Tech Question; Progressive Rifling

[Hooyah DeepSea]

I know that some 'large' (as in artillery and ship's guns) gun barrels had progressive rifling in the past; does anyone know if it was done with small arms barrels also?

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[Andy54Hawken]

Most Colt percussion revolvers had progressive rifling. ( original , not replica )
I also have a percussion "Plains Rifle" circa late 1840's - 1850's that has progressive rifling.
Some rifled muskets of the 1840 -1860 time period also had progressive rifling.
Andy

 

[Capn Jack]

I have a .50 Cal. muzzle loading rifle that's barrel is smooth and only has rifling for the last 4 inches of the barrel.

I believe Andy said at one time, that this was fairly common.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I have a .50 Cal. muzzle loading rifle that's barrel is smooth and only has rifling for the last 4 inches of the barrel.

I believe Andy said at one time, that this was fairly common.

Yep not uncommon to see in original muzzle loaders.
Andy

 

[Hooyah DeepSea]

As I said, I knew that some big guns did, as 'they' thought it would be more conducive to accuracy with large, heavy projectiles. I'm curious as to why 'they' would think the same for what I assume would be 'round ball' tubes. Interesting.



On a side note, I wonder if 'progressive' rifling would be more acceptable to liberals than straight rifled guns??

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Rifled Muskets...use conical bullets ( Minie Ball ) ...not round ball.
You can shoot round ball from 'em..but they were designed for conical bullets.
And the Colt revolvers could use either round ball or conical bullets.
Andy

 

[Hooyah DeepSea]

I have a .50 Cal. muzzle loading rifle that's barrel is smooth and only has rifling for the last 4 inches of the barrel.

Interesting; though wouldn't that potentially 'double engrave' the bullet, due to it's passing through the rifling twice? I would expect that to affect accuracy? On a breech-loader I could see it, but a muzzleloader; hummm.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Many of the rifled only at the muzzle , muzzle loaders were meant to be used for both round ball and shot...
Enough rifling to engage the round ball for accuracy...but not too much rifling to destroy shot patterns
Andy

 

[dangerranger60]

Harry Pope [ an old gunsmith, and target shooter] tried making progressive rifled barrels in the early 1900's. They started at the breech with a slow twist and by the muzzle were at a much faster twist. He wrote at the time that they did make some difference but not enough for the extra work involved. DR

 

[msgriff]

For modern rifle barrels, there are a couple high end barrel makers who cut progressive gain twist barrels, Bartlein for one. Their site FAQ has more info if interested.
The video below from Joe Carlos explains most of the Service Rifle applications, but some are using them in the faster chamberings.

 

[Flopsweat]

For modern rifle barrels, there are a couple high end barrel makers who cut progressive gain twist barrels, Bartlein for one. Their site FAQ has more info if interested.
The video below from Joe Carlos explains most of the Service Rifle applications, but some are using them in the faster chamberings.

That was very interesting. Thanks for posting.

 

[JuglansRegia]

I believe carcano's use gain twist rifling

 

[ma96782]

RE: Small Arms and progressive rifling.

YES.....but, IIRC.....simply put, "it was NOT really worth the extra effort".

Aloha, Mark