Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing What twist for .204

What twist would you recommend for a 204 with about the same case capacity as a 204 Ruger to shoot nothing heavier than 40 grain bullets?

Thanks

11

1 -13.75

Quite the difference in suggestions here.

Thanks

I’d go 11 twist also.

I have a CZ 527 in 204, 1-12. Lazer accurate with 40gr bullets.

13.75 twist and 40 grain bullets would be the perfect combo for prairie dogging on top of Everest. If you want to be SURE that the 40's will stabilize you need an 11 twist. Some 12's will not get the job done.

Thanks gentlemen. Going to order a 1-11 Lilja

Good choice. I have a 12 twist Lilja that is a great shooting barrel. I stick with the 32's and it's hell'o on p-dogs.

11 twist is the way to go, I'd prefer 10 but not many make them. As Bangpop says, a 12 twist can't be counted to stabilize some 40 grainers like the Vmax.

I mostly shoot the 39 gr Sierra Blitzking at 3800 fps out of my 20 practical and it's scary on prairie dogs.

Probably 1-11". If your nominal 1-12" is truly that, you'll be ok, but if it is a bit slower than advertised, you may have a problem with some bullets.

The problem bullet is the Hornady 40 grain VMAX. It has a long boat tail making it overall longer than other same-weight bullets. My first PacNor 1-12" would not handle that bullet. The current one does very well with it. Both do/did fine with the Nosler 40 which has a much shorter boat tail for a shorter overall bullet length and both have done very well with the 39 grain Sierra.

I am not sure that giving up the Hornady 40 grain is a big deal. I've found the 39 grain Sierra to be more accurate and the 40 grain Nosler to be "tougher" for bigger varmints, so aside from absolute max range expansion, the 40 grain Hornady isn't a major sacrifice if it doesn't work in your gun.

Tom

Another Bullet to try is the Speer 39gr HP.TNT.
Shorter than any of the others and no where near as expensive. About $12 a box of 100.
It should work in any 12 twist

And very accurate in the couple rifles I’ve tried it in.

I have two Wilson 204 1 - 12 twist that shoot 32 gr Blitzking very good. I like the 204 for night hunting.

If you go faster twist than you absolutely need it shouldn't hurt anything. I've heard faster may make your barrel just a tiny bit more dirty than a slower twist but never noticed that myself.

8 twist

Have ya'll tried any 40 Grain Bergers. I do love 'em.

God Bless, Louis

IIRC, I built one for a customer with a 1-11 twist..

I have two 20 practicals, one's an 11 twist and one's an 8 twist. The 8 twist will spin apart the 39 grain blitzking about 10' in front of the muzzle about half the time so I have to shoot 40 gr vmax's in it. In the 11 twist I shoot the 39 gr blitzking.

I thought the blitzking would be OK in the 8 twist when I built it, I even talked to Sierra and they told me it would. They were wrong. Based upon my experience I wouldn't go with an 8 twist again, it is indeed possible to have too much twist. The 11 will work for everything up to 40 grains. I'd prefer a 10 twist but not many make them in a 20 caliber for some reason.

I would go with 1-11