Effects on bbls of higher twist rates?

[David Bookstaber]

Holding all else roughly the same, will there be significant differences in barrel wear and fouling as rifle twist rate is increased?

(Consider substantial twist differences -- e.g., .223 in 1:12 vs 1:7, but assume that for some reason we're shooting the same loads through each over time.)

 

[KevinThomas]

dbooksta,

I've consistently seen shorter life out of faster twist barrels, but this isn't (in my opinion) a result of the faster twist, but of the bullets beign used; heavier bullets create more wear on a barrel than do lighter bullets. If you were to do up a 1x14" and 1x8" and then shoot nothing but 52 brain HPs in both, I'm fairly sure you'd see roughly the same amount of barrel life from both. Shoot 52s in the 1x14" and 77s and 80s in the 1x8" and you'll almost certainly see the fast twist barrel shot out in about half the number of rounds as you would the 1x14" barrel. It's heavy bullets that are hard on the barrels; the fast twist is just what it takes to make them work.

Not sure if that's what you were after here, but that's my take on it.

 

[msinc]

Faster twist definately fouls faster, I cant say about wear...I have never worn a barrel out but it makes sense and is no doubt true. It is important to match the twist as best you can to the bullet weight you intend to shoot. What I have always heard and what my experience has been is that best performance/accuracy is always achieved with the slowest twist that will stabilize the bullet you are shooting. One other thing I have always heard...if the twist doesn't properly match the bullet in a high velocity round because it is too fast you will damage the bullet and end up with no accuracy.