Merits of 2 and 5 groove rifling

[Pete04]

Hi All,
Thanx in advance for any info. I have been looking on line at Lee Enfields, and have found they can have 2 or 5 grove rifling. Are there more variants? Is one prefered over another? For shooting or for collecting?
Pete

Information

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[tiriaq]

Six groove barrels were also made by Long Branch and Savage. I believe 4 groove barrels were approved but not manufactured. The advantage of a 2groove barrel is that it requires less manufacturing time than a 5 groove barrel. Simply put, it requires removal of only 40% as much steel in the rifling process. 2 groove barrels were more widely used in North American rifles than in ones made in the UK. From a shooting standpoint, there is no practical difference. Some shooters prefer 5 or 6 groove barrels, perhaps because the 2 groove ones were made at the height of wartime production. As far as collector value goes, it is more important that the barrel is original to the rifle, and in decent condition.

[sdh1911]

Tiraq hit it dead on the money. One other view may be that of a rifle builder. Some prefer the 5 groove over the four due to the pressure influence of the fifth groove. It cause an equal concentric seating of the bullet while passing through the bore. I have never found any difference in the end product, but often use 5-groove as per customers request.SDH

[Cantom]

Tiraq hit it dead on the money. One other view may be that of a rifle builder. Some prefer the 5 groove over the four due to the pressure influence of the fifth groove. It cause an equal concentric seating of the bullet while passing through the bore. I have never found any difference in the end product, but often use 5-groove as per customers request.SDH

I personally don't care how many grooves on a rifle I'm buying...I was told that 2 grooves kick more since more of the bullet is being compressed by the larger land...old wives tale or something to that?

[Claven2]

Old wive's tale.

[Cantom]

Old wive's tale.

I will test it out when the weather gets better and get back on that...

[Claven2]

Have fun, but I assure you - it's not true

[Pete04]

Did other manufacturers use this shortcut in the heat of war? I'm thinking Russia. If you had to snipe and you had a choice, would you not choose more as apposed to less rifling? If the answer is yes, then would that make multi-groove rifles more desirable? If the answer is no, would modern manufacturers not cheap out and give us only two groove rifling? If not why? Sorry for being long winded.
Pete

[tiriaq]

There is a very successful target rifle barrel maker producing 3 groove barrels at present. The number of grooves significantly affects manufacturing time if a Pratt & Whitney type sine bar rifling machine is used. If a barrel is broached, buttoned or hammer forged, as most production barrels are these days, the barrel manufacture time is unaffected by the number of grooves. 2 groove barrels are associated with hurry up wartime production. This could reduce marketability. As far as No. 4 rifles and US 03A3 rifles are concerned, there is essentially no difference in service accuracy between 2/5 and 2/4 groove barrels, respectively. Cast bullet target shooters have found that 2 groove 03A3s can outshoot 4 groove rifles.