How Far part 2 (Smooth vs. Straight rifling)

[bnail]

In the spirit of Sharp Shooter's thread, and without hijacking his, I've just got to ask, How different is a Smooth bore from a straight rifled bore in regard to accuracy?

 

[hawkeye1755]

The first time i read about straight-cut rifles was in Ted Franklin Belue's book 'The Hunters of Kentucky.A Narrative History of America's First Far West 1750-1792'.
Here is a link from a thread i asked:Spiral-grooved or straight-grooved
Link
So there are some members ,who owns a straight-cut rifle and can tell us the difference in the accurate between a smoothie and a straight-cut.
:hatsoff:

 

[paulvallandigham]

The usually shallower stright grooves have the effect of keeping the wads from turning, thus giving a consistent release to the round ball at the muzzle. This contributes to accuracy. By keeping the wads behind a shot load from turning, the shot goes straight out the barrel and does not spiral, as it would with twisting rifling, and sometimes does when the wadding is not square to the bore of a smoothbore. Locking the wad has been used over the centuries in some smoothbores. There is a small improvement in the patterns as long as the grooves are not too deep, or too sharp on the edges. There is a delicate balance between locking the wads, and letting gas blow by and cut the wads and the lead shot, or round ball.

Pirazzi, the famous Italian firm that made very expensive Olympic Style O/U shotguns with straight grooves to lock the wads. They got a few more percentage of shot in that magical 30 inch circle. I believe the company used polygonal rifling in the guns to avoid cutting the wads, or allowing gas blow-by. This would have been about 40 years ago.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I saw a test some years ago, don't recall where, but it showed very little advantage for straight grooves over a smooth bore. Give the grooves just a very slight spiral, like one turn in ten feet, and accuracy was greatly improved.

 

[bnail]

That's kind of what I'm thinking. don't see much use for straight rifling myself. though was hoping that it would be a best of both worlds arrangment. I guess I'll stick with the tried and true. Besides, I bet a straight rifled barrel woud be difficult to come by for a long rifle.

 

[blacksmithshoppe]

Besides, I bet a straight rifled barrel woud be difficult to come by for a long rifle.

I'll bet Getz's can have you one in three weeks
:bull: or by Christmas :rotf: Just wait, hold your breath :shake:
Jeff

 

[oneshot]

I have a Gun with straight Rifled.Don't use a Shot Cup with it.But does seem to keep the shot from spreading.

I have killed Turkeys out to 60 yards with this Gun.

oneshot

 

[rlee58flh]

I'm guessing, that is something you could get Ed Rayl to do for you. Randy