5R Barrel

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AZWinger06

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I’m thinking about picking up a Sport 2 with the 5R barrel. What does everyone think about them? Any more accurate than a standard barrel? I don’t need much encouragement. My needs have been satisfied for quite awhile, this just moved up on my want list.

Thanks,
 
AZWinger06 said:
I’m thinking about picking up a Sport 2 with the 5R barrel. What does everyone think about them? Any more accurate than a standard barrel? I don’t need much encouragement. My needs have been satisfied for quite awhile, this just moved up on my want list.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

I think you would be looking for a unicorn, as a Sport 2 with the 5R barrel does not exist... at least not from the factory.

S&W changed to the current production barrel from the 1:8 twist while the Sport I was still being produced. Then they began marketing the Sport II with the ejection port cover and the forward assist.
 
Good quality barrels made by reputable makers generally will shoot very well, regardless of the process used in making the barrels.
 
growr said:
What is a 5R barrel?

Randy
Click to expand...

5R rifled barrels have 5 lands and grooves opposed to 6 on traditional rifling. This keeps the lands from being directly opposite from each other and is said to be less constrictive on the bullet as it goes down the barrel, leading to less deformation of the bullet and better accuracy. It is also supposed to be easier to clean, as the the area where the lands meet the grooves do not form a 90 degree angle like on traditional rifled barrels, so it does not collect as much residue in those areas.
 
Not directly related, but I have a TC Predator in .308 with 5R rifling that shoots 0.75" 3 shot groups at 100 yards.
 
The better accuracy of the 5R is hard to prove, since each barrel is going to be slightly different. I can say, from my experience, my T/C Compass with 5R rifling takes less effort on my part to clean versus my Sport 2
 
Conventional rifling uses 90 degree/ right angles on the sides of the rifling. The 5R system uses a less steep angle on the side of the rifling-at least on the side that forces the bullet to start to turn.

One part of the idea-already mentioned- is that the different rifling form distorts the bullet less and improves accuracy, reduces aerodynamic drag and is also somewhat easier to clean. The real driving force behind the idea was to reduce wear in the leade/throat of the rifling and extend the life span of barrels in certain weapon classes. This improvement in wear may not be significant in barrels that aren't hard chrome plated.

Short of bench rest competitors and Olympic class shooters most of us aren't going to notice any significant difference.
 
Last edited:
Trivia:
When barrelmaker Boots Obermeyer got a look at an AK74, he thought the slope sided lands looked like a good idea. The AK74 has four grooves but he thought five would distribute the forces better.
So, 5R = 5 groove, Russian pattern.

Which completely ignores the 19th century British "trough shaped rifling."
 
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