# of grooves/barrel??
07-13-2010, 10:42 AM
#1
Giant Nontypical
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
# of grooves/barrel??
So what's the deal with the number of grooves in a rifle barrel?
I believe 6 tends to be pretty standard? but was reading that a .458lott had a 8 or 9 groove barrel? also I think some barrles have 4 grooves?
Why would you want more or less grooves? some theory behind this?
I believe 6 tends to be pretty standard? but was reading that a .458lott had a 8 or 9 groove barrel? also I think some barrles have 4 grooves?
Why would you want more or less grooves? some theory behind this?
07-13-2010, 03:34 PM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location:
Posts: 5,130
Here's Chuck Hawks anyway...............................I know, he doesn't know anything and he never says anything he isn't paid to say.
Rifles have been rifled with from two to eight fairly deep grooves. Another approach, called "Micro-Groove" rifling by the Marlin Company, uses many shallow grooves. Barrels for standard centerfire cartridges of .30 caliber or smaller are usually rifled with 4 grooves. Barrels for most cartridges above .30 caliber are rifled with 6 grooves, as are .22 rimfire barrels.
Rifles have been rifled with from two to eight fairly deep grooves. Another approach, called "Micro-Groove" rifling by the Marlin Company, uses many shallow grooves. Barrels for standard centerfire cartridges of .30 caliber or smaller are usually rifled with 4 grooves. Barrels for most cartridges above .30 caliber are rifled with 6 grooves, as are .22 rimfire barrels.
07-13-2010, 07:13 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Have you ever experimented with any pressure simulation software like quickload or others? Did you have to put the particulars about the lands and grooves and dimensions?
Last edited by bigcountry; 07-13-2010 at 07:25 PM.
07-14-2010, 06:25 PM
#7
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,679
Better not tell the wildcatters that. Or anybody that does pressure testing. That must be your own little private secret.
I would think more grooves would allow the bullet to spin more which would allow for more stability.
Last edited by bigbulls; 07-14-2010 at 06:55 PM.
07-15-2010, 06:49 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Well, ole clownone
Number of grooves and depth of those affects pressure. Just that simple. Hense microgroove and its shallowness. The burden of how much pressure lies with the gun mfg. If you added more grooves to a 308 caliber barrel, you better make them more shallow than .3" bore. You have to keep .308" groove diameter. You can get custom rifling from most barrel mfg.
Number of grooves and depth of those affects pressure. Just that simple. Hense microgroove and its shallowness. The burden of how much pressure lies with the gun mfg. If you added more grooves to a 308 caliber barrel, you better make them more shallow than .3" bore. You have to keep .308" groove diameter. You can get custom rifling from most barrel mfg.
07-15-2010, 12:35 PM
#9
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I know that some bullets can't stand fast twist low groove number barrels at high velocity, a 257 Allen Mag with a 7 twist, 3 groove barrel will rip the jackets off 100 gr nosler ballistic tips as they leave the barrel at 3800 fps, with a 4 or 6 groove they do fine.
RR
RR
07-15-2010, 09:36 PM
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: State of Missery
Posts: 135
Uhhhmm, I think it does make a bit of a difference. It really has to do with bullet deformation really. The More grooves you have the shallower they can be, which means they deform the bullet less which makes it more accurate. Now at 100 yards you wont see this, it will be farther down the line at the 500 yard targets.
Micro groove varmint barrels will get better groups before you take into account wind than regular barrels.
They also give a bit more velocity due to their being less friction I believe. That last bit I am not so sure on so take it for what its worth.
Thanks all,
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