Barrel twist

sakorick · March 05, 2006, 06:34:52 PM

Well, I got to thinking.....dangerous when you are not used to it! A faster twist barrel will generally stabilize a heavier bullet better than a slower one. So, is there a chart somewhere that shows all the calibers, bullet weights and recommended twists for their barrels? This should be easy, but it seems very hard. Regards, Rick.

Jay Edward (deceased) · March 05, 2006, 07:39:01 PM

You'd think it would be easy information to find out... and it is with the exception of dealing with any particular bullet.

There are listed twist rates for different chamberings that rifle manufacturers produce. These are pretty much 'standard' twist rates as agreed upon by the industry. But what about your particular need?

All bullets are not equal. There is more (or less) bearing surface as produced by any particular bullet maker. An example I can give is for my .35 AI Whelen. I prefer the 250 grain bullet... but not the spitzer. The bullet I always used to use, the one I used to work up my particular load, is the old Norma roundnose that wasn't as blunt as today's roundnose bullets. I only have about 150 left for reloading so I don't use them at the range much. The new roundnose bullets don't seem to work so well in my rifle and I can only conclude that it is purely a matter of design.

Bullet manufactuers who publish their own reloading data may have their own ideas. Sometimes it is hard to recconcile how different reloading books have the same load giving different results. It could be the pressure barrel itself but I cannot help but think that bullets from different companies just aren't exactly the same even when they look the same.

However... Cartridges of the World gives info like that and reloading books will often have the twists listed on a page somewhere or even as small data on the reloading page itself.

I always figgured that, no matter what was published, I was going to have to experiment if I wanted to wring the last bit of accuracy out of any particular cartridge.

klallen · March 05, 2006, 08:10:52 PM

BULLET WEIGHT / CALIBER / TWIST RATE CHART

Grain/Cal.172.204.224.243.257.264.277.284.308.338.35817-209-10 2510 30912 33 12 35 12 37 VLD6 40 12 50-52 914 55 12 60 12 68-69 9,1013,14 75 9 14 80 8 85 7121212 90 710 100 1010 1214 105-107 8 120 1010 1215,16 130 10 14 140 91010 140-160 8101012,13 150-168 911,12,13 150-180 10,11,12 160 9 175 9 180 10,11,12 200 10,1110,1212,16220 10 225 10,1212,16240-250 101012300 1012

klallen · March 05, 2006, 08:15:15 PM

Lilja gives a generalized chart for caliber, bullet weight and twist recommendations :

http://www.riflebarrels.com/products/caliber_twist_rates.htm

If I've had any questions not answered by the chart, I've just fired an e-mail off to him and he's been real generous with his time in return e-mails and offererd opinions on what he thinks would work best. Later. >> klallen

Barrel twist

sakorick

Jay Edward (deceased)

klallen

klallen