Barrel twist and bullet performance

[Hotshot]

I recently noticed Joghotrod shoots a 204 Dtech with 2 barrels one is 1:9 twist and one is 1:12 twist. I would like to invite him and anybody else with experience to report which bullets are working and which ones don't. I'd be very interested and I bet many others would too. Thanks in advance, Mark

[joghotrod]

I recently noticed Joghotrod shoots a 204 Dtech with 2 barrels one is 1:9 twist and one is 1:12 twist. I would like to invite him and anybody else with experience to report which bullets are working and which ones don't. I'd be very interested and I bet many others would too. Thanks in advance, Mark

Hi Mark,

I was shooting the 50 gr. Bergers in the 1/9 and they work great , but they don't shoot as flat as the 40's. I am working up some loads using 40 gr. V-Max's for the next trip to shoot pd's. The 1/12's shoot 32's, 35 Bergers and 39 SBK's real well. When I go back I will shoot 32's and 35's in the 1/12 Dtech's. I will continue to shoot 39 SBK in my Ruger 1/12 because they are very accurate in it. I think the 35 Bergers will shoot accurately in the 1/9 twist also.

I tried the 39 and the 32 SBK's in the 1/9 Dtech and they don't make it to the target. They just come apart.

I hope I helped.

Jimmy

[Hotshot]

I'd love to be able to shoot the 50 Berger, even though it appears a higher powder capacity would make it work better, but I won't build a barrel for just one bullet. I've got to be able to shoot the 39 and 40's also. Maybe a 1:10 twist is the answer. Anybody try that yet?

[scootertrash]

My wife's 20 PPC was built with a ten twist Krieger. She shoots the 39's from it with no problems. It also shoots 50 grain Bergers very well. The 50's are shot at matches at 9000' ASL, the 39's are used on pdogs at about 5500' ASL.

Mike

[Hotshot]

That's good news! Have you ever checked velocity of PPC compared to 204?
Higher velocity must create faster RPM, so not quite as much twist required for stability?



In my perfect world, I'd have 36gr and 44gr plastic tip bullets that would both shoot well along with my 39bk's in a 1:11 twist. How's that for a dream?

[scootertrash]

The 50's out of the PPC are running around 3450. The 39's are pushed at 3840, almost exactly what I run them out of my .204, which by the way, is a 11 twist PacNor Super Match three groove.

[greystone]

I've had 2-204's. Both have 1/12 twist. The first one that I had would not stabilize a 40 grain V-Max at all. It was already sideways through the target 10/15 feet from the muzzle. The 204 I have now shoots the 40 grain V-Max nicely with the same loading. Don't know why? I remember when the 243 and 244 came out. The 243 gained popularity over the 244 because it had a quicker twist rate that would stabilize the 100 grain bullets. I'm not going to get into that whole story. I believe the 204 would benefit from a slightly faster twist rate. Most of the major companies are still offering 1-12-aren't they . Sould have a quicker spin. Anyhow thats my 2 cents and 4 beers worth.
Dave