I am a newbie embarking on a project to build a .416 Taylor.

I am wondering about rate of twist? I am told that 1:14 is standard for the .416's? Should this change for a shorter barrel(mine is going to be 21") or bullets? or for any other reasonably forseeable reason?

Douglas makes 12 and 14 twists. I've got both. I don't see any difference in accuracy or stability. Probably a non-issue.

I went with a 1:12 for mine nice clover leaf groups with all I shoot in it.

p dog shooter,

Can you offer more details on your taylor?

I went with the 12" twist for my 23" barreled 416 Taylor. Shoots well.

Cheers,
Canuck

What is the hypothetical benefit from 1:12 vs. 1:14?

I haven't gotten it yet, but I was/am having one built for my stepfather with a 1:16" twist, 24" barrel. that is closer to the original 416 rigby spec which was about 1:16-1:16.5 I am having a Rigby built for myself and ordered same twist for that. in fact, barrel might be done, I have just been bad about keeping on top of these gun things. increasing family size and a hotrod cut into it.

Red

"More than enough twist for any situation" is better than "not enough twist for some situations."

Always go for a faster twist than the traditional old standard for the shorter lead-cored bullets, if you want to use every bullet available within the span of modern bullets.

Inside of 500 yards, overstabilization causing inaccuracy is a non-issue.

Excessive pressure with faster twist at a given velocity: all the excess pressure of a mouse fart.

Extra spin will stabilize the transition from air to denser media, including game animals whose mud-caked surfaces are not normal to the path of the bullet: gives a good start at straight penetration and then dart and shoulder stabilization take over.

I have .416 rifles with twists of 16.5, 14, and 12 inches.

The last one I had built was a 1:12" twist .416 Dakota.

The last one I bought was a ready-made .416 Barrett with 1:12" twist.

Any other .416 I build will be a 12" twist.

George Hoffman got by with 14" twists but opined that 12" would be better for his next one.
I am sure he carries a 12" twist .416 in The Happy Hunting Ground.

Use enough gun and more than enough twist, and you will never be sorry, unless it is at a 1000-yard shooting match and your group size opens up by 0.2 MOA.

.416 Taylor, 23" or 24" barrel, 1:12" Twist, sporter contour No.4 or No.5 Douglas, or whatever muzzle diameter between .666" and .700": Sounds perfect to me.

....Or a 416 Taylor 19 " barrel 14" twist ,,or a 416 Taylor 18" barrel 14" twist ....Both are Brown bear killin machines .....The 18" has been backin up clients for 2 seasons now and even with the 350 gr Speer bullet @ 2350 it tips over 9 plus foot bears .............. ...My 416 Rem has a 10" twist works well , but may be a slow barrel .........

GDOG My taylor is a Ruger MKII stainless that was a 338wm. I put a 1:12 25 inch douglas stainless barrel on it. The only sights it wears is a 1.75x6 leupold. It weighs 10 lbs on the head scoped loaded and slinged. It weighed 8lbs 4 oz when I got it back from the smith with scope. I glass bedded the factory syt stock and added the extra weight.

great and simple project.. just do it..

anything faster than 18 will work just fine

jeffe