Rifling

Rifled vs Smooth Bore Barrels
Rifled vs Smooth Bore Barrels

Rifling:

Rifling consists of spiral grooves cut or impressed into the barrel of rifles and pistols in order to make the projectile spin, ensuring stable flight to the target. Rifling is present in all true rifles, most handguns, and in some shotgun barrels. Most shotguns feature smooth bore barrels.

See grooves and lands.