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Barrel twist question

bobcat93

What is the difference between 4 groove - 6groove
Rachet barrel rifling..or what ever it is.
Ive been meaning to ask here on the forum.
I know the obvious differences, but what makes a man choose more grooves over less or vise-versa or choose what's it called rachet rifling and a few others.
Is it an easy explanation?
Thank you for and reply in advance. .
 
Shooters choose a certain style of rifling because of good marketing.

Somebody will get a great blank in what ever, win some Matches, then suddenly everybody has to have it.

Truth is, that piece of steel would have probably produced a winner whether it was 3 Groove, 4 Groove, 6Groove, 5R, Poly Groove, Ratchet, or what ever.

To answer, ratchet rifling is when the lands are angled more steep on non engraving side instead of being square or some other equal side form. Like a Ratchet.
 
jackieschmidt said:
Shooters choose a certain style of rifling because of good marketing.

Somebody will get a great blank in what ever, win some Matches, then suddenly everybody has to have it.

Truth is, that piece of steel would have probably produced a winner whether it was 3 Groove, 4 Groove, 6Groove, 5R, Poly Groove, Ratchet, or what ever.

To answer, ratchet rifling is when the lands are angled more steep on non engraving side instead of being square or some other equal side form. Like a Ratchet.
Click to expand...
I myself wonder the same thing about the ratchet rifling. I’d like a hummer barrel just once. I have to pay to play, there are no free lunches around
 
Hahaha..if i call Kreiger and ask i wounder if they would say (oh its what ever..this or that ..so what do ya want) hahahaha..
There is probably an application when to choose a particular barrel rifling style.
I was floating around the internet a few days ago considering a new barrel for a 6.5 creedmore, #4 contour ,8twist. Then came up questions on what kind of rifling i wanted.
5r- or 6 or rachet .
I have ordered my share of barrels and always thought most of us use the 6 groove barrel ..done, ..ship it
Do i just stick with a 6groove for shooting 120's in the creedmore
Thanks
 
When the Ratchet first appeared, the concept was built around less rotational drag as the bullet found it’s way to the target. Cleaning, or the need to, was supposed to be easier and less prevalent.
In theory, the concept seems sound. In the real world, who really knows.

In Short Range Benchrest, where we shoot the most accurate Rifles on the Planet at any distance inside 300 yards, by far the most prevalent lands and grooves configuration is a plain old 4 Groove, probably with a .237 bore size. As of the last few years, the gain twist craze has caught on, but that has no affect on the actual shape or number of lands and grooves.

I have had two 5R barrels. One was reasonably competitive, the other just average.

But then, I have a whole pile of .237 4 Groove barrels that I would never shoot at a Region Championship Match. I also have several that I would shoot anywhere anytime.
 
If there was one do all/end all rifling style, we wouldn't have the choices. They all work. I chambered a group of rifle barrels in the same cartridge testing this for an ammunition company. Configurations tried: 4 groove, 4R, 5R, and 6. May have been a couple more or maybe it was different twists. It has been a few years. Three barrels each. They all shot about the same. So--- pick one and be happy.
 
Some have hypothesized that a ratchet rifle barrel may engrave the bullet jacket in a manner that may make a bullet less likely to come apart in midair. This has also been suggested about barrels with an odd number of grooves.
 
Twdmar said:
Some have hypothesized that a ratchet rifle barrel may engrave the bullet jacket in a manner that may make a bullet less likely to come apart in midair. This has also been suggested about barrels with an odd number of grooves.
Click to expand...
Don’t hold me to it but I believe Frank green of Bartlein barrels said that way down range 5r rifling had less of an effect on bullets than the others. It might have been bullet jacket and the b.c. of the bullet he seen issues with. It’s in one of his videos with Cortina
 
DLT said:
Don’t hold me to it but I believe Frank green of Bartlein barrels said that way down range 5r rifling had less of an effect on bullets than the others. It might have been bullet jacket and the b.c. of the bullet he seen issues with. It’s in one of his videos with Cortina
Click to expand...
He is probably not the only one. It makes sense to me but I can't say I am aware(but that doesn't mean much) of much real evidence beyond anecdotal, though that is probably due to minimal study.
 
The only time I really make a distinction is with Polygonal rifling, I will only choose it for cartridges I intend to shoot ONLY short, flat base bullets with thin jackets at high velocity. Ive had good luck with 10 twist poly rifles .204 diameter barrels not blowing up bullets.
 
Fast14

Who makes your poly .204 blanks ? What .204 cartridge do you shoot, what fps ?
The poly rifling doesn’t do well with the .204 Boat Tail bullets ?

Hal
 
Fast14riot said:
The only time I really make a distinction is with Polygonal rifling, I will only choose it for cartridges I intend to shoot ONLY short, flat base bullets with thin jackets at high velocity. Ive had good luck with 10 twist poly rifles .204 diameter barrels not blowing up bullets.
Click to expand...
Just a question. Didn’t PacNor use the Polygon Rifling?
 
I have a ratchet rifled Shilen 223 wylde barrel
Many 4 grove brux and 5r Bartleins

My most accurate barrel was a 4 grove but that’s hardly anything to base decision on.

Quality blank and quality chamber job, I just get whatever’s available and not worry about type or amount of grooves.
 
Hal said:
Fast14

Who makes your poly .204 blanks ? What .204 cartridge do you shoot, what fps ?
The poly rifling doesn’t do well with the .204 Boat Tail bullets ?

Hal
Click to expand...
I don't have any .20s anymore, but I used BHW barrels for my 20p. It wasn't that the boat tail didn't do well with poly rifling, but more that the flat base thin jacket bullets did well and held up.
 
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