polygonal rifling vs. land-and-groove rifling

[cmichael22]

What is the difference between the two?
Which one is better if one is?

[CJB]

Not an iota difference in a handgun, for any practical sense of things.

Folks will argue leading is greater for polygonal when shooting non-jacketed loads. Could be. I don't shoot hundreds and hundreds without chasing a few jacketed rounds in there to help keep things clean.

Folks may argue that you get a little more speed with one or the other, but... its really a wash, varies from barrel to barrel.

Land/groove rifling comes in "cut" , hammer forged, and "botton" flavors. Again, both are equally good for handguns.

Barsto uses a gang broach to cut their rifling, and you always get a little mus-alignment at the chamber end of things. Others may use broach cut rifling, dunno. Almost the whole world uses button rifling. Hammer forged lands/grooves, like polygonal, which is also hammer forged, is made on a mandrel with a short fat blank that becomes a long skinny blank via the hammers that conform it to its mandrel, which has a positive image of the rifling on it. Take play-doh and squeeze it around a pencil, then pull out the pencil. Thats how hammer forging works.

[ripley16]

I prefer polygonal because it is easier to clean. The barrels are reputed to last longer as well. I have both forms of barrel that feature outstanding accuracy. Velocity is too close to matter one way or the other.

[O'Dell]

I have both and never noticed any difference, except the polygonals are a bit easier to clean.

[warbird1]

Clean easier and last longer= good investment

[QuercusMax]

I prefer polygonal because it is easier to clean.

Tell us more. In theory I can see why that might be true, but have you actually experienced this, and how can you tell? Genuinely curious.

[muggsy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_rifling

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/ccm...gonal-rifling/

[MO_Soldier]

Good answer muggsy!
To be honest, Idk why this is a debate.

[cmichael22]

Poly seems to be better!

[ripley16]

Tell us more. In theory I can see why that might be true, but have you actually experienced this, and how can you tell? Genuinely curious.

In my experience polygonal barrels require less time and fewer swabs to clean. Not a scientific statement, just my opinion.