Since we have been having the 270/280 150 grain bullet discussion, how many of you guys, and what are they, build/buy a particular rifle,twist whatever to accomodate a particular bullet weight? I have always contended that bullet selection is not an important factor, unless a man only has one gun, and if that is the case, he probably dosen't handload.

Here's a few that I do. I don't deviate from these loads and there are more, but I'll list those latter if we get anywhere with this thread.

223 Rem. 50/52 Grain anything
220 Swift 55 Grain Ballistic Tip.
243 80 Grain Ballistic tip
6mm-06 87 HPBT, built this rifle with a 28" BBL and twist for this bullet.
6.5-06 120 Grain Sierra Pro Hunter Built this to get in between the 270 and the 7mm's
270 130 Ballistic Tip
30-06 165 Partition Great for elk, but all my 06's wind up as camp rifles.
35 Whelen 225/Ballistic Tip/Accubond
375 H&H 270 Sierra Soft Point.

Ok, lets hear from you now, I don't believe this has been hashed before!!

Jerry

When I built my 260ai, I had it throated for the 142grSMK, which means I also got a 1-8 tiwst bbl. IT shoots everything well from 85gr Sierra's-142grSMK, though the 139gr-142gr match bullets work particularly well out at the 300yd mark & beyond.

I put a 1:9 on my Sako when I rebarreled it from 222 to 223 so that I could play with the 69 gr MatchKing. Like fredj338 if I ever get around to building a 6.5mm precision rifle it will have a 1:8 so I can spin up the long slippery bullets.

I have a 6.5x284 with a 1:8.5" twist throated for the 142 grain SMK and a tight necked (.250") 22.250 with a three groove 1:10" twist built specifically for the 69 grain SMK.

if you click on the items in my signature, you'll see I am a wildcatter ..

yes, i have built a specific twist to do a specific rifle..

in fact, the FIRST rifle i ever built was a 1:10twist 358 winchester .. to deal with the then rumored barnes 225gr .358 bullet

If you have a particular bullet you want to shoot, any knowledgeable smith has a formula to use to determine the exact twist to optimize that bullet's accuracy. It hasn't to do with the weight of the bullet as such but the bearing surface of the bullet.

When I built my 6.5x284 I ordered a 1-8" twist bbl for the 140-142 gr bullets. I was intending to stay with the Sierra 142 SMK's, but it turns out my rifle had other plans. It shoots the 140 Bergers tighter than the Sierras.


I'm not sure if that's what you were asking about?

I HAVE been guilty of getting a rifle just because I had a set of dies sitting around, but maybe that's not what you meant either??

I'm pretty much a "one load" per rifle guy.
My Step Dad was that way, and I just followed in his foot steps utill I realized that was sound business for myself. Only one load per rifle allows for one scope setting, and no adjusting the scope to accommodate different points of impact. So, when I either have a rifle built, or buy a factory rifle, the bullet part of the load is preordained. In fact, the bullet is the only consideration before the purchase. As an example, I like things simple for hunting bullets; Nosler Partitions in a hunting rifles. They work. And, I do not have a rifle that won't shoot them well. I work with different powders and primers to get a good load. That's for Deer rifles.

I like the idea of one load per rifle, and I have enough rifles I should stick with it.
But I allways like to experement.
I have a load for my .338 win That squirts 225 grain TSXs into sub Moa, and i should be satisfied with that , but the amazing BC,s on the nosler accubonds makes me want to see what I can do with those.
Funny thing is out to 350 yards witch is probably as far as I should shoot , a rounds nose would likly be just fine !
...tj3006

I have a 1in9 twist 22-250AI that doesn't shoot anything under 60grs.It needs to get shot more I think.

I wouldn't buy any rifle without checking with the bullet manufacturer and/or a gunsmith as to which twist rate would be best for the rifle/bullet combination I am considering.

maybe not for one particular bullet as much as for the light side of the weight range vrs. the heavy side of the range. i've found that of all the rounds i've had or loaded for the 6.5 seems to be one bore that really is weight range touchy. the bullets weight range far enough from light to heavy that you honestly need two guns to shoot at or near opposite ends of the spectrum.

While one can specify a specific twist and throat a chamber with a specific loading in mind, this still is no guarantee that your rifle will shoot this load as well as you want.

A certain amount of dumb luck is always welcome.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
how many of you guys, and what are they, build/buy a particular rifle,twist whatever to accomodate a particular bullet weight? I have always contended that bullet selection is not an important factor,[QUOTE]

I agree; bullet selection is not that important. What I think is important is knowing what spin rate a bullet "likes". I was once working up a 139 grain Hornady SP load for a 7x57 carbine. Like most reloaders, I loaded up to max safe velocity. Well, while this was fast it would barely group within the 4 ring at 100 yds. The rifle was a 1909 Argentine Mauser with a 19 1/2 inch, 7x57 FN surplus barrel with a 1 turn in 8 1/2 twist. With the muzzle velocities I was getting, that was putting rotational velocity at around 140,000 rpm. I happen to refer to my old Lyman Manual which listed "Accuracy Loads". I noted several 7 mm chamberings, their twist rates, and that same Hornady bullet. When I calculated the spin rate for the accuracy loads it came out to be around 110,000 rpm +/- 5,000 for the various rounds. Then I did some quick figuring and came up with a reduced load to get me there. The first group went into 1 inch. I increased the load a half grain at a time until accuracy dropped off. Thats where I stopped-consistent 3/4 inch groups. I used the same technique on a 8x57 and a .30-06 and got similar results.

