Just a goofy question.

Kendo · April 28, 2009, 04:33 PM

the other day we were discussing how to figure out twist rate on here in a different thread. Well I took some of my rifles out and started playin around with them, checking the twist rate and recording it for future reloads and whatnot. I checked my RRA .223 first cause I know the twist is 1 in 9, sure enough it came out right. Then I checked my .308 heavy barrel thinkin it would be tighter.Its not it's 1 in 12". My Rem 700 in 30-06 is 1 in 10 1/4". The 308 shoots really well, but I guess I related twist rate to accuracy.Is this not always the case. Like I said, it's not a big deal to me cause I really like the gun, but I was surprised.

VaFisher · April 28, 2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

The 308 shoots really well, but I guess I related twist rate to accuracy.Is this not always the case. Like I said, it's not a big deal to me cause I really like the gun, but I was surprised.

You were half right on accuracy with twist rate. It play's a big roll in accuracy when it comes to the stablizing of a bullet, the other factors like bullet weight and type goes hand in hand with the twist rate.

Kendo · April 28, 2009, 05:24 PM

Right, so I would think that the .308 would have the more twist of the two[.223 vs .308] The .308 bullet is longer and heavier and it is a heavy barrell rifle so I assume it was built to be the most accurate it could be. My original thinking was the tighter the twist the more accurate the rifle, and that heavy barrelled rifles probably had a tighter twist than reagular rifles.

Scorch · April 28, 2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

the other factors like bullet weight and type goes hand in hand with the twist rate

Quote:

so I would think that the .308 would have the more twist of the two[.223 vs .308] The .308 bullet is longer and heavier and it is a heavy barrell rifle

A little clarification:
* Weight is immaterial, bullet length is what matters, and in multiples of bore caliber at that. So a 22-cal 68 gr Hornady Match Hollow Point will require a tighter twist than a 30-cal 165 gr Nosler flat-base Partition, not because it is heavier, but because it is substantially longer in multiples of caliber.
* When someone talks about a heavier bullet, they are trying to tell you that the bullet is longer, and often they are right. Until you start dealing with BT vs flat base bullets, round nose or spitzer vs VLD bullets, and non-lead compared to lead core bullets. It's close enough for most conversations, and a form of shorthand.
* Barrel weight has nothing to do with accuracy. Target rifles often have quite heavy barrels, but so do cheap rifles.

10 Spot Terminator · April 28, 2009, 06:45 PM

The school of thought on the twist rate in relation to accuracy is the faster shorter twist rates tend to stabilize heavier bullets in their spectrum of bullet weights d available and the longer slower twists such as in the case with your .308 lighter bullets tend to stabilize easier . Do bear in mind bullets of match quality can tend to move outside of these parameters as they tend to run very long and will have a higher coefficient . It is not uncommon for say a .223 with a 1 in 8 twist that should like 60 gr. and heavier bullets will shoot a 52 gr. match bullet like darts. The twist rate on your .308 says it should lean more to 150 gr. or lower but dont rule out premium bullets 165 gr. or higher with high coefficient ratings. All of this said it still takes the right combonation of powder, primers, good brass and good repetative reloading techniques to make it all happen. It can at times seem elusive and just when you seem ready to give up you will find the majic bean that makes it possible to get the golden egg .

Kendo · April 28, 2009, 10:08 PM

Guys, I appreciate your patience and your input. As you can tell alot of this is pretty new to me. I' ve shot guns and hunted all my life, but getting into all the inner workings of reloading and guns is a whole different deal. I'm 42 and I 'm as fired up as the first time I shot a 12 ga with my Grandad at 5 years old. He was a heck of a guy and a damn good mentor but he didn't reload. Thanks again for puttin up with me.

April 28, 2009, 04:33 PM	#1
Kendo Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 103	Just a goofy question. the other day we were discussing how to figure out twist rate on here in a different thread. Well I took some of my rifles out and started playin around with them, checking the twist rate and recording it for future reloads and whatnot. I checked my RRA .223 first cause I know the twist is 1 in 9, sure enough it came out right. Then I checked my .308 heavy barrel thinkin it would be tighter.Its not it's 1 in 12". My Rem 700 in 30-06 is 1 in 10 1/4". The 308 shoots really well, but I guess I related twist rate to accuracy.Is this not always the case. Like I said, it's not a big deal to me cause I really like the gun, but I was surprised.

April 28, 2009, 05:24 PM	#3
Kendo Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 103	Right, so I would think that the .308 would have the more twist of the two[.223 vs .308] The .308 bullet is longer and heavier and it is a heavy barrell rifle so I assume it was built to be the most accurate it could be. My original thinking was the tighter the twist the more accurate the rifle, and that heavy barrelled rifles probably had a tighter twist than reagular rifles.

April 28, 2009, 06:45 PM	#5
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	The school of thought on the twist rate in relation to accuracy is the faster shorter twist rates tend to stabilize heavier bullets in their spectrum of bullet weights d available and the longer slower twists such as in the case with your .308 lighter bullets tend to stabilize easier . Do bear in mind bullets of match quality can tend to move outside of these parameters as they tend to run very long and will have a higher coefficient . It is not uncommon for say a .223 with a 1 in 8 twist that should like 60 gr. and heavier bullets will shoot a 52 gr. match bullet like darts. The twist rate on your .308 says it should lean more to 150 gr. or lower but dont rule out premium bullets 165 gr. or higher with high coefficient ratings. All of this said it still takes the right combonation of powder, primers, good brass and good repetative reloading techniques to make it all happen. It can at times seem elusive and just when you seem ready to give up you will find the majic bean that makes it possible to get the golden egg .

April 28, 2009, 10:08 PM	#6
Kendo Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 103	Guys, I appreciate your patience and your input. As you can tell alot of this is pretty new to me. I' ve shot guns and hunted all my life, but getting into all the inner workings of reloading and guns is a whole different deal. I'm 42 and I 'm as fired up as the first time I shot a 12 ga with my Grandad at 5 years old. He was a heck of a guy and a damn good mentor but he didn't reload. Thanks again for puttin up with me.