Rifling choices???

[cutthroat666]

I was looking at a Savage varmint rifle today in 22-250 and noticed that the same rifle in the same calibre is available with two different rifling choices.

The gun can be purchased with 1 in 9" or 1 in 12" rifling.

??? Can someone shed some light on why I would want one over the other? Does it have to do with different bullet choices (ie. match)? Is it about distance?

cutthroat

[CaberTosser]

Its got more to do with the projectile weight & length than its shape. Naturally a longer bullet will be heavier, and the longer/heavier ones tend to prefer a faster twist rate to stabilize properly than do the lighter/shorter pills. The 1 in 9" twist rate will be suitable for bullets on the heavy for calibre side, while the 1 in 12" twist would more suit light-for-calibre projectiles.

[IR_mike]

Longer (read heavier) Bullets need the faster (1/9) twist to be stabilized.

Too slow of a twist in combo with a longer/heavier loading may cause your bullets to tumble.

In my 1/12 twist .204 32,34, and 39 grain factory rounds consistently group tight.
40 grains open up a bit.
45 grain have trouble hitting a pie plate at 100 yards and never impact in the same area.

[bingo1010]

the faster the twist the heavier the bullet it will stabilize, if you don't plan on shooting heavier bullets (over 60gr) then the 9 twist is of no advantage for you. if you want to shoot long range... say out to 1000 yards then the 9 twist will stabilize heavier bullets(in the neighbourhood of 80grs)

[cutthroat666]

OK. I get it. Do I sacrifice something with the 1 in 9" rifling? Is it going to make lighter bullets perform poorly?

The rifles come priced the same so it would seem the 1 in 9" is a better overall choice. Am I wrong?

[bingo1010]

there will be a little less velocity out of the faster twist for a given pressure, as well you don't want to spin a bullet any faster than you have to, the faster it spins the more any imbalance within is magnified and the accuracy suffers. if you are shooting under 500, i would go with the slower twist. as well i should add....if you are shooting varmint type bullets with thin jackets then the faster twist will make them explode (at a given speed) more easily.

[cutthroat666]

We're talking about a 22-250 not 338 Lapua. Almost everything with a 22-250 would be under 500 - No? I suppose targets could come into play but this is a gun geared to varmint hunting. Something doesn't jive here.

[bingo1010]

with the right weight of bullet that rifle will accurately shoot out to 1000 yards.

[Gray Wolf]

I hope this is OK with Cutthroat . . . I was thinking about starting a similar thread (rate of twist question), but in regards to larger bullets. My question is basically the same, but re .30 cal ... hope it's OK to ask it here. Do the same concepts apply with larger bullets? . . .

I'm thinking of picking up a 30-06 bolt ... possibly a Tikka with an 11" ROT. But I've noticed that virtually every other manufacturer (Browning/Remington/Ruger/etc.) uses a 10" ROT in their 30-06's. Will I be at a disadvantage if I go with the Tikka with the slower 11" ROT?

Apologies to Cutthroat,

GW

[Cappy]

Not to hijack...but with a 30cal a 1-11" will stabalize everything except the very long/heavy 200gr + bullets.

I shoot .308's a lot in precision type rifles and they have 1-11 or 1-12's and can stabalize up to the 185gr scenars I've shot out of them.

[Dean2]

It is actually the "overall length" of the bullet that determines the required twist rate. The weight is actuall not relevant except that longer bullets "TEND" to be heavier. That said, the new generation of VLD bullets, the long boat tails designs and the long for their weight bullets like the Barners Varmint Grenades are what has spawned the recent availibilty and need for the faster twist for caliber barrels.

If you have the choice of 1:9, I would pick that. It will stabilize the shorter bullets just fine, subject to picking the right bullets to withstand the rotation at the chosen velocity, so for instance Hornady makes a version of the SPSX bullet specifically for the 22-250's higher velocities. With the faster twist you can also use the longer bullets. To use the longest VLD 22 calibers currently available you would actually need a 1:7 twist so the 1:9 is actually a tweener.

These same considerations apply to all caliber of bullets, the longer the bullet the faster the twist required to stabilize it.

[TangoKilo]

I would also choose the 1in9 twist. It allows you to shoot accurately with the broadest range of bullet weights.

[cutthroat666]

Thank you gentlemen. If I go ahead with the purchase of the Savage I will take the one with the 1 in 9" rifling.

cutthroat

[wwbirds]

Dean2
I have used the SPSX Hornady 50 and 55 grain bullets in my 22-250 for many years and like the accuracy and performance on coyotes where they explode within taking out heart and lungs without an exit hole requiring stitches. When I first started using them they came with a warning note inside each box not to exceed 3400 fps as vaporization from air friction was a distinct possibility. I suspect I experienced this once shooting near or slightly above 3400 fps when the bulllet made a strange sound and a 100 + yard coyote walked away unscathed. At first I thought the bulllet had hit the barb wire fence in front of me but on further thought it probably disintegrated prior to geting to the coyote.
I haven't noticed the warning note in the boxes for the past 3-4 years and your post seems to indicated they are intended for higher velocities of the 22-250 which would normally be in the 3650 to 3680 fps range.
Do you know if they have cahnged the format so higher velocities are now OK?
Might be a mute point for me for my BRNO is a 12 twist and my Browning is a 14 twist so I have found the best accuracy for these light bullets is between 3300 and 3400 fps.
thanks
Rob

[Dean2]

The SPSX is one of my favourite bullets also, in everything from 221 Fireball to 223, 22-250, 220 swift and a host of other 22 variants. Fantastic accuracy in virtually all guns, explosive impact and very inexpensive compared to their fancier cousins of recent make.

If you refer to the hornady website, the 50 grain is designed for 3500 FPS or less and for the 1:12 or slower barrels. Above that velocity or twist they recommend the 55 grain SPSX. That said, I shoot the 50 grain SPSX out of a 1:9 twist 223 at 3500 fps and faster, and have never had a problem. In addition to twist and velocity, the smoothness of the barrel is also a factor in having them not come apart.

Sticking to manufacturers' recommendations is always a good starting point but you never know how far you can push the issue until you actually try it. I have usually found there is quite a wide margin of lattitude available above the recommended useage limits.