Poloygonal barrels

[Gibbs505]

What is the deal with these barrels?

If so many people seem to have a issue with them, is there any advantage to them.

Or is it simply easier to manufacture them?

 

[HKMark23]

Polygonal barrels have no lands and grooves but are hex? shaped inside. The hex (or penta, or whatever) shape also spirals providing twist. The bullet is gripped by being forced (partially) to take the shape of the polygonal barrel and becomes slightly deformed in the process. Polygonal barrels are touted to be inherently more accurate than traditional land and groove barrels and they apparently also last longer. They can be a problem if you alternately use lead then copper jacketed bullets in them. The lead fouling restricts the already tight tolerance within the barrel.

The barrels are hammer forged like Ruger and Sako barrels. Some HK barrels are chrome lined. Some folks believe hammer forging produces an inherently superior product although this statement may spark a heated debate on its own.

If you fire lead bullets through a polygonal barrel it is most wise to clean the barrel thoroughly before copper jacketed bullets are used.

 

[relliott]

If you fire lead bullets through a polygonal barrel it is most wise to clean the barrel thoroughly before copper jacketed bullets are used.

Actually, the polygonal barrels in my Tanfoglio guns Don't tend to lead up at all. I'm not really shooting a lot of lead, but I fired about a hundred rounds of it last week with really no build up at all. The guns are extremely accurate as well, and and can shoot cheaper plated bullets without stripping off the plating material like button rifling does.

 

[Gibbs505]

OK, thanks! I figured that someone had just thought up a marketing gimmick!!