What's your thoughts on chocked vs unchoked barrels for long distance?

[Rico_navy1]

I've seen a lot of interest discussion on fx smooth twist vs rifled barrels for long distance. The idea being the smooth twist won't cut as deeply in to the pellets thus reducing the effects of the air passing over the pellets. This is said to greatly affect a pellets long distance performance. Well I wanted to know how does a choked barrel biting deeper into the pellet vs a non choked barrel affect aerodynamics. I understand that the idea is to create better sealing, but in doing this it will undoubtedly cause the rifling to cut deeper. Does the benifits outway the negatives enough to make it worth it? Is the differences so negligible that it wouldn't matter in the distance that pellets rifles shoot at? Could a unchoked barrel be a better alternative to the fx smooth twist barrel? 

 

[Arzrover]

Smooth twist and Smooth twist X are choked. They just don't have sharp rifling. 

My 2 best 177 barrels for wind sensitivity are choked AND unchoked LW polys..... if that makes any sense. The unchoked one has a LITTLE less impression on the pellet. I have a LOT of 177 barrels but not too many samples of 22 and 25 so can't really say for them. I do have a cut rifled 12 groove on an old AA RN10 that is right there with them, but at only 12.5 ft/lb..... soooo.... I'm kind of at the opinion that it is more of an individual barrel thing but the TENDENCY would be toward the unchoked having the advantage. 

Bob 

 

[Rico_navy1]

Well a choked smooth twist barrel makes a lot of sense just to get that extra bite on the pellet. I do have a 177 unchoked break barrel, and I noticed the rifling tends to deform the skirts a lot less than my 22 choked barrel. Granted they aren't the same caliber much less the same brand so it's in no way a direct comparison. Since pellets are drag stabilized by thier skirt wouldn't a more deformed skirt cause a greater accuracy loss? 

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

With very deep rifling ( one reason some blanks are so well prepped/polished) the groove cut into the pellet are VERY pronounced, certainly enough to greatly effect spin drag. Rifling this deep is not too common but is seen.



John

 

[nomojo65]

I prefer choked, in both poly or traditional rifling, all my barrels are LW or 1-STEYR but I also shoot only .177 & pellets right now, if you want to shoot slugs??? Might Also be something to think about! Did have 1 LW poly in .22 choked shot fine out to 75yds w/ 18.1 gr jsb’s 

 

[Imold]

I like shooting long distance with my airguns so for me a choked barrel is the way to go.

 

[elh0102]

A good barrel is a good barrel, and it can be made several ways. I don't think one is inherently the best. As Ansel Adams responded when asked which camera is the best, "makes no difference, it's the person behind it that counts".