Help w/Barrel twist

[6XCShooter]

I am in the process of building a custom rifle in .243win
I have all necessary components except for barrel.
This rifle is going to be a dedicated Predator hunting rig and as such I plan on using bullets in the 70-90gr range. Most of the Barrel twist charts call for a 1:10 to 1:12 twist for this bullet weight.

No problem finding 6mm barrels with 1:8 twist but can not find 1:10 or 1:12 twist 6mm barrels available??

I already have a couple (6mm)6XC rifles with 1:7.5 & 1:8 twist set up to shoot the heavier 115dtac & 105 bergers. But I want the .243 set up for lighter bullets

The charts for the lighter bullets say 1:10 or 1:12 or faster ....well 1:8 is certainly faster? Will a 1:8 work well for the lighter bullets?

Other option is to order 1;10 twist barrel and wait months.
I need some experienced shooters or smiths to advise or provide pros & cons of using 1:8 twist with lighter bullets
thanks

 

[J E Custom]

I am in the process of building a custom rifle in .243win
I have all necessary components except for barrel.
This rifle is going to be a dedicated Predator hunting rig and as such I plan on using bullets in the 70-90gr range. Most of the Barrel twist charts call for a 1:10 to 1:12 twist for this bullet weight.

No problem finding 6mm barrels with 1:8 twist but can not find 1:10 or 1:12 twist 6mm barrels available??

I already have a couple (6mm)6XC rifles with 1:7.5 & 1:8 twist set up to shoot the heavier 115dtac & 105 bergers. But I want the .243 set up for lighter bullets

The charts for the lighter bullets say 1:10 or 1:12 or faster ....well 1:8 is certainly faster? Will a 1:8 work well for the lighter bullets?

Other option is to order 1;10 twist barrel and wait months.
I need some experienced shooters or smiths to advise or provide pros & cons of using 1:8 twist with lighter bullets
thanks

The 1 in 10 is the correct twist rate and the 1 in 12 will work if you load the lighter bullets, fast.

Some people are using the 1 in 14 for the lightest bullets with good success but heavy bullets are out of the question.

Most Barrel makers have In stock barrels in the lighter contours and you can get them within a week or so.

If you want a heavy contour or taper you will probably have to order it and wait 8 to 16 weeks.

The main advantage of the 1 in 10 is that it will shoot all bullets well.

J E CUSTOM

 

[6XCShooter]

Thanks JE very much appreciate your input
I am wanting a 24",fluted #5 contour (Remington Sendero or close)
Guess I will just have to order and wait the 4 months
thanks again

 

[adam32]

I know Midway had some 10 twist Shilens in stock...

 

[FearNoWind]

\...Guess I will just have to order and wait the 4 months
thanks again

If you have a 4 months promised delivery - good luck. Might be a good idea to wish for 4 and hope for 6 to avoid disappointment. Just my 2 cents ... but it comes from painful experience.

 

[J E Custom]

Thanks JE very much appreciate your input
I am wanting a 24",fluted #5 contour (Remington Sendero or close)
Guess I will just have to order and wait the 4 months
thanks again

Don't go through a middle man to order. If someone has it in stock you can get it within 10 days
but,If they have to order it from the barrel maker, Who knows when you will get it.

If you order it from a reputable barrel maker they will hold close to the shipping date.

I use a lot of Lilja's and they have never missed a delivery date buy more than 4 or 5 days
early or late.

Check with the top barrel makers and you may find one that has one or has a good delivery date.

PS: If you find one with a 1 in 9.5 that would work also.

J E CUSTOM

 

[shortgrass]

I ordered a 6.5mm blank from Hart a couple of week of ago,,,,,, 5-7 weeks.

 

[Clark]

Berger has a barrel twist calcuator:
http://www.bergerbullets.com/litz/TwistRuleAlt.php

Shilen lists bullet weights for twist rates.

Welcome to Shilen Rifles, Inc.

When you combine the first with the second or the first with first hand info, you find that and SG of 1, on the threshold of unstable, is stable and normal.

But an SG of 0.8, in the unstable region, may make a tiny group, and then keyhole a few.

 

[436]

I picked up a Pac Nor 26" polygonal 1-9 twist; for a re-barrel on the older Weatherby Varmint master I turn into a 6XC from a 22.250 Love the twist in bullets from 70grs to 95grs. It's a great walking deer rifle, and **** accurate. I used the original contour of the factory barrel so I would not have to touch the stock, later if I liked I could re-barrel it back to its original state. I have the same Weatherby Varmintmaster in a .224 Wby mag, which makes for a fun pair of rifles, the top one is the 6XC.
So I see no reason why the 1-9 twist wouldn't work well for your .243 Win.
Just my .02
Cheer's
436