Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles European 30 cal. twist rates.

I've noticed Sako and Sauer rifles are twisted at 1-11 for the .308 and 30-06. With so many calibers going to a faster twist, even some older ones, does anyone know why the slower one on these Euro rifles?

That’s a very common twist rate here in the US for custom barrels such as Bartlein. Usually closer to 1/11.25 but that twist rate seems to work really well.

Does it give better accuracy for commonly used bullet weights? Basically anything up to 180g.

In the custom barrels I’m speaking of they’ll generally shoot the 168’s, up to the 190’s match bullets. It may be a stretch but it’ll possibly stabilize the 210’s. It also should do well with the 155 match bullets as well. That twist rate would be my choice in a .308 win.

I’m not sure about better accuracy, maybe a bit more speed than a 1-10… that’s what I’ve noticed, the slower the twist the faster I can send bullets of the same weight. I used 1/12 Hart barrels for many years that had no problem stabilizing 175 gr Sierras.

My BACO M70 EW has a Bergara barrel, 1-12”. That’s been the standard for .308s since Winchester dreamed it up. Given the limited case capacity, I think it suffices.

I have a Husqvarna 640 30-06 with a 24" 1 in " twist barrel. I still have to put it in a stock so haven't gotten around to shooting it yet. However, I do have a custom FN Mauser with a 1 in 12" Douglas barrel that is dead nuts accurate with the 165 gr. Accubonds but does not group worth crap with anything heavier. In theory anyway, a 1 in 12" should stabilize bullets up to 180 gr. but not this one. For the record, I got the barrel for $100 and the gentleman installed it for free along with whittling out a stock from some very unusual walnut. I must have rebedded that thing at least a half dozen times of more tying to make it shoot the 180 gr. bullets that were my go to in the 06. Finally I got a McMillan stock and bedded it and it still didn't shoot 180s. One day I loaded up some 165 gr. Accubonds just to use them up and damn me if I didn't get a great group. Five shots in .75". Tried some more with equal or better results and they've been my go to ever since for that rifle. I even took a nice cow elk with it one year when the scope on my .35 Whelen decided to crap out on me. If that "Husky" shoots 180s into good groups for me I'm going to suspect that the FN has a slower than 1 in 12" twist. I have tried a few times to get the twist but can't get enough bite on the patch to get an accurate reading for some reason.
PJ

PJ...just my opinion...twist ain't your problem, a lot better riflemen than me launched 190, 200 and 220 Sierra Match kings out of 12 twist barrels at Camp Perry for many years. Eventually, AMU set the trend for the 11 inch. Another 'opinion'...forget the patch, go with a 8mm/.323 brush.

Thanks for all the info.

Remember that the 30-06 is 1:10 to stabilize a 220-grain bullet. I've owned a number of 1:12 Husqvarnas in 30-06 that shot lights out with 180-grain bullets.


Okie John

My custom ‘06 has an 11 twist Krieger barrel. Shoots everything from 150s up to 200gr Nosler partitions just fine. We don’t shoot long range or use target bullets for hunting. Longest shot taken with it was 350yds on a nice bull elk, one 180gr North Fork and he never took a step.