Twist Advise

[Phil3]

I plan to venture into target shooting with a Savage Long Range Precision Varminter in 6mmBR. The rifle comes with either a 1:8' or 1:12' twist. My shooting distance will be primarily at 100, 200,local range), and perhaps at times, out as far as 600 yards,range 100 miles away). Mostly, 100 and 200 yards. What twist and bullets are recommended for this distance? Will I be making a compromise in accuracy trying to have an optimal twist rate for 100 and 600 yards? I will be reloading my own.

Thank you.

- Phil

 

[rcw3]

If you have to go to out 600 yards, you are going to need the 1:8' twist to shoot big enough bullets to get you there well. The 1:12' twist may be good for shooting very small light 6mm bullets at 100 & 200 yards, but they will literally get 'blown away' at 600 yards unless it's a dead calm day.

Robert Whitley

 

[NateHaler]

I plan to venture into target shooting with a Savage Long Range Precision Varminter in 6mmBR. The rifle comes with either a 1:8' or 1:12' twist. Will I be making a compromise in accuracy trying to have an optimal twist rate for 100 and 600 yards?

The faster twist is the only way to go, in my opinion. It should shoot lighter and heavier bullets very well. The slower twist will limit you to lighter bullets.

I don't think there's a compromise whatsoever with the faster twist, unless you intend to shoot light bullets that are so thinly constructed that they might spin apart at high RPMs. In which case, shoot different bullets.

Speer's TNT and Sierra's Blitz in light weights might fly apart at high RPMs. Hornady VMax and Sierra BlitzKing will not.

Fast twist all the way. It's more versatile.

 

[MarkS]

Phil3,

I like to use the tw for what I shoot. With what you are shooting I would have the 12 tw. You can shoot up to a 80gr. Berger, good to 600 yds. And can use some of the best bullets made for benchrest in the 65 to 70 gr range. It is very hard to shoot everything with one twist barrel, and make everything work well. The 8tw will slow the lighter bullets down and can blow them up is pushed too fast, but can shoot them very well, and will shoot every bullet.

I just shot a Egg shoot match shooting a 6BR 12 twist shooting 68gr benchrest bullets- cleaned all targets at 425yds and hit a egg at 500yds, search 80gr bullets and egg shoots or my name on this site ). The Stiller action gun has 3 6Br Barrels 12, 10, & 8. I shot the 12tw, because it is more accuracy. If I were shooting a 600 yds Benchrest match I would have used the 8tw.

I have the choice to change barrels when needed. For what you said, you are going to shoot, I think the 12 would work just
fine. The light benchrest bullets are much easer the tune and keep in tune, and will not run crazy like the VLD bullets.

Sorry, just some thoughts to make things harder. You want go wrong with the 12 or the 8. You can add a barrel to the gun later in the other twist.

Good luck

Mark Schronce