why do mfg's make barrels with slower twist? example, I have a Savage heavy stock, heavy barrel w/1-9 shoots great. but trying to find a lighter weight walk around gun seems like they are 1-12 or 1-14

1-12" and 1-14" shoot the traditional Varmit weight bullets well. 45-50 gr. Hornady used to have a 50 gr SX or super explosive, if you ran them too fast in a fast twist barrel they would vaporize shortly after leaving the barrel.

Colt what caliber are we talking about?

Less aggressive the twist, the lighter the bullet the barrel will like, and the more muzzle velocity the rifle will make.

Velocity sells.

Is your 1:9" a .223 or .22-250?

its a 22-250 shooting a berger 70gr that will shoot a ragged hole all day long, perfect for p.d's

mainly 22-250, I like to shoot heavier bullets.

You've got a less common combination from a factory rifle, and one that I prefer. I had a 1:14 .22-250, and once that barrel was done, I specifically rebarreled for a 1:8, so that I could shoot 75 gr A-maxes. I like that combo much better than the 1:14 and 55 gr bullets, it does much better in the wind.

But if you like light bullets, screaming fast, that's your call.

I don't get to do the p.d. hunts anymore so its just sitting in the gun room. few yrs ago savage offered a 22-250 w/1-9, syn. stock, should have bought one

What is it you're wanting to do? A light, shorter barreled .22-250, easy to carry?

When you increase twist, the velocity loss is only a few fps compared to a slower twist with the same bullet. It's a small enough amount of loss that it's not even a factor when determining the proper twist. I use to get barrels with just enough minimum twist to stabilize the bullet I want to shoot. Now, I will get barrels with enough twist to fully stabilize the bullet past the 1.5 stability factor numbers, to make sure you get 100% of the BC value.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

THIS.


Plus a tighter twist gives you more versatility down the road if you decide to change bullet type or weight....




Or you just like fooling with different bullets/loads....like me...

I am going over from 1:12" twist 1:9" on my .223, just so that light loads with 55 grain bullets will stabilize.

The 1:12" twist stabilizes max loads with 55 grain bullets just fine, but not the reduced loads.

Besides, I am used to using 1:9" twist and occasionally using heavier match bullets.

The drawback to a faster twist has been mentioned, you have to keep the velocity down low with lighter bullets, or they will self-destruct in mid air, prior to reaching the target. - Perfect for the reduced loads that I favor.

The ruger American compact & compact all weather is 1:10, that's the only LW rifles I'm aware of that come close to what you're after. The other option is a custom

A 1:10 should be good for 55-69's haven't done the charts but it's a good all around twist