I've also found that some bullets are more "forgiving". That is they are happy across a broader range of velocities. An example are the BTHP's. On the other hand, I have found that the short, flat-based, pointed bullets like a narrower range.

If I'm having a barrel replaced I always look at bullet first then twist/rifling and hope I get the right combination.

Barrel manuafactor are good source on what shoots in their barrels as to twist/bullet weight.

The 280AI that my wife shoots has a Kreiger 1/9 twist barrel and the new one will have a Bartlein 5r 1/10 twist barrel. I did a 1/12 twist Broughton 5c on 300WSM new one will have a Kreiger 5r 1/11.25 twist. I settle on the bullet weight I want to shoot in each new rifle just need to work up loads with different powders all I'm doing now is waiting on those rifles.

Count me in as a "one load for each rifle"!

Having reloaded for years, I've gravitated to picking the bullet first that best fits my concept and use for each rifle. This way I can just pick whichever rifle best fits my hunt plan.

Yes, I have done it. My 6.5x55 is throated for the 120 Ballistic tip. I sort of wish I had done it for the 140 Partition, but that is a quick trip back to the smith, if I so desire.

Ray Sendero:

This is exactly what I do and was looking for in responses. Kind of shoots the bullet selection argument all to heck!

For hunting this is how I see it: 25cal/100g, 6,5 cal/120gr, 270/130gr, 7MM/140gr, 30 cal/150Gr, and so on.

Jerry

"If you have a particular bullet you want to shoot, any knowledgeable smith has a formula to use to determine the exact twist to optimize that bullet's accuracy. It hasn't to do with the weight of the bullet as such but the bearing surface of the bullet."

I believe you meant to say the length of the bullet.

That said, I built my 338 Lapua Improved just for 300 grain Berger VLD's, which aren't even out yet. However 300 grain SMK's will do until then.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
Ray Sendero:

This is exactly what I do and was looking for in responses. Kind of shoots the bullet selection argument all to heck!

For hunting this is how I see it: 25cal/100g, 6,5 cal/120gr, 270/130gr, 7MM/140gr, 30 cal/150Gr, and so on.

Jerry

Jerry,

Kinda sorta, but I don't do it by caliber/bullet wt. I do it by rifle design and use:

My light truck rifle is a sporterized .303 Enfield with a peep/lob site. For this rifle, I like the 180 FMCs.

My light carry around rifle is a sporterized 7,7x58 Arisaka with a 4X on it. Great deer rifle and plenty of whoomp for big hogs if needed. For this rifle, I like the 174 Hornady round noses.

My sentimental carry around rifle is an all original 7,5x55 Swiss K31 with a 2.5X scout scope (on a S&K mount that can be replaced with the original rear sight). For this rifle, I like the 180 SGKs.

My 270 is a heavy "beanfield" rifle with a mil-dot 8x32x40AO on it. For this rifle, I like the 150 SGKs.

My mid-bore is a sporterized Vz-24 Mauser rebarreled to 9,3x62 with a 4X on it. For this rifle, I so far like the 286 Nolser partitions, although I've got some 300 Swift "A"s I need to try.

I have never done that on any rifle I build, give me a standard twist with a standard throat and I'll make it work. I guess I like messing around too much to have just one load for one rifle.

The closest I have ever come is one of my three 22-250's only gets fed 53gr Barnes TSX's. I just recently acquired the other two, and haven't messed with them yet. But I really hope they shoot that same load well so I can have one load for three rifles. Or I will go back to the drawing board and work one load for all three.

My 270's are another story, I would have to go look to see how many different bullets and loads I have worked up for the multitude of 270's I have owned.

In fact my go to 270 has killed jackrabbits to elk with at least 7 different bullets, and probably 10 different powders. As a matter of fact, as I type this, the rifle is zeroed for two loads on my ammo shelf that shoot to exact POI. This is a 130gr nosler BT and 110gr Barnes TSX load. I have two other loads sitting on the ammo shelf that it shoots very well also, but I would have to check the POI before hunting with them.

My two 338-06's both shoot 210gr NP's and 200gr Hornady SP's to the same POI. And my Rem 700 has a Barnes 210gr TSX load that shoots exactly two inches higher. I just bought some 180 & 200gr Nosler Accubonds to play with.

I have a pair of 9.3x64 Brenneke's that I am having trouble getting loads regulated for. I would like to have a 250gr and 286gr soft and 286gr solid load that shoot to the same POI in both rifles and have acceptable accuracy. But so far, the factory Brenneke ammo is doing the best. I didn't have them throated special.

Once I get a 404 Jeffery built it will not be throated special for a particular bullet, but would like to have a 400gr soft/solid load that shoots to the same POI with acceptable accuracy.

Ray:

One of my 270's is the same configuration s yours. 26" Heavy BBL, I shoot 130 BT'S and IMR4831 out ofthis one 3200fps+ and one hole 3 shot groups.

SD:
I have a 375 H&H that I am having POI problems with,the 270 grain bullet shoots a full 6.5" lower than the 300 grain bullet. I know I'll settle on one load, and if I need more, I'll get a larger caliber.

Jerry