrel weights?

They are calculated, not weighed: each contour is integrated along its length for 416R stainless at 7.75 g/cm³, with the bore removed for your calibre. Chambering, threading and fluting take more off, so a finished barrel is usually a little lighter.

Does the contour change with barrel length?

Yes. The knox and muzzle diameters stay the same and the taper stretches or shortens to suit your finished length, so a shorter barrel is slightly fuller along its length.

Can you make a custom contour?

Yes. In the Barrel Builder you can set your own knox diameter and length, shoulder, taper start and muzzle diameter and see it drawn and weighed before you order.

How much does a carbon-wrapped barrel weigh?

Our standard carbon-wrapped barrel is about 1.03 kg at 16″ up to 1.52 kg at 30″ as a wrapped blank, lighter than any steel sporter of the same length.

Next step

Found your profile?

Build it in the Barrel Builder, or tell us about your rifle and we will recommend a contour.

Barrel Builder ↗Rifle Builder ↗Ask us ↗