3 Groove Barrels

[KMart]

I'm new here but have been reading the site for a while. A lot of good info here.
I would like everyone's opinion, good, bad, indifferent on 3 groove barrels. I am considering one in 6mm for a future rifle.

Thanks
Ken

 

[Forum Boss]

I have a Pac-Nor Supermatch 3-groove stainless barrel chambered in 6mmbr. Rounds 15-19 through the barrel went into 0.17", and the barrel has remained really accurate for over 700 rounds. I think the 3-grooves may, on average, be a little faster than most 4-6 groove barrels. That's certainly the case for the .50 cal shooters... they strongly favor 3-grooves. My PacNor cleans up really easier -- in nearly 800 rounds I have never had to put a brush in the barrel.

I am NOT saying a PacNor 3-groove is better than somebody else's 4gr, 5gr or 6gr. Just saying that, when made right, a 3-groove bbl can run with anything.

 

[pauls]

Same as the ForumBoss, I use Pac Nor 3 grooves and have been very pleased. Long barrel life, easy to clean, and best of all, all of the barrels seem to be "fast". Good velocities out of regular loads. Also, very good accuracy.

I'm a convinced convert.

 

[kjcpoint]

Lilja offers an excellent 3 groove. Clean easy and shoot great. Lilja is great to work with as well.

thanks
Kyle

 

[benjamin199]

I have had very good luck with a lilja 3 grove in 6mmBR, helped me win 2 mid range F-class state championships.

 

[Flybuster]

After owning a 3-groove for 4 years on a 25-06 Improved, I really do believe in the longer barrel life that 3 grooves provide. I cant tell you exactly how many rounds are down the tube, but its over a couple of thousand, and slightly abused.

The gun still groups excellent. Berger 95 flatbase are still giving me literally .25" 3-shot groups and I have pictures to prove it,if need be! Finding a load like that took a while, it is kind of picky on which bullets it likes. But I have a few good loads.

It is a Lilja by the way, 26" 1-10" twist. I bet it looks scary under a borescope by now.

 

[people]

I have a 1:10, three groove tube. So far I am very happy with it after the first 4 shots I cleaned at the 20 rd mark with so little copper in it I was concerned. I scoped it and I did not see any. Now I am at 40 shots on this cleaning shooting a full charge of H1000 and SMK bulets. So far this rifle shoots very well.

 

[jerrschmitt]

I have a 3 groove Lilja in 6BR 8 twist and it works great. I also have a 12 groove 6 BR 14 twist that works great. The more I learn, the less I know.

 

[blawton]

Yes they do offer a longer barrel life and seem to always get great velocities. They have some great advantages. The only dis-advantage i have ever seen them have is in over bore cases shooting really heavy bullets and fast twist they do blow up bullets. But when put together with the right combination a 3 groove barrel has capability to out shoot any other setup out there.

 

[chino1969]

I also have a Pac-Nor 3 groove barrel in .308. It cleans very easily. I can't say it's more accurate than 4 or 5 groove but it shoots right with them.

Lou Baccino

 

[blawton]

I forgot to say there is another plus to these barrels that i have noticed. The ones i have used and built for others have liked a wider selection of bullets and powder combos then anything else i have ever used. They are very forgiving.

 

[KMart]

Thank everyone for their reply. It looks like the 3 groove might be the cats meeow
for what I have in mind. I am strongly considering a 6 XC or the 6 SLC

Ken

 

[Mikem]

My last two barrels, 22BR and 6BR are both Pac-Nor 3 groove SS super match, and there great. Maybe there no better than any other premium quality 3 gr barrel, but my 3 gr give great accuracy, easy clean. And Pac-Nor is a good Co to do business with, and priced right, whats not to like.
You wouldn't be dissapointed with a 3 groove.

 

[blawton]

Benchmark barrels is another good place to go for good quality 3 groove barrels at a reasonable price.

 

[OldDoug]

I have 2, 3-grove Pac-Nor ss super match barrels. One on my 40X 22-250 (26" w/1x12)and the second on a trued 700 Rem SA in 6mm Rem (26" w/1x10). HS Precision stocks and 8.5x25 Leup Target W/Varmint recticle.

Both have Vias Muzzle breaks. I have shot these barrels on three prairie dog trips. Accuracy is amazing. Cleaning is a breeze.

1200+ through the 22-250 and 800+ through the 6mm Rem. The lead/throats show marginal wear with the Hawkeye borescope and the OAL using the Hornady bore length gage has chanced less than a couple of thousanths. After three seasons neither needs to be set back.

I shot an under 1/2" group at 100yds with the 6mm Rem last week. Loading 40+ IMR 4064 with the 87gr Hornady V-Max. Chronograph at 3320 fps, so this is a hot load but shows no pressure sign on primers or cases. Necks are trued to .014, flash holes trued and PP trued.

I cannot imagine a better barrel than my two 3 groves. I had a 5 grove 22-250 ss match barrel installed by PacNor on the 40X action in 2005. It is a great barrel and we set it back and put it on a 722 action after two seasons. It eroded faster the first year shooting than the 3grove 22-250 has in three seasons.

Hope this is of help. Old Doug in GA

 

[butchlambert]

My 3 groove barrel is so good I don't have to aim or clean. It will be the last barrel that I buy because it won't wear out. I have never lost a match with it!
CHECK OUT THE REAL MATCH RESULTS AND SEE HOW MANY ARE 3GROOVES>
Butch

 

[johara1]

Butch,
That says it all............jim

 

[Flybuster]

I get the barrelman's point from his bit of satire aimed towards 3-groove barrels and their fans. Does he believe they are inferior or they just do not live up to the wild claims?

Sam Hall has been on top and successful with the 3 groove match barrels. Or does that not mean anything because its only one shooter?

They clearly must not work if most benchrest shooters aren't using them currently. I dunno I like mine for precision hunting rifles, I guess I am not following the benchrest trends well enough.

 

[blawton]

Yes benchrest shooters do try many different things in their quest for that hummer barrel but butch you make very little headway towards any solid point on explaining if they are a good barrel or not. Just because the very trendy benchresters are not putting a new on on every season does not mean that they are not worth trying and dont work well. I have put one on one of my 16 pound guns and it has come very very close to breaking every world record out their. You should now that those hummer barrels come in all sizes it just depends if who ever is lucky enough to get it. If i recall correctly alot of new records have been set with 4 grooves. That fairly close to a 3 groove if you ask me.

 

[butchlambert]

What I am saying is, the amount of lands and grooves have no bearing on the Quality of a barrel, barrel life, or how it shoots. When you get a good one or a hummer it can come in many forms. That the vast majority of World Records-long and short range- were shot with 4 groove barrels. They just happened to be 4 groove barrels made by great barrel companies. I have no doubt that had they been 3 or 6 grooves, they would have still set the records.
I hope you understand where I'm coming from.
Butch