What is rifling?

What is rifling?

Richard Saferstein (Former Chief Forensic Scientist) gives expert video advice on: How does the study of firearms help in CSI?; How does a gun work?; How are firearms and ammunition collected in CSI? and more...

There are a variety of rifling techniques that are used by weapon manufacturers. The purpose of the rifling is to impart into the inner wall of the barrel lands and grooves, upon which the bullet will traverse. It's sort of like a track, as it travels through the barrel it gives the bullet a spin which enables one to control the trajectory of the bullet. It's this spinning action which indeed gives us that control. So rifling is the manufacturing process that imparts lands and grooves to the inner walls of a barrel.