hastings grooved barrells

bigwrench · January 30, 2010, 01:57 AM

Hastings used to make shotgun barrells with grooves cut in them, like rifleing without the twist, claiming shot column stableizing from the grooves helped with pattern and range. I have come to believe that those claims must have been false, as no manufacturer sells shot guns with grooved barrels, that I am aware of. But the theory, to me, seems sound. Anyone tryed or used a barrel like this? And, if so, was better patterning acheived?

zippy13 · January 30, 2010, 03:45 AM

Since Hastings tossed in the towel and has closed their doors for good, there's little chance of getting a new straight rifled barrel from them. But, that doesn't mean the idea of straight rifling is dead. No, far from it. The innovative Jess Briley has been selling straight rifled tubes in his Ultimate Ultralite tube sets ($1,750) for a some while.

I've not tried them. They may be like porting, some folks will think they work wonders while others think it's a bunch of hooey. There's a big difference between spending $35 to port your M-500's barrel to see if you like porting, and spending $1,750 to test some straight rifled tubes. This may be another situation where the results are so subtle that only top-notch shooters (and some wannabes) will notice the difference.

Any of you Triple-A NSSAers out there used the straight rifled Briley UUs?

Shotgunaholic · February 1, 2010, 12:31 PM

About four years ago I purchased a Hastings Wadlock II 28" barrel for my 12 ga Wingmaster magnum. It came with three tubes. Since I bought the Hastings barrell the original 30" full barrel has not been on the gun. I have never patterened either barrel. From what I can tell, the Hastings barrell gives more solid clay breaks than the original Rem barrell. The Hastings barrel has a 3" chamber so I didnt sacrifice anything. I havent hunted with the Hastings barrell so I cannot comment on that. All said and done I am happy with the Hastings barrell, to bad they closed up shop.

That is my 2 cents worth.

Scorch · February 1, 2010, 01:38 PM

One of the more upline Italian gunmakers sold a shotgun with a grooved barrel some years back. Supposedly, it worked as advertised. It's more expensive, of course, so gunmakers who are trying to produce a gun to sell to the WalMart shoppers would never do it.

oletymer · February 1, 2010, 01:40 PM

If they worked that well most competition shotguns would have them. Hint, they don't.

January 30, 2010, 01:57 AM	#1
bigwrench Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Location: foot of the uintas Posts: 148	hastings grooved barrells Hastings used to make shotgun barrells with grooves cut in them, like rifleing without the twist, claiming shot column stableizing from the grooves helped with pattern and range. I have come to believe that those claims must have been false, as no manufacturer sells shot guns with grooved barrels, that I am aware of. But the theory, to me, seems sound. Anyone tryed or used a barrel like this? And, if so, was better patterning acheived?

February 1, 2010, 01:38 PM	#4
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	One of the more upline Italian gunmakers sold a shotgun with a grooved barrel some years back. Supposedly, it worked as advertised. It's more expensive, of course, so gunmakers who are trying to produce a gun to sell to the WalMart shoppers would never do it. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

January 30, 2010, 03:45 AM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Since Hastings tossed in the towel and has closed their doors for good, there's little chance of getting a new straight rifled barrel from them. But, that doesn't mean the idea of straight rifling is dead. No, far from it. The innovative Jess Briley has been selling straight rifled tubes in his Ultimate Ultralite tube sets ($1,750) for a some while. I've not tried them. They may be like porting, some folks will think they work wonders while others think it's a bunch of hooey. There's a big difference between spending $35 to port your M-500's barrel to see if you like porting, and spending $1,750 to test some straight rifled tubes. This may be another situation where the results are so subtle that only top-notch shooters (and some wannabes) will notice the difference. Any of you Triple-A NSSAers out there used the straight rifled Briley UUs?

February 1, 2010, 12:31 PM	#3
Shotgunaholic Junior Member Join Date: November 22, 2009 Posts: 10	About four years ago I purchased a Hastings Wadlock II 28" barrel for my 12 ga Wingmaster magnum. It came with three tubes. Since I bought the Hastings barrell the original 30" full barrel has not been on the gun. I have never patterened either barrel. From what I can tell, the Hastings barrell gives more solid clay breaks than the original Rem barrell. The Hastings barrel has a 3" chamber so I didnt sacrifice anything. I havent hunted with the Hastings barrell so I cannot comment on that. All said and done I am happy with the Hastings barrell, to bad they closed up shop. That is my 2 cents worth.

February 1, 2010, 01:40 PM	#5
oletymer Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 338	If they worked that well most competition shotguns would have them. Hint, they don't.