sdgunslinger,
Actually, the factory twist isn't really marginal for the 40 V-Max. The rumor that it is started due to the many on-line rifling-twist formulas, which use only the bullet's overall length for their calculations.
But plastic-tipped bullets stabilize easier than other spitzer boattails of the same length, because the tip is so light compared to jacket material. The late Don Miller, the guy who developed the formula most twist calculators use these days, proved that out after he developed the formula.
The JBM twist calculator factors in the length of plastic tips, and calculates the 40 V-Max should stabilize down to 0 degrees Fahrrenheit at sea level in the 1-12 twist, and of course will stabilize even better at warmer temperatures and higher elevations.
I suspect the reason some .204's won't shoot 40 V-Maxes very well is they just don't "like" them, for any of several reasons.
