Difference Between Button/Cut Rifling?

[Michael Eichele]

Nothing is left to the imagination after BH's post!!

Well put and nicely said. A+ for big ba!!s there. :D

 

[Pdvdh]

Several good, informative posts here. Thanks for sharing guys.

 

[Moman]

Thanks for the informative posts. When I first read this post, I was a little concerned about the button barrels. Mostly because I just bought one. Glad to hear the other side of the story. Thanks BH.

 

[Autorotate19]

Thanks for all the info guys. So correct me if Im wrong. Both types shoot great obviously but you are more apt to have stress issues with a button rifled barrel but they last longer than a cut rifled? Also with cut rifled barrels your more likely to get the exact twist that you want than with a button rifled?
Thanks

 

[Michael Eichele]

Thanks for all the info guys. So correct me if Im wrong. Both types shoot great obviously but you are more apt to have stress issues with a button rifled barrel but they last longer than a cut rifled? Also with cut rifled barrels your more likely to get the exact twist that you want than with a button rifled?
Thanks

Some yes and some no.

You have to understand that you can get a turd with either. I dont concider button barrels to be apt to more stress issues in the final product. If there are any stress issues they dont manifest themselves on the accuracy or consistency end of things. When it comes to twist, my opinion is that if you order a 11 twist with a button barrel you get just that. An 11 twist. With modern materials, tools and techniques it will be a VERY precise 11 twist. With cut rifle barrels you can order an 11.26 twist and get an 11.26 twist if that suits your fancy. This is because they can just change the gears on the equipment to accomodate. For you to get an 11.26 twist in a button barrel a whole new button has to be made just for one barrel which is time consuming, costly and not neccesary. Also some cut barrel makers cant get a specifec twist completely accurate. If you order a 10x you may get a 10.2 or a 9.8x. The upper end cut barrel makers dont have this issue. You are correct that button barrels (at least seem) last longer than cut.

Bottom line is when you deal with an upper end barrel manufacturer, you will get an accurate and consistent barrel. Pick one and be happy as well as shoot with confidence.

 

[Autorotate19]

I will. Thanks for the help!

 

[Chas1]

Just when I thought I had it figured out and made my choice a Kreiger-cut rifling...I read this post and now I'm wondering should I go Lilja or??? Don't mind me I'm just yapping. This was a good read. Like other posts on this subject and many others such as best scope....there's never a hands down this is the way to go answer. That's good cause it gives us excuses to buy more stuff to experiment with. I personally prefer cut but, do agree with others that each has it's pros and cons. I do have a question but, will start another post as I don't want to hijack this one.

 

[jmden]

From Krieger's website:

"Q: Is there any advantage to a single-point cut-rifled barrel Vs other manufacturing methods?
A:We feel there are several: ​

• Most stress-free way to rifle a barrel.
• Bore and groove dimensions very uniform throughout an entire "run".
• On average the barrel lasts longer than a button rifled barrel.

A: This is not conjecture on our part. This is information reported to us by military armorers and also by very long-time competition shooters who have used a considerable number of both button-rifled and cut-rifled barrels."

I recently ordered a Rock Creek single-point cut rifled barrel--in part based on the above information that, until this thread, I thought was fairly universally accepted. I've been lurking on this site for a few years now and before making my barrel choice thought that the bulk of what I'd heard regarding single point cut rifled barrels was that they tended to last longer (specifically the throat area) than button rifled barrels in general. Just curious where this 'new to me' info is coming from.

 

[Pdvdh]

Hey, I'll be looking for a response now too. I didn't know there was much difference in barrel life between the button and cut rifled methods. I think Fiftydriver is now starting to use some cut-rifled barrels in addition to Lilja barrels. I suspect any differences in barrel life are suttle such as to be hard to definitively determine. It would show up in the barrel burner cartridges quickest. So the benchrest type calibers may not show the difference as quick as the LRH crowd touting the relatively overbored barrel burning cartridges. I know Michael had a terrible time with a 300 RUM in a cut-rifled barrel. He no more than got a sweet load developed and then the pressures increased due to increased bore wear/bullet friction and he'd have to re-tune his powder charge. Turned into a process resembling a dog chasing its tail.

I've got a 25 RUM and it's the only barrel I'm likely to toast - not because I'll shoot it so much - simply because it's a mega-overbore cartridge. It's got a 30" Hart barrel. I have hardly shot it to date, but I expect the same problems Michael experienced with his 300 RUM. At least I know what to expect.

 

[edge]

I wanted a custom twist and Krieger charged $20 more.
If you go to a button rifle barrel maker what do they charge?

edge.

 

[Chas1]

phorwath, do you know approx how many rounds later that Michael started to have problems?

 

[jmden]

phorwath, do you know approx how many rounds later that Michael started to have problems?

300 Remington Ultra Magnum ABS Barrel Review

 

[Pdvdh]

phorwath, do you know approx how many rounds later that Michael started to have problems?

Remarkably few shots - like less than ~200 if I recall correctly - which is why I remember his tale of frustration. I'll let him sound in with any correction or detail. It took him a while to finally reach his conclusions. Looks like jmden has provided a link to the saga (Michael's Thread).

 

[Chas1]

jmden, thanks good read. Talk about a short barrel life but a happy ending and great customer service.