Any gains to a gain twist?

[DUCKMAN11]

I have my eye on a gain twist bartline barrel for an AR build chambered in 223wylde. It's a 1:8"-1:6.5" @ 20" length

Is anyone running a gain twist barrel in anything besides WW1 railway guns?

Is there any reason not to run a gain twist barrel?

If you have bought and shot a gain twist would you purchase another one?

 

[HARPERC]

You'll be happy with Bartlein. The minimal twist increase will likely ensure against some of the +/- that is not unheard of in barrels.

Probably not a real advantage of disadvantage that's measurable.

Bartlein used to have a good discussion on their website. Worth a read.

 

[dan belisle]

I have a few gain twist barrels on rifles, as we have a good 'smith not too far away that makes them. Sadly retiring I hear. In any case, I have had them in 340 Wby, 7 STW and 6mm Mach IV. All were accurate, all were slightly faster than the same cartridges I had in other rifles with std twist barrels. - dan

 

[Mike Matteson]

I looked into the gain twist rate barrels. Did a lot of talking and reading. Most match shooter don't use them. So I back away from them. I do feel it would easies to push the bullet down the barrel with more powder, without pressure problems. Never got there. It's what I have found out on gain twist barrels.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I spoke to Bartlein about using a gain twist in my 300 NMI build. They didn't share much of an advantage with them. In fact he really didn't even say there was any advantage to them.

If you decide to get one they will only do a 1" gain so you wouldn't be able to do your 8-6.5 as you mentioned above.

 

[Longrangers]

I looked into the gain twist rate barrels. Did a lot of talking and reading. Most match shooter don't use them. So I back away from them. I do feel it would easies to push the bullet down the barrel with more powder, without pressure problems. Never got there. It's what I have found out on gain twist barrels.

Interesting
I talked to a PRO shooter who is a friend of mine said that he was at a match and it was windy and came in 2nd due to X counts. They were shooting 600 yds. And 1000. He talked to the gentlemen that beat him and the only thing different between their guns was the gentleman that beat him was using a gain twist barrel. He thinks that there is something there.

 

[Salar600]

Interesting
I talked to a PRO shooter who is a friend of mine said that he was at a match and it was windy and came in 2nd due to X counts. They were shooting 600 yds. And 1000. He talked to the gentlemen that beat him and the only thing different between their guns was the gentleman that beat him was using a gain twist barrel. He thinks that there is something there.

To me, the best shooter on this day won the match, not the barrel...

 

[Longrangers]

I understand.
He said that he believes that there is something to it because there is a constant seal as the bullet travels down the barrel.

To me, the best shooter on this day won the match, not the barrel...

 

[WeiserBucks]

I understand.
He said that he believes that there is something to it because there is a constant seal as the bullet travels down the barrel.

If he had won, he'd have said the gain twist barrel contributed to his opponents loss.

 

[HARPERC]

There are believers, and non believers. There could be something to it, but it remains in the category of unproven.

One of may variables in the mix. A good barrel is a good barrel.

Certainly if it's an itch you have to scratch go for it.

 

[Mike D Texas]

When the barrel manufacturer that sells it tells me there's no real advantage to it, I tend to trust them.

 

[dennisinaz]

I talked to an expert about it who had done a fair amount of testing using doppler RADAR etc. He says that he 'thinks' that the gain twist needs a significant change to have a meaningful difference- maybe 2½-3" change

 

[Howard Van Horn]

I have a gain twist barrel on one of my 6.5 Italian Carcanos, the other Carcano does not have a gain twist barrel. The biggest advantage is when you are shooting cast bullets... less chance of stripping rifling and leading the barrel.

 

[bamban]

I run one for 1000 yards service rifle matches using 90 VLDs, 20 inch and 4-1/2 X optics. Chamber is my own, 223 with .170 freebore. Have not cleaned the 1000 yard target yet with it, best is 196 (could only claim 186, crossfird an X). Chambered one for a friend with the same reamer, he shot 197-8X launching 85.5s.