Polygonal Rifling - Pros and Cons - The Firearms Forum

DGG! · 02-22-2011, 12:00 PM

Why don't all guns use this type of rifling? Thoughts?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_rifling

JLA · 02-22-2011, 05:51 PM

because some types are better... Polygonal is great, but so is precision cut, and precision cut can be done in any twist rate desirable and produced at a cheaper price.

A $10k PSG-1 marksman rifle with polygonal rifling will consistently put 5 rounds into 1 MOA at 100 meters. But so will a 1200 dollar rem 700 sendero with conventional cut rifling, and they both shoot the same round, and the sendero may even do it at 1/2 MOA...

DGG! · 03-01-2011, 12:59 PM

JLA - That interesting. If the preciision cut rifling is cheaper to produce and is as good or better, I wonder why anyone uses polygonal rifling. Is it a reliability issue? After 25,000 rounds is the cut rifling barrel shot out?

Is one more susceptable to fouling faster?

JLA · 03-01-2011, 05:12 PM

Polygonal provides a perfect seal and facilitates the use of the HK semiauto designs where the rifle uses the gasses within the barrel to 'float' the spent round out of the chamber on a channel of gas pressure.

The few polygonal barrels i have experienced with are very easy to clean.

02-22-2011, 12:00 PM	#1
DGG! V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 160	Polygonal Rifling - Pros and Cons Why don't all guns use this type of rifling? Thoughts? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_rifling -->

02-22-2011, 05:51 PM	#2
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Polygonal Rifling - Pros and Cons because some types are better... Polygonal is great, but so is precision cut, and precision cut can be done in any twist rate desirable and produced at a cheaper price. A $10k PSG-1 marksman rifle with polygonal rifling will consistently put 5 rounds into 1 MOA at 100 meters. But so will a 1200 dollar rem 700 sendero with conventional cut rifling, and they both shoot the same round, and the sendero may even do it at 1/2 MOA... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-01-2011, 12:59 PM	#3
DGG! V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 160	JLA - That interesting. If the preciision cut rifling is cheaper to produce and is as good or better, I wonder why anyone uses polygonal rifling. Is it a reliability issue? After 25,000 rounds is the cut rifling barrel shot out? Is one more susceptable to fouling faster? Last edited by DGG!; 03-01-2011 at 01:01 PM..

03-01-2011, 05:12 PM	#4
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,407	Re: Polygonal Rifling - Pros and Cons Polygonal provides a perfect seal and facilitates the use of the HK semiauto designs where the rifle uses the gasses within the barrel to 'float' the spent round out of the chamber on a channel of gas pressure. The few polygonal barrels i have experienced with are very easy to clean. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!