Lothar Walther Bi-Metal Barrels Are Lighter, and Shed Heat Better
Less weight plus better heat dissipation — Sound good? Here is an innovative barrel technology that promises worthwhile performance benefits for hunters or match shooters. Lothar Walther (LW) has developed a new bi-metal barrel system that cuts weight dramatically while promising significantly-enhanced heat dissipation.
Walther’s Ultra-Lightweight Barrels combine steel with lightweight alloys. This results in a significant weight reduction without the use of carbon fiber, epoxy binders, or other heat-retaining materials. Beginning as an LW50 stainless blank, the barrel is precision-machined to remove excess weight. An outer casing of light-weight alloys is machined and the two are fitted together without adhesives. Basically you end up with the steel inner barrel inside a larger-diameter fluted aluminum outer barrel (see diagram). This gives you the ‘best of both worlds’ — light weight for ease of carry, and thick diameter for rigidity and enhanced heat dissipation. Near the action, the barrel remains all-steel.
The barrels come pre-chambered in your choice of caliber/cartridge, from .22LR up to .338 Lapua Magnum. Walther chambers the barrel — but a gunsmith is still required to finish the shoulder so that the headspace is set correctly for your action. These barrels are not inexpensive. A typical bi-metal Walther Barrel runs $850.00 – $875.00, for barrel lengths from 22″ to 30″. Threading for a muzzle brake or suppressor (if desired) is normally included in that price.
We haven’t tested one of these bi-metal composite barrels, but the potential for significant weight savings is obvious — aluminum is a lot lighter than steel. What’s more, a metals expert we contacted said that a bi-metal system employing fluted aluminum over steel, if assembled properly, could dissipate heat much better than steel alone (given the same diameter). Stainless steel has a thermal conductivity factor of 16. Aluminum has a thermal conductivity factor of 250.*
Our expert also pointed out that some other composite barrel systems on the market actually increase heat retention because they place insulating materials next to the inner steel barrel. (Carbon, Fiberglass, and Epoxy are all considered “insulating substances” as they have very low thermal conductivity*.) The LW system of aluminum over metal should avoid this mistake, our expert believes. Lothar Walther says: “Unlike solid steel barrels, this barrel sheds heat fast. VERY FAST!”
Half the Weight of Conventional Barrels
How much weight can you save? With a 1.200″ shank diameter and a muzzle diameter of 0.850″, the LW Ultra-Lightweight Barrel is less than half the weight of a standard varmint barrel of the same size. Walther claims its UltraLight Barrel can be “carried for long distances and stand up to heavy firing.” This, LW says, makes these barrels “perfect… for varmint and tactical uses”.
Pre-Chambered Ultra-Lightweight Barrels Available in .22 to .338 Calibers
Lothar Walther offers Ultra-Lightweight barrels in a full range of calibers from .22LR to .338. Each Ultra-Lightweight Barrel comes complete with chamber, crown, and breech threads. These barrels are fluted by the factory. If you order a LW Ultra-Lightweight barrel, Lothar Walter provides the services of a specialist trained in building guns with these barrels. To order one of Lothar Walther’s bi-metal barrels, CLICK HERE or contact Lothar Walthar at the address below:Lothar Walther Precision Tools, Inc.
3425 Hutchinson Rd. – Cumming, GA 30040
Phone: 770-889-9998 | Fax: 770-889-4919
E-Mail: lotharwalther [at] mindspring.com
Website: www.lothar-walther.com
*Thermal conductivity is the quantity of heat transmitted through a unit thickness in a direction normal to a surface of unit area, due to a unit temperature gradient under steady state conditions. The factor values are based on this formula: W/(m.K) = 0.85984 kcal/(hr.m. °C). Here are thermal conductivty values for common materials: Aluminum, 250; Brass, 109; Steel (Carbon 1%), 45; Stainless Steel, 16; Carbon, 1.7; Brick dense, 1.3; Concrete (medium) 0.7; Epoxy, 0.35; Fiberglass, .04.
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Tags: Aluminum, Bi-Metal, Composite Barrel, Fluted Barrel, Heat, Lothar Walther, Walther
I had a Tactical solutions 10-22 barrel that was like this. Really liked that barrel. This should be very nice. Aluminum is also stiffer than steel so it should have some effect on the rigidity of the barrel.
Now, if only they would make unchambered barrel blanks!
Does it curl around when it warms up like other bi-metals?
Somehow I can never see such a barrel being as accurate as a solid one. Perhaps super application for hunting/tactical, not so much precision.
Every time I read such things it makes me smile. The Lewis machinegun had such a barrel, but the intention was to create more surface for air cooling without to much weight. Connecting two materials with different heat expansion provides room for problems. If you want to connect two materials in a thermal effective way, there is one thing you can’t have enough – bearing pressure. And the biggest barrier still remains. For dissipating thermal energy away from the rifle barrel system, air is such a bad medium to do this… Ask engineers dealing with power electronics. Low voltage and high current cause a lot of heat. Especially designers for automotive electronics know about this.
Randolph ,its not like they are meant for machine guns so sheeding heat from couple rounds per minute is no big deal,this is just an alternative to carbon fiber wrapped barrels.
Matt D. that 10-22 bi-metal barrel you had was likely a lothar walther as they are the one making the blanks for many 10-22 aftermarket supplyers.
No aluminum is not nearly as stiff as steel but for given weight ,larger cross section of aluminum tube makes it stiffer that steel barrel of the same weight.
Mr.T, I doubt that this effort is necessary just for a couple of rounds per minute. Left aside the special purpose of .22lr barrels. Where heat is not a problem at all. Aluminum has about twice the thermal capacity per weight, but also just less than a third the density of steel. So comparing the same volume this combination is prone to have a higher temperature than solid steel. So the only advantage is to carry less weight. Where this kind of barrel has to compete with carbon fiber wrapped barrels.