smoothbarreled

smoothbarreled refers to a type of firearm, specifically a shotgun, that has a barrel with a smooth interior bore. This contrasts with a rifled barrel, which has spiral grooves cut into the inside. The smooth bore is characteristic of shotguns designed to fire shot, which is a cluster of small pellets, or single projectiles like slugs.

When a shotgun is fired, the smooth barrel allows the shot or slug to exit with less resistance and friction compared to a rifled barrel. This is particularly advantageous for shot, as the pellets spread out in a pattern after leaving the muzzle. The smooth bore facilitates this controlled dispersion. While primarily associated with shotguns, the term smoothbarreled can technically apply to any firearm with such a barrel.

The decision to use a smoothbore versus a rifled barrel depends on the intended use of the firearm. For hunting game birds or small animals where a spread of projectiles is desired, a smoothbarreled shotgun is the standard. For longer-range accuracy with single projectiles like slugs, or for certain military applications, rifled barrels are often preferred. Some modern shotguns are designed with interchangeable barrels, allowing the user to switch between smoothbore and rifled options depending on the situation.