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MAH
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Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Feb 16th, 2026 at 7:57pm
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Good Men,
I recently put together a 30-20 with a ratchet barrel. I have notice that it takes 8-10 shots before the barrel settles down and starts to print. The bullets I am using are a 130 grain Lyman, and 155 grain RCBS flat nose. Both cast to a #2 Lyman alloy, with a velocity at 1375 fps. Barrel has less than 500 rounds thru it. A bit perplex as I have never had a gun do this. So school this ole boy a might.

Mech
  
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westerner
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #1 - Feb 16th, 2026 at 9:33pm
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Now there is an interesting post. A single shot rifle chambered in 32-20 with a ratchet rifled barrel. Very unusual.
To start off with, what brand barrel is it and how did you wind up with it?

It's not unusual that a rifle shoots more accurately after a few fouling shots. My old Buddy Chuck used to shoot twenty or thirty shots on a sighter target before going for score.

I have only one rifle with a ratchet rifled bore but it's a percussion rifle.
« Last Edit: Feb 16th, 2026 at 10:10pm by westerner »  
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Jeff_Schultz
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #2 - Feb 16th, 2026 at 10:07pm
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I would try some 25-1 alloy and bump the velocity up 100fps or more.
  
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calledflyer
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #3 - Feb 17th, 2026 at 11:24am
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I would suggest that you inspect the rifle for stock fit. I have had a couple of Savage 99s that did as yours, in needing a few to settle it down to great grouping. One, my favorite, became a 'spot-on-all-the-time' shooter after snugging the stock bolt a little bit and refitting the fore stock. 
After doing that, maybe the other advice added in will give you a rifle with sterling performance.
  
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MAH
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #4 - Feb 17th, 2026 at 9:17pm
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Thanks for some insights. Hopefully with a bit of patience I learn what is the root cause. The fun is in the "what makes it tic".

Thanks once again,

Mech
  
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waterman
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #5 - yesterday at 1:19pm
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I have only one rifle with a ratchet bore.  It's a Buffalo Newton, in .30-06. Bad headspace & all the Buffalo Newton problems, so I don't shoot it.  I always thought ratchet bores were intended for jacketed bullets & high velocity.
  
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beltfed
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #6 - yesterday at 2:35pm
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Doesn't Shilen mfg a ratchet .22 rimfire barrel?
beltfed/arnie
  
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Schutzenbob
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #7 - yesterday at 3:27pm
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Rachet Rifling
  
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texasmac
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #8 - yesterday at 3:50pm
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beltfed wrote yesterday at 2:35pm:
Doesn't Shilen mfg a ratchet .22 rimfire barrel?
beltfed/arnie


Yes, they do.  I have one on my Stevens 44.

Wayne
  
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Re: Understanding Ratchet Barrels
Reply #9 - yesterday at 6:44pm
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I put a Shilen ratchet .22LR on my 44.5 Schuetzen after canvasing our club small bore shooters who have tried them and found them to be fantastic. So far my results have been outstanding. A couple people feel the standard Shilen's perform as well but I am happy.
Charles
  
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