Printable View
Doing my first build. I am putting together a 243. I have most of my parts and just can't decide on barrel twist. I am not set up to reload so I need to be able to shoot factory ammo. I want a rifle that can shoot 600-800 yard paper on the range as well as shoot deer. I was thinking 1:8 for a long time but I don't know if thats too fast for most factory ammo. Is it better to have too much twist or too little twist?
Better to have to much twist than not enough. I would go with a 1:8 twist, as you will most likely end up reloading as you start to extend your range. If it were me, I would go 1:8 and load up Berger 105gr Hybrids at 3100 fps plus. That load would stay supersonic out to 1500 plus yards. That would be a deadly load for deer size game and smaller.
+1 on the 8 twist,it will allow you more options on your bullet selection. A standard 10 twist somtimes won't stabilize a 95 to 100 grain bullet, which is most likely what you will want to use hunting deer. Also if you decide to reload someday you will have the ability to load some very high BC bullets for that 800 yrd paper target
I went with a 1-10 barrel and it shoots 100gr sierras great.
1-8 for sure.
While not a .243 I have a 6x45 w/the 1/10" twist and it will shoot everything from 55g to 95g very accurately and small holes in targets to 600 yards.
My stock .243 w/1-9.5" twist, shoots everything to 100g equally as great.
If you want to shoot high BC 95 and 105gr bullets, don't waste your time, get a 1:8 match barrel. I got a Savage 12 with the 26" varmint contour 1:9.25 barrel and it would not group worth a **** with either 95 or 105gr VLD's.
Otherwise, save your money and get a 1:9.25 factory rifle for less than the price of a match barrel. You will find out soon enough that the only 100 gr bullets it will shoot are made for short range shooting and that was not your stated goal. There is a big difference to stabilizing a short 100gr flat base soft point bullet vs stabilizing a nearly 1.3" long 105gr VLD. It can be heart breaking to have spent $350 on a custom piece of hardware only to find that it does not deliver on the goals that you set out to achieve.
pick bullet, check chart for the slowest twist that will stabilize the bullet > use this twist.
Thanks all. I ended up purchasing a 26" varment contour shilen stainless match select from NSS today. Jim's price was just too good a deal to pass up and with all the advice I got one here I went with the 1:8 twist. It kind of helped my decision that the 1:8 was all he had in stock at this time anyhow.
You will not regret that decision. Was it a "regular" chamber or an Ackley Improved ? Mine was an AI. It also happened to be all he had in stock at the time... 16-20wk vs take the AI ???? Well, ya know how that went... I have to say that even my fireforming loads have surpassed the original Savage barrel by such an extent I will be quite happy hunting inside 600 yards with my fireforming loads.