.30-338 Which twist

C

CWPINST

Guest
I am having a M70 rebarreled to .30-338. My plans are long range deer hunting and target shooting. My builder recommended a 10 twist and has had very good luck with them in the past. My thoughts were to use 150-165gr. bullets for hunting, but would like to have capability for somewhat heavier bullets. I would assume 168-190gr. bullets for the long range target work. My .308 does well with 175 SMK's with a 12 twist. For those who have done this before, what has been your experience with the twist rates? I realize that I am gaining heavy (actually long )bullet capability with the faster twist, but I wonder if I would be giving up anything significant with the lighter bullets.

Thanks
 
Why switch bullets, and why use the light 150-165 grain bullets? I would find something in the 190-210 grain size (like berger 210vld's) I have found that the lighter bullets damage far more meat at close range due to there higher velocity, and they generally don't shoot as good, especially at longer range. On top of that is the having to load develop for two different bullets and trying to keep things separate. I would take your smiths advice and go with a 10" twist and use 1 heavy match bullet for everything. Trust me when I say that a heavy match bullet will do a fantastic job on any deer ,close or far, and is the only good answer for long range paper punching.

JUST MY .02
THANKS,
TOD
 
You mean your building a WINMOD70 ? :eek::eek::D

Id go 10 or 11,but Id use the heavier .30 bullets.JMO
 
Well you have to feed it what it likes, but I figured a 165gr. Accubond traveling at about 3300fps would have a lot of potential for the "across the beanfield" shots. Right now I have a LOT of 168 and 175 SMK's that I might try to work with.
 
Go 1-10". I have a 40X in that caliber and twist which shoots 168SMK's VERY tight. I haven't gotten around to 175's or 190's yet but am going to soon.
 
A couple of years ago I built a M70 30-338 long range hunting rifle and went through the same question (and asked on this forum...they might still be there if you look). I deceided on 180 grain bullets, and after a LOT of reaserch determined that 12 twist was the way to go. I have not regretted that decision.

If you go to "accuratereloading.com" (gunsmithing) and search for "My new custom Model 70 300 Mag.", I did a write up on my specs and some pics, plus comments from other people and responses.

I am right now building a back up rifle to the same specs (but in 300 Win.), and the twist for the new Bartlien barrel is: 1 in 12!
 
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