Polygonal Rifling, Yes, No, Not Any More?

[Thefabulousfink]

A few years back I bought a Baby Eagle from Magnum Research in .40 S&W and it has polygonal rifling. I just learned that Baby Eagles stopped using polygonal rifling and went back to standard. I have heard that polygonal rifling has trouble shooting lead bullets, and that it leaves fewer marks on the bullet so that they are harder to match ballisticly. However, it also gives greater velocity to certain types of bullets and is less prone to fouling.

I really like my Baby Eagle, it shoots well, doesn't fail, has low recoil, and shoots very clean. I can't understand why they would stop using the polygonal barrels. Was it pressure from police agencies, I can't see that there is that big of an issue with shooting lead, it doesn't seem like the kind of gun that many people would want to shoot lead out of. Does anyone here know of any reason why they would or why they did go back to standard rifling?

 

[MrAcheson]

I have heard that polygonal rifling has trouble shooting lead bullets, and that it leaves fewer marks on the bullet so that they are harder to match ballisticly. However, it also gives greater velocity to certain types of bullets and is less prone to fouling.

The bit about ballistics being more difficult is crap. Polygonal barrels have tool marks too. They may seal tighter and be slightly faster depending on the polygonal profile. If they do seal tighter then they generally won't tolerate fouling as well because there is no place for the fouling to go. That is the original reason for "no lead bullets". If the barrel leaded pressures might rise enough to be dangerous.

I have no idea why someone would stop using them though. The big disadvantage to polygonal barrels is that the initial tooling is pretty expensive, but the per unit price is actually cheaper. Perhaps they changed barrel suppliers or the polygonal tooling wore out/broke and they didn't feel like buying another one.

 

[ball3006]

I have many thousands of lead rounds....

through my Glocks with zero problems, leading, etc. However, I don't load hot loads which is what I believe got some shooters in trouble and they blamed it on the polygon rifling. In addition, how come it is called "rifling" when it is in a pistol?.....chris3

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Mabey they were worried that 'pistoling' would be confused with dueling or gunfighting.

I asked this question because a friend of mine really likes my Baby Eagle and wants to buy one of his own, however, he is worried that it might perform differently with the standard rifling.

 

[Rembrandt]

Magnum Research does not recomend use of lead bullets in the Desert Eagles, not the same as a Baby Eagle. Desert Eagles are gas operated, lead will plug the gas ports.....sounds like someone got the cause and effect wrong for the wrong gun.

 

[AirPower]

Polygonal bbl generally does not recommend using lead bullets. I like polygonal bbl for ease of cleaning and good durability.

 

[355sigfan]

OUOTE
The bit about ballistics being more difficult is crap
END QUTOE

Actually its not crap. Bullets fired from Glocks for instances are distincitive from bullets fired from conventionally rifled pistols. But their almost impossible to tell which Glock it was fired in. This has been an issue in shootings involving multiple officers.
Pat

 

[DavidBR]

Polygonal + lead = problems

My HK P9S (polygonal) is one on the most accruate .45s I have ever shot and is totally reliable with any jacketed bullet, regardless of the load. However, it absolutely does not like lead no matter what the load.

 

[Ala Dan]

I vote "Not Any More"~!

 

[Lucky 7]

This has me worried too as I actually SHOOT THE GUNS I CARRY (A LOT!) and I wantan identical unit whenever I wear out the current barrel in my BE. Does anyone know of a supplier that can provide me with a new barrel or two or do i just have the deal w/ IMI saying NO MAS?

Semper Fi!
-L7