Thread: rifling twist what are the effects?

Originally Posted by birch

yes but there must be some down side of having more twist? other wise wouldnt all rifles have more twist than what they do ? im just trying to understand all the different perspectives before i buy the wrong thing lol

Different twists have different effects on projectiles. I will stick to 223 as an example as that is what I am familiar with. the slower twists (like 1:12) will stabilise lighter projectiles like the 35 and 40gr varmint projectiles but will not put enough spin onto heavier projectiles to get ideal accuracy. A faster spin (like the 1:7) will stabilise the heavier projectiles like the 69 and 75gr which are more suited to animals that a lighter bullet may not drop effectively (or hold more energy further down range)

As I understand it, this is in part due to the speed with which the bullet accelerates down the barrel from stationary in chamber. As expected the lighter bullets accelerate much quicker and the heavier bullets take a little longer.

As you increase the rifling rate then as the faster bullets go through a faster twist (take it even further and say 1:4) then these rifling lines are now going to be too fast to have any effect at spinning and will behave more like lateral grooves shaving the bullet. (Think of how a cattle stop would affect a log dragged behind a car)

Slower (heavier) projectile need a faster twist, faster (lighter) projectile needs a slower twist.

You can shoot heavier bullets through the 1:12 twist but accuracy wont be ideal My rig is a 1:12 and I get 3-5 shots touching at 100m using 35gr -45gr projectiles if I do my part but with anything over 55gr those groups go out to 2 or 3 inches at the same range. This is ideal if you are shooting rabbits at 200 to 300 metres or more. But those light projectiles are not good on goats or deer.

If I wanted to use it in goats or deer the 1:7 twist and using a 60-75gr projectile would be better (more energy on impact) .

What are you wanting to do with the 223?