Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What is the most versatile Barrel Twist for a .30-06???

I called Pac Nor to ask about ordering a 24" .30-06 barrel. When I asked what twist, they asked me what bullet wt I would be shooting. What bullet wts do most of you choose in the .30-06 for each specific game? Obviously, you can only have 1 twist rate in a barrel, so which twist rate is the most versatile? (does the best job at shooting a large variety of bullet Wts. )

Never mind them picking the twist.

Get 1-10". That will cover it. Always has.

1-10" - 5 groove will do anything you want and more

Do you guys like 24" for the length?

Depends on "YOU" and your wants...

I'd base it on the style of hunting you plan on doing...

If it's spot and stalk in open country, 24" would work for "me"
If it's tree stand hunting, 22" might be better for "me"
If it's close quarters blind hunting, I might opt for a 20" again that's for "me"

Also might make a difference in stock you plan to use...

Contour of barrel would matter too on how long it ended up...

I like 12twist as it will handle the 200grainers.
Butch

A 10 inch twist is considered to be standard for a 30/06 and will handle anything you care to shoot. Having said that, a twelve twist would also probably handle anything you might care to shoot through it.
I would use a ten and I probably would make it 24 inches long and not too heavy (a #2 Douglas taper is about right). GD

I have two Husqvarna 30-06 rifles. Both have 1:12 twist factory barrels and both will stabilize 200 gr spitzers and 220 gr RN bullets.

Ted

+1

this is a surprise to most folks!

benchrest shooters use a 1:17 for the light weight target bullets that are long for their weight. If you get the twist designed for the weight you want to shoot, you should expect exceptional accuracy and also a little less pressure than a 1:10 twist(you won't notice this unless your rifle has an accuracy node on the edge of being a hot load).

I shoot 200gr Partitions just fine out of a 1~10 twist barrel, and I prefer 22-23 inches.

Get a 1:10 twist, shoot 165 and 180gr Partitions and call it good. Actually, it will be very good...

CLB

1:10" is my default .30 twist

I like the 10" twist in the .300s as well, although most makers go 12" in a .308. My most recent is a NULA M24, and I copied Mule Deer's specs of a 24" no. 2 weight stainless Douglas barrel.

If you want to shoot solids the faster twist will keep the bullet point on in bone (most folks do not know this). This is a genuine rifle loonie "oulie", or lesser known fact.

jim

I'd have gone with 1 i 10" until getting my HVA with 1 in 12" twist that shoots 200 grain Partitions better than any bullet of 150-165 grains. That barrel shoot 180 grain Hornady RN better than most will believe. The slower twist is not at all a hindrance.

Benchresters usually like the slowest twist that will stabilize the bullets that you want to shoot; the velocity of the bullet is also a factor.

I've had 300 mags with 1-11 & even at those velocities, that twist would stabilize 200 grain Partitions.

I believe in fast twists when they are needed, but the '06 will work just fine with 1-10 to 1-12.

MM

My Douglas 1/10 handles evereything I've tried from 110 VMax to 240 Matchking just fine.

My 308 is 1/12 and it handles the 200-208 gr stuff fine too. It is also fine with 220 roundnose, but i haven't tried 220 BTHP in it yet, but have been meaning to just out of curiosity.

The extra RPM of the 1/10 adds a bit of insurance for getting the TTSX and similar type monometal bullets opened up.

I went with a 1-11.25" Rock on my 30-06 & it'll shoot anything from 150's to 200 grains.


Going with a 1-11" on a .308 & 300 Win Mag build.

i am using a 1-10" and it has shot everything i have fed it into less than an inch. from 125 to 180 VLDs. its 26"

As to being the most versatile I think you would have to give it to the 1 in 10 twist over anything twisted slower.

My .308 and .30-06 Sako's are 1:11 twist and shoot pretty much anything I've fed them.