Ron Smith gain twist barrels

[buckbrushoutdoors]

I'm having him put together my first semi custom build and would like some feed back on his barrels. I've heard there is pretty good possibilitie that the gain twist can increase velocity?
He's building me a 35 whelen barrel. My hope is that I can get over 3000fps with a 180 gr bullets.
My old rifle would spit 200 gr superformace at 2920fps hoping I can achieve more.

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

I'm having him put together my first semi custom build and would like some feed back on his barrels. I've heard there is pretty good possibilitie that the gain twist can increase velocity?
He's building me a 35 whelen barrel. My hope is that I can get over 3000fps with a 180 gr bullets.
My old rifle would spit 200 gr superformace at 2920fps hoping I can achieve more.

Without knowing twist rate and barrel length an answer would be irrelevant. Go short to get large velocity increase. Going long with gain twist is a mistake.

[double gun]

His barrels are excellent - why not ask him how much velocity gain can be expected?

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Originally Posted by double gun

His barrels are excellent - why not ask him how much velocity gain can be expected?

I would but its Sunday, don't usually like bugging people on Sundays. Just was curious if anyone else had found this to be true.

I would like a 1-14 twist but Im not sure what it would start out at..maybe 1-18 or something

[cowmanbob]

Just curious as to why such a light bullet in 35 cal?

[Mateo]

I have a 6.5 mm gain twist ready to pick up from Ron Smith. It's 1:14 to 1:8. I wasn't hoping for much velocity gain. Although it would be nice. I got the gain twist for lower initial pressure spike.
That being said I was always curious about gain twist spinning the bullet faster than the final twist ratio due to the 'gain' it's getting as it travels down the barrel.

[HW223]

Originally Posted by Mateo

I have a 6.5 mm gain twist ready to pick up from Ron Smith. It's 1:14 to 1:8. I wasn't hoping for much velocity gain. Although it would be nice. I got the gain twist for lower initial pressure spike.
That being said I was always curious about gain twist spinning the bullet faster than the final twist ratio due to the 'gain' it's getting as it travels down the barrel.

The rpm gain will stop the instant the bullet exits the bore,

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Originally Posted by cowmanbob

Just curious as to why such a light bullet in 35 cal?

Mostly because barnes makes a ttsx in 180gr... my current hunting load is a 225 accubond

[DaleJ]

Have a 7mm WSM with 21" barrel 16-8:1 inch twist that easily gets 3035 fps with 175 gr bullet. Its set up as a long range target rifle for 1000 yd benchrest. It has shot a few 4.4" groups at 1000. Its also made the trip to one mile where I got a fantastic group. I think they are worth doing. I have seen a couple extra long barrels with gain twist fail to develop reasonable velocity without excessive pressure.

[north american hunter]

Apparently Ron Smith makes good barrels, my son is wanting to put one on his 35 whelen as we'll he wants to use 225 grain bullets he is thinking 1:14 as well.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by north american hunter

Apparently Ron Smith makes good barrels, my son is wanting to put one on his 35 whelen as we'll he wants to use 225 grain bullets he is thinking 1:14 as well.

I have an 18-14 Progressive twist on my .35 Whelen Ai 24.5 " RKS barrel and it's as good as they get. Highly recommended.

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Originally Posted by DaleJ

Have a 7mm WSM with 21" barrel 16-8:1 inch twist that easily gets 3035 fps with 175 gr bullet. Its set up as a long range target rifle for 1000 yd benchrest. It has shot a few 4.4" groups at 1000. Its also made the trip to one mile where I got a fantastic group. I think they are worth doing. I have seen a couple extra long barrels with gain twist fail to develop reasonable velocity without excessive pressure.

Thanks that's very interesting.

[north american hunter]

How much does one of his barrels cost?

[1973 Moose]

I have 2 Ron Smith gain twist barrels, one in 300 Wby and the other in 340 Wby. both are 17-1 to 10-1 twists. Neither one got any increase in speed from a straight 10-1 barrels, but both, after considerable testing with loads, bullets and "COL" would not produce any group better than 1.75 inches. I know that everyone is going to say that they are "WEATHERBY'S. But the first 300Wby that I had made by Wolfe's guns in Edmonton 30 years ago would print sub 1/2" groups all day long using 200gr Sierra Game King bullets, with IMR 7828 powder. My advice is NOT to put any gain twist barrel on any rifle. you are changing the grooves on the bullet thus making the bullet sloppy in the riflings.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by 1973 Moose

I have 2 Ron Smith gain twist barrels, one in 300 Wby and the other in 340 Wby. both are 17-1 to 10-1 twists. Neither one got any increase in speed from a straight 10-1 barrels, but both, after considerable testing with loads, bullets and "COL" would not produce any group better than 1.75 inches. I know that everyone is going to say that they are "WEATHERBY'S. But the first 300Wby that I had made by Wolfe's guns in Edmonton 30 years ago would print sub 1/2" groups all day long using 200gr Sierra Game King bullets, with IMR 7828 powder. My advice is NOT to put any gain twist barrel on any rifle. you are changing the grooves on the bullet thus making the bullet sloppy in the riflings.

17-1 & 10-1?

Surely you mean a final twist of, 1 turn in 17”, and 1 turn in 10”.

And if I recall most of Ron’s gain twist’s start out at or around a 1 turn in 22” rate.

And too your accuracy point, I’ve never seen on of Ron’s gain twist barrels that didn’t shoot.
I’ve got 2 myself. My 1 in 22” to 1 in 12”, 25’06 would make a lot of fancier brand name barrels pale in comparison.
My 1 in 22” to 1 in 10” .280 AI, gives true MOA accuracy from true hunting bullets.
I’ve also witnessed other RKS barrels perform similarly, so your sloppy engraving theory is pure bunk.
Ever heard of bullet obtrusion?

[Dick284]

I’ll also add to my above post, that many a good shooting barrel has been ruined by the person fitting and chambering it.

There’s a reason Mr. Smith only sells his barrels to a select few gunsmiths, nowadays.

[robinpeck]

Is Ron Smith still in business? (I used to live near his shop and have been there several times.) If not, who else is reboring barrels in Canada?

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by robinpeck

Is Ron Smith still in business? (I used to live near his shop and have been there several times.) If not, who else is reboring barrels in Canada?

Ron is more or less on the sidelines these days, his son or son in law or some male relative is doing the lion share of the work now.

So, RKS is still doing business.