From Russ Chastain,
Your Guide to Hunting / Shooting.
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Definition: Rifling is nothing more than a series of evenly-spaced spiral grooves cut into the bore (inside) of a gun's barrel. The raised portions between the grooves are called lands, and they impart spin to the bullet, which increases accuracy.

Rifling may have any number of lands and grooves, may twist to the right or left (clockwise or counter-clockwise), and comes in many different rates of twist.

The rate of rifling twist is denoted as "1 in x," where x represents the distance a projectile would travel in the bore in order to make one full 360-degree revolution. Different sizes and weights of bullets require different rates of twist to produce the best accuracy.

Pronunciation: ryf-ul-ing

Also Known As: Lands and grooves

Common Misspellings: rifleing

Examples: The rifling cut into the old gun's barrel was much worn and pitted.