rifling
noun
ri·fling
ˈrī-f(ə-)liŋ 
1
: the act or process of making spiral grooves
2
: a system of spiral grooves in the surface of the bore of a gun causing a projectile when fired to rotate about its longer axis
Examples of rifling in a Sentence
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Rome's mighty Legions stick around for all of Antiquity, giving them a longer time window to do work for you, while Spain's Tercios are available throughout Exploration instead of just a short window between discovering gunpowder and rifling.
—
David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
This also engages the rifling for accuracy-inducing spin.
—T. Logan Metesh, Field & Stream, 4 Oct. 2023
Apply the search filter to narrow down your virtual rifling.
—Annie O’Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 11 July 2023
Extending the forcing cone gives the slug a better transition into the rifling, Klotz says.
—Tony Hansen, Outdoor Life, 22 June 2023
The layers of softer metal grab the spiral-cut rifling inside the barrel of a howitzer when it is fired, imparting spin that keeps the shell stable in flight to its target.
—Rebecca Lieberman, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023
The Creedmoor gets its longrange performance reputation from a combination of 140- to 143-grain, high B.C. bullets and fast twist rifling, usually 1:8 or even 1:7.5.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2020
The baseline model has a 16-inch barrel with six-groove rifling and a 1:9 rate of twist.
—Mike Dickerson, Field & Stream, 19 Aug. 2020
The Compass has a three-lug bolt, a three-position safety, a user adjustable trigger, and 5R rifling is standard.
—Richard Mann, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2019
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David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
This also engages the rifling for accuracy-inducing spin.
—T. Logan Metesh, Field & Stream, 4 Oct. 2023
Apply the search filter to narrow down your virtual rifling.
—Annie O’Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 11 July 2023
Extending the forcing cone gives the slug a better transition into the rifling, Klotz says.
—Tony Hansen, Outdoor Life, 22 June 2023
The layers of softer metal grab the spiral-cut rifling inside the barrel of a howitzer when it is fired, imparting spin that keeps the shell stable in flight to its target.
—Rebecca Lieberman, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023
The Creedmoor gets its longrange performance reputation from a combination of 140- to 143-grain, high B.C. bullets and fast twist rifling, usually 1:8 or even 1:7.5.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2020
The baseline model has a 16-inch barrel with six-groove rifling and a 1:9 rate of twist.
—Mike Dickerson, Field & Stream, 19 Aug. 2020
The Compass has a three-lug bolt, a three-position safety, a user adjustable trigger, and 5R rifling is standard.
—Richard Mann, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2019
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Cite this Entry
“Rifling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rifling. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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