Opinions and experience on ratchet rifling...

[Judd]

I called to get a Shilen barrel and was asked about ratchet rifling or not. I am open to the idea but if the regular rifled barrel is more accurate or easier to tune a load for then I don't want it. He said the benchrest guys really liked the ratcheted rifling because it didn't foul as bad.

Thanks.

 

[Judd]

Thanks Donovan,

I haven't spoke to Shilen, it is a distributor. What I want is real experience not the folks trying to sell me a barrel. My smith hadn't had any experience with them or knew anyone that was shooting them. He said it sounded like a good idea and said I could try it. I don't want to waste the time or effort if they don't shoot as well as a regular barrel. As we all know, it is one thing to have a barrel that is hunting acceptable but completely different for a benchrest gun.

Again thanks...anyone tried or know someone who has tried one?

 

[BoydAllen]

I have one of the first ratchet rifled barrels, now well past its prime, that Doug Shilen was nice enough to give me, back when I used to to a lot of product writing for Shooters News magazine. It performed well for me, and was the smoothest feeling barrel, when I would run a patch through it, of the several brands that I have owned, all chambered for my Viper actioned 6PPC. In its prime, it seemed to be the most accurate of my barrels, but on any given day, they all were capable of good groups, as long as you remembered to treat them as individuals, and not try to use what you had found worked on one, on another. They required individual load workups, and in some cases "liked" different bullets, even though they were chambered with the same reamer. I should also mention that these were all button rifled barrels, my one cut barrel came along some time later. Today I am curious to try a Krieger or Bartlein for my next barrel. They seem to be doing very well these days.

Added later: The driving side of the lands is conventional. while the back side slopes down to the bottom of the groove at a decidedly flat angle. I believe that this makes cleaning easier. Back in the day, there was some thought that because bullets were less deformed by this shape of this style of rifling, that the wind drift at longer ranges might be a bit less. This was probably only speculation. I never heard of a definitive test being done.

 

[Torg]

I don't think think BR shooters would use ratchet, if it was inferior to regular rifling.
If it's good enough, for BR shooters, it's probably good enough for you...

I don't want to waste the time or effort if they don't shoot as well as a regular barrel.

 

[Cort]

The theory of ratchet rifling is that since the contact point of the rifling is thinner than conventional rifling, the bullet is deformed a lesser amount by the rifling. Consequently, it flies truer. I don't know if practice proves that, or not, when comparing good barrels with good bullets. Each barrel/action combination is such a unique performer that what works in one combination won't work in another. The thinner contact surface also removes less copper from the bullet so the barrel cleans more easily since it isn't copper fouled as much.

A theoretical con to ratchet rifling is that the thinner rifling heats up faster so the throat erodes faster. I am not sure how much faster though. I use a ratchet rifled barrel in my .22 LR bench rest rifle and I like it. The "new" thought is to use an octagonal rifled barrel. I don't have any experience there.

Cort

 

[chino1969]

Well, I had to try a Bartlein 5R barrel to see for myself as it is a form of ratchet rifling. In fact I have several Bartlein 5R barrels chambered in 6mm BR and .243 A.I.. The first time you look in the bore with a borescope, it is a little odd. Instead of seeing the sharp right angle lines of the lands, you see a transition that is not as clearly defined. That being said, they are extremely accurate, break in easily and clean easily. To make a statement as to whether they are more accurate is beyond my skill level. I doubt that very few people would be able to make that claim. That being said, I would not hesitate to buy another 5R barrel or similarly rifled bore. They are as accurate as my traditional barrels but do clean up easier.

 

[BoydAllen]

Ratchet and 5R are different shapes. I have one of each. That being said, there is more than one way to skin a cat. There is no proof that any particular number of lands and grooves or rifling form is superior for short range benchrest. I personally believe that it it the quality of the execution of the design, and the experience of the person that laps the barrel that are the biggest factors. On the other hand, if your budget is limited, I would talk to the gunsmiths that are building winning rifles. Another factor can be the lack of recognition of the fact that different barrels may require different approaches to tuning.

 

[Judd]

Thanks guys....that was the info I was looking for.

 

[jonbearman]

I would like to add one thing as I just built a new 6BR for all around fun.I started my break-in and by the 5th round it quit coppering almost all together and by the 7th round quit coppering.I finished the 10 clean shoot and clean etc and shot a 3 shot group which was a hole.I cleaned it and got no blue on my patches.Wow was I excited and am very pleased with this shilen.I am ready to start playing after 3 more 3shot groups and then on to 5 shot groups. Great quality.

 

[Eddie Harren]

Jon, did you use a ratchet barrel?

 

[areaone]

I have a shilen Select Match with ratchet rifling in a 222. Very easy to clean, and shoots excetionally well for a Rem Varmint contour in a bedded HS stock. My PD rifle and will shoot 3 shots into the 1's with the right load. Xterminator and 50 gr Speer TNT will shoot consistently 3 shot groups in the mid to low two's, MY PD load. It started to shoot really well after 200 rounds. Break in was easy, just took a while to find the load and seating. I did the original 200 rounds in the Winter, not the most ideal enviroment. Windy and cold in Illinois in January. Would I have another one------YES.

 

[jonbearman]

Yes,Doc I am using a ratchet barrel from shilen.

 

[Eddie Harren]

Jon, what twist?