Will be sending an action to Bartlein for rebarrel. Bullets used will probably be 165 to 180 grain BT/Accubond, maybe 130/150 TTSX. Any advantage or disadvantage in going 1/9" instead of 1/10"? Seems the current trend is to go for a little more twist when available.

Also looking at their contours. I'm between the #2 Standard Sporter and #2B Medium Sporter to be finished at 23". Action is a Kimber 84L to be in classicish wood stock without a lot of extra timber. Wanting to balance a little heavy to the front, but still stay light as possible overall. Anybody actually used these contours? Thanks.

I'm ALL for extra twist, but a 1-10" is perfectly fine for the 06.

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^^^^ This ^^^^

Spot on!

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How about for the 240 grain very low drag match bullets ?

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The Sierra 240 SMK benefits with the 1-9 twist.

So the winner is 1/10" it seems for anything no longer than a 180 ballistic tip even from you 1/1 .224 guys. Thinking that'll be the route in a #2 std sporter contour with the whiz-bang 5R rifling. At 23" the #2 should be around .605/.610 at the muzzle. Ought to be plenty fat for a .30 cal. Even looked at their gain twist rifling for a second, but just for a second. Now to get the donor pulled apart and send in the action. Toughest part of all this is the long wait. You wouldn't know we're in a recession by looking at delivery times for custom barrel makers.

Hmmmm, just ran the twist question past Brian at Bartlein and he's recommending 1/11" for even the 180 to 200 BT/Accubond.

I shoot 190 Noslers into small groups through 12" twist 308's.

Berger shows 11" through their 210 grain long range and VLD bullets. I don't know how long a 200 AB is compared to those though.

10" would remove all doubt for anything I think you would shoot in a rifle such as you described.

I have a friend who did some experiments with heavy Match King bullets in the .30-'06. He found that going too heavy in the '06 was self-defeating: the hoped for gains were just not there. Heck 10" twist will stabilize 220 gr bullets, I think the 11" option is really a good one�

jim

Well, they all cost the same. I'd flip a coin but it only has 2 sides. Can't imagine a 200 AB is as long as a 210 VLD. And I hear Berger knows a little about shooting. But was certainly surprised to hear that from Bartlein. Brian there was talking about Marine target rifles being twisted so IIRC. Guess maybe as Jim says too much can be just too much. So 1/10 or 1/11 and now I'm more toward 1/11 because 165 to 180 BT's and AB's is probably what it will live on. Geez, over such things we agonize. It's enough to make a man drink Scotch over ice.

Ditto.

In choosing between the 1-10 and 1-11 I am going with the faster twist every time with a hunting rifle and hunting bullets.

[bleep] the 11 and go 10

shootem, others here have given a pretty thorough opinion of the twist.

As to your other question, I have used a Bartlein 30 cal #3, and have had chambered and sent off for more work a Bartlein 30 cal #2. The first question for the contour would be--is a CM barrel acceptable? I think Bartlein won't turn anything smaller than a 2B in Stainless for 30 cal. If you want a Bartlein, and you want either a #2 or a 2B, and you want SS, 2B is your only choice.

As to the heft of the barrel, I think a Bartlein #2 will be very acceptable. I have not held a 2B, but I thought my #3 was too heavy. I chose a #2 to pair with a wood stock also, attached to a Winchester Model 70.

FWIW, my Bartlein 30 cal barrels have been 11 twist barrels. I have not shot anything longer than 180 Accubonds, but they shoot well. The barrels normally put varying bullet weights in about the same place also.

Ahhh, there's those bashful quick twist personalities showing up. Yeah, time to man up and {bleep} that 11. I'm going 10. Maybe 10.5 As far as contour I've pretty much settled on the #2. Metal will be finished in gloss hot blue so has to be CM anyway. Joel, what cartridge you shooting in your Bartlein .30s? You using the 5R?

shootem, 30-06 for me. But just because I can't leave well enough alone, I own a reamer and it has a 0.337 neck (0.340 is SAAMI) and a 1.5 degree leade (3 degrees is SAAMI for the 30-06). I have to neck turn Lapua brass, but all other brass fits without turning.

They are 5R barrels, but after shooting 5R barrels from Bartlein and Rock and a 4-groove barrel from Brux I can't tell a difference between any of them with respect to the groove configuration.

I think you will like the #2 more than the heavier contour paired with the Kimber action. It should be a great rifle. I also put Dyna Bore Coat in the bore for rust protection, and plan on using Dyna Gun Shield outside the bluing once complete. Then the rifle should be as protected, or more, than with a SS barrel, but still have the gloss blue appearance.

yep make mine a 10 twist for sure.

1-10 is a fast twist for a 30-06 and a good case can be made for a 1-11. Read German Salazar riflemansblog

If it starts with German, it's over engineered...

A tight necked 30-06 by 0.003. And I'm worried about an inch of twist one way or another. You really are looney. Definitely Bore Coat and was figuring to try the Shield on the bottom of the barrel in the forend channel to see how it affected the blue.

Just checked out old German. Pretty sure we ain't building a MATCH rifle.

1-10"

11 twist is an invention of the match shooters....I don't care about them.

Hey now, that 0.003 inches could make a difference one day!

Naah, no Match. Just a purty blue & wood medium light all round 30-06 as accurate as Bartlein and the gunsmith can make it. Not a bad gift for anybody.

Been shooting a 10 twist for decades and see no reason to change. More twist has been proven the give better straight line penetration and that is the name of the game in the hunting fields.

Sounds a bit like a quote from someone in your signature line

I know German. I"ve shot with him at Perry.

I respect him.

There is no way in HELL I"d twist 11 when I could get 10. You just leave too much on the table with an 11 IMHO. I've seen 11s not stabilize 190s well enough.

I run a 10 Rock in a 308, and it runs 185s fine, and I suspect 210s will be no problem if I ever play with those.

a 12 is certainly out of the formula.

You can overtwist I guess... but running .224 bullets in a 6.5 twist 223 Rem, 20 inch tube, I could still shoot 52 smks at sub moa at 200 yards and about 3300 fps or so IIRC. And not toast them. Varmint jackets didn't fair so well at times... but the twist did stabilize 90 jlks.... very versatile.

IE you won't be unhappy with a 10.

The only way I'd shoot a slow twist is if it was a short range 200 or 300 max yard BR gun, and then I'd twist to the EXACT bullet I'd be running and no more at all. But thats a specialty gun and setup.

Maybe I am the only one here, but if this is to be a hunting gun, why not go with the 9 twist?
More rotational expansion with heavy bullets = win win to me.

Should get more than enough penetration at '06 velocities without bullet blow ups.

Not like he is going to be pushing 150's at RUM or Lazzeroni velocities or 600 yards + shots on game.