What are the raised areas between grooves in a gun barrel called?

The raised areas between the grooves in a gun barrel are referred to as lands. These lands are an essential part of the rifling within the barrel, which is designed to impart spin to the bullet as it travels down the barrel, improving accuracy and stability in flight. The grooves and lands work together to create the necessary spin, with the grooves being the recessed areas where the bullet passes through, and the lands being the raised sections that grip the bullet.

The presence of lands is crucial for the identification of firearms and for forensic ballistics, as the specific pattern of lands and grooves can be unique to the manufacturer's design, helping to link a bullet to its originating firearm. Understanding the concept of lands is fundamental for anyone working in evidence collection and analysis in relation to firearms.