Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 3 Groove Barrels

Okay folks, has anyone used one of these? Tested or otherwise wrung one out? If so, I'd like to hear your thoughts about them.

I've got a Mauser action that needs a barrel and have decided on a 225 Winchester. I've been nosing around some of the barrelmaker's pages and it's piqued my interest.

Any takers?

Safe Shooting! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Steve Redgwell
303british.com

It's 'way too early to give you any great amount of field results, Steve, but my latest pet rifle has a three-groove barrel on the basis of the logic on their side. (Plus the fact that a top bench-rest barrel-maker recommended it.)

First, why not? I have no answer to this question.

Second, the barrel-makers' rule of thumb devotes 25% of the bore's circumference to lands, 75% to grooves. This means that in a three-groove barrel, the lands and grooves are twice as wide as they'd be in a six-groove barrel of the same caliber. In the .224 barrel on my .220 Howell, the three lands are not very wide. They'd be awfully narrow in a six-groove .224 barrel.

Also, the fewer lands there are, the fewer also are (a) the sharp edges cutting into the bullet jacket and (b) the "gutter" angles at the bottoms of the grooves where fouling is hardest to remove.

So much for rationale. Results later -- but I'm quite confident with this rationale and expect good results.

Steve--
I'm with Ken on this one. I decided to try one on a fast twist .22-250 and another in a 6.5-284. The were both Pac-Nor tubes and finished at 28 inches. They were definitely easier to clean than any of the six groove barrels I've had. As for the life span, I don't know yet. I do know that at 600 rds, the .22-250 has only moved about .008" in the throat area. Good luck if you decide to try one--I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Bill just finished rechambering my 264WM,a '69 FN.He said there must a least 10 grooves in it.It would catch and chatter the reamer.That and the short throat were some of this rifle's problems.
My question is what effect all those grooves will have on pressure and velocity ?

The 3 groove explanation was what swayed me initially Ken. I liked the idea of easier cleaning, and my own experience with 2 groove barrels was that there was less build up around the throat. This was easiest to see with cast bullets.

Slowing throat erosion makes sense when you consider how this area breaks down. With fewer odd angles and no. of different surfaces on which to act, it would seem logical...at least at first kick.

I am going to order from PacNor. I have one of their 5 groove barrels on a P-14 and it's a cracker. I'll go with a 1 in 9 twist for the 225 because the bullets used will be mostly 60 grainers. 69 grainers for fun.

I posted a question similar to this on a varmint board and it was suggested that I go with a 22-250. I've nothing against the chambering, but it's so vanilla, or common if you will. The 225 is like a beautiful woman...it has (for me at least) an alluring shape. Heck, I ordered a Ltd Ed. Lee loader to go with it too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

WRT pressures and velocity, I have never noticed a difference between 5 and 2 groove barrels with similar bore diameters in a 303. I am not a barrelmaker nor have I made comparison tests so I'm not the one to ask. (Although opinions are free! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> )

Safe Shooting! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Steve Redgwell
303british.com

I like mine...............

Blaine

Steve,

I shoot Lilja barrels in 3groove 30cal. I had long discussions with Dan and finally went with the 3groove. As you had said, ease of cleaning and slower throat erosion were key issues for me since I do have an affinity for super velocity 30cal.

Good Luck

True Eyes

My Sako 300 Wby had a BoFors 12 groove barrel on it. I got close to 3000 rounds out of it before I noticed a real deterioration in groups size. It was easy to find loads for this gun too. I don't know what to think. The number of grooves must not make much differece.

The worst barrel I ever had was an 8 groove Shilen chambered in 7mm-08. It took an Outer foul out to get the copper out of it. I couldn't get it clean with 'nuthin else sometimes. Go figger...

I put a 3 groove barrel on my first custom. a 25-284 It's a Pac-Nor super match barrel and I am very pleased with it. You can find a group shot with it in the archives under Photo test by vbshootinrange.
Virgil B.

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll be going to my local shop to chat with the owner about having one shipped up here. At the same time I'll be checking on brass.

For those of you that are curious, the place is Epps Sporting Goods. It opened in the 1930s. Before that it was Epps Cycle Shop (as in motorcycles). He got more gun work than bike work somewhere along the line and changed the sign out front. Ellwood Epps was the proprietor until '98. He sold the business and retired at 92.

The first store was in Clinton, Ontario. In the early 60s he moved farther north and opened the present shop. There's a lot of history in that building. If you're ever in Ontario and driving north on Hwy 11, drop in and look around. It's a few miles north of Orillia.

It's a throwback to a more civilized time. No neon, glitz or flashy gimmicks. The building is made mostly of wood and full of character. The dog will probably greet you at the front door.

Firearms and hunting displays hang from the walls and ceiling. You can go in and just shoot the breeze if that's what you want to do. No sales pressure. It's what a gun shop should be.

Safe Shooting! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Steve Redgwell
303british.com