- Thread starter
- #21
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,502
- 3,695
Desert Fox":1blvbjoe said:
Yes sir, That is correct
3 vs 6 vs 8 groove barrels?
- Thread starter FOTIS
- Start date
Yes sir, That is correct
I guess I didn't make it clear. Another words they didn't care if there were more grooves they just didn't do less than 4 because not all bullets shot well in less than 4. Kreiger makes many of their larger calibers in 6 or 8 grooves. So as has been stated the number of grooves doesn't really affect the accuracy. The point I was trying to make about button rifling is some buttons will make exceptionally accurate barrels and some won't. It doesn't matter what the number of grooves is. To my knowledge Hart only uses 6 grooves and their barrels have won everything there is to win at one time or another. They may not be the best now but many smiths still use them and believe in them.
Ridge_Runner
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2006
- 1,395
- 766
lil more velocity in a 3 groove, but they will rip the jackets off some thin skinned bullets when shooting high velocity
RR
RR
Antelope_Sniper
Handloader
- Jan 25, 2008
- 2,618
- 0
RR brings up an interesting point. Does fewer points of rifling equate to more stess on the bullet at each bullet/rifling junction? Do you want the stress of that 250K RPM spread across 3 points in the jacket, or 6 points?
I have had three different 3 groove rifles. My 280 AI is a 24" Pac Nor 3 groove. It shoots everything very easily. 140 ET, 140 AB, 140 BT, 120 BT, 160 AB, you name it. It shoots it great! My throat is a bit short in that rifle so I can't get the speed, but I'm only about 25-35 fps behind JD338 and his 280 AI. As far as fouling, that rifle will tkae 100+ rounds and still shoot under .5" groups. When I clean it, it cleans up with a third the patches as any factory barrel I own.
I had a 270 WSM with a Pac Not 3 groove as well. It shot very well also, but was a bit more picky. I think it was because I had it throated really long so I could get the most out of my case capacity, and have some free bore. I was trying to turn it into a 270 weatherby, didn't work. It also cleaned up very easy.
My STW is a Benchmarck 3 groove. It seems to shoot a bit easier than the 270 WSM did, but not nearly as easy as the 280 AI does. This barrel does foul easier than either of the other two, but it is burnig at least 10 more grains of powder, and pushing things at least 250 fps faster thatn the 280 AI. When it starts acting up, I clean it up and we are good to go. As far as speed goes in this gun, I'm not sure I'm getting what most people get out of a STW. Everyone that I have talked to says I should be able to reach the 3300 mark with a 160 AB. I can, but its really hot. 3220 is about as hot as I can get and still have my brass last for four or five firings. As far as the thinner jacketed bullets, I tried some 162 A Max the other day, and of nine shots, only five hit the page at 100 yards. I'm not sure what was going on there. I'm going to clean it up and try again. I know it shoots the 168 VLD, and 175 Matrix bullets without any issue.
My 338/375R is going to be built with a 5R Benchmarck, just to check it out.
I had a 270 WSM with a Pac Not 3 groove as well. It shot very well also, but was a bit more picky. I think it was because I had it throated really long so I could get the most out of my case capacity, and have some free bore. I was trying to turn it into a 270 weatherby, didn't work. It also cleaned up very easy.
My STW is a Benchmarck 3 groove. It seems to shoot a bit easier than the 270 WSM did, but not nearly as easy as the 280 AI does. This barrel does foul easier than either of the other two, but it is burnig at least 10 more grains of powder, and pushing things at least 250 fps faster thatn the 280 AI. When it starts acting up, I clean it up and we are good to go. As far as speed goes in this gun, I'm not sure I'm getting what most people get out of a STW. Everyone that I have talked to says I should be able to reach the 3300 mark with a 160 AB. I can, but its really hot. 3220 is about as hot as I can get and still have my brass last for four or five firings. As far as the thinner jacketed bullets, I tried some 162 A Max the other day, and of nine shots, only five hit the page at 100 yards. I'm not sure what was going on there. I'm going to clean it up and try again. I know it shoots the 168 VLD, and 175 Matrix bullets without any issue.
My 338/375R is going to be built with a 5R Benchmarck, just to check it out.
