Can anyone explain the differences btwn the polygonal rifling vs hexagonal rifling? On Glock's site under technology, they state that their polygonal rifling gives advantages, yet under the individual pistols the barrel rifling is referred to either right hand hexagonal or octagonal rifling. Why wouldn't they just call it polygonal or hexagonal if they're one and the same? I've heard it explained a number of different ways, like this, for example: The Gen 5 barrel is polygonal with grooves. The issue with polygonal barrels was that there weren't enough distinguishing marks to positively identify each bullet in a shooting to a particular gun. Look up "Glock Miami Barrel". Glock offers barrels wtih some traditional rifling grooves to law enforcement to help better identify each individual bullet when several officers are involved in the same shooting. Glock offered this barrel to the FBI for the same reason, and because of that they're including it in the Gen 5, which is a rebadged FBI M Glock."
I don't believe the Gen 5 barrel is a lands and groove barrel as inferred in the explanation above, but it is an improved hexagonal barrel. I see that most people refer to Glock barrel rifling as polygonal rifling, but as I understand it, it really isn't a true polygonal rifling. It's a modified version of it. Hoping someone who has thorough knowledge of it can explain it to a non-engineer/technical type like me.