I want to try some Berger VLD hunting bullets with my A-Bolt in 300wsm. The Berger website called for 1:12 twist rate, which my A-bolt doesn't have. How will that affect velocities, trajectory, etc? Thanks.

Your rifle will probably shoot the Bergers just fine. My brother in law has a factory A-Bolt in 300 RUM and shoots the 185VLD's in 1.75" at 300 yds. You might get a little better with a 12 twist but I wouldn't get a different barrel yet.

And don't think they need to be touching the lands. Most of the rifles I've tried em in shoot them better with some jump.

I don't even shoot for groups at 100yds with the VLD's; they might not have stabilized yet. They do shoot great from 300 to 1000yds though.

If you are going to be shooting the hunting bullets make certain that you don't get a box of the target bullets. The ogives are different and they will shoot different.
God Bless, Louis

Oh yeah! They work great on deer too! I wish I could post pics I'd prove it. Devistating wound channels. I can't spell.
Merry CHRISTmas, Louis

I plan on using them for elk and big deer in Idaho, so glad to hear that they make a nice internal mess God bless and Merry CHRISTMAS to you too.

I have the same dilemma. Read that 1/10 twist generally works better with heavier rounds, 1/12 better with lighter stuff. Naturally, my Tikka .30-06 has a 1/11, so I bought 165 grain bullets to split the difference. Any input on just how accurate these generalizations are?

Is someone shooting BR with a Tikka 30-06? A-Bolt 300WSM?

If it stabilizes the bullet, twist-rate is fine. If it tears the jacket off, too much twist.

What is the twist of your rifle?

It is a 1 in 10 twist rate.

quote:

Originally posted by Winchester 69:
Is someone shooting BR with a Tikka 30-06? A-Bolt 300WSM?

If it stabilizes the bullet, twist-rate is fine. If it tears the jacket off, too much twist.

What's BR?

You don't say what weight bullet you want to shoot. That will determine the velocity that you want to load for. If you can't get the accuracy and velocity you want try a different bullet. I like Partitions and Accubonds. I have heard that longer or shorter bullets like different twist rates.

Isn't it the length of the bullet that has more to do with stabilization than the weight? (Yes, I realize to two are related for most bullets)

Greenhill formula

quote:

One of the first persons to try to develop a formula for calculating the correct rate of twist for firearms, was George Greenhill, a mathematics lecturer at Emanuel College in Cambridge, England. His formula is based on the rule that the twist required in calibers equals 150 divided by the length of the bullet in calibers. This can be simplified to:

Twist = 150 X D2/L

Where:
D = bullet diameter in inches
L= bullet length in inches
150 = a constant

quote:

Originally posted by Slabsides45:
What's BR?

Benchrest.

quote:

Originally posted by MRAMSAY10:
I plan on using them for elk and big deer in Idaho, ....

This sounds like a BAD decision when Nosler still makes Partitions.

A Paper Target Bullet should be used on Paper Targets, regardless of the Marketing bologna and Gun Rag ignorance.

Best of luck to you.

Yes, but probably not as much as one would think. A 1:12 twist will do well with bullets up to 180 grains if the velocity is there. Plenty of 308's do well with 180s, but we know they do their best with 168s. Go paper punchin', you'll have your answer...