Actually the faster twist would be better to ensure stabilizing the longer higher BC bullets like the 140 A-Max and up. I have a 15.75" Shilen on my XP that was turned down by Greg when he put it together, BUT it's heavier than i like for hunting. The best hadngun i've ever seen for hunting big game has got to be Ernie's XP Patriot. It has the perfect balance of weight and accuracy for the kind of hunting we do. We calculated it once awhile back and he was getting more energy with a 180 Sierra at 300 yds. than his old 284 Win.(or maybe the 7-08) was getting at the muzzle-- something like that-- it's been awhile since we worked with the figures on his Patriot.

As far as cases go for that application-- sounds like that's been covered pretty well. I think the 8 or 9 twist would be just fine, and i'd stick with the heavier bullets of 129 up.

Truth is when u're talking about long-range in the field u need 3 things besides the basics--

1) knowing the range instead of guessing

2) know u're own personal limitations relative to the conditions.

3) Having a good "tactical" system established for your rig, i.e. knowing where the bullet will impact, by referencing the trajectory with either a ballistic/ranging reticle or calculated comeups both of which should be ironed out at the range.

I tell u Doug when i killed that 900 yd. coyote i bet that gun wasn't shooting consistent MOA at the time. But i had a good tested tactical system established for it, and i knew what the range was. I probably shouldn't have taken the shot honestly. I doubt the bullet would have killed him quickly had it not hit him where it did-- as it took out his spine upon exiting-- i was very lucky that it didn't wound him.

Maybe a month or so later i was out hunting with my wife, and took a shot with that same handgun at a dirt cloud at a lasered 1000 yds., using the same stadium seat/sitting position and hit within 4" of it. Dug the bullet out of the dirt bank and it's here now on my bookcase-- all this out of a gun that wasn't shooting very well. But again i had that "tactical" ace up my sleeve. Shooting a big game animal at 400 yds. with these larger handguns-- say 25 cal. on up is really a piece of cake these days. With the advent of the laser, then ballistic reticles, and accurate ballistics programs-- u can do all the calcs at home after the initial range session, and go out the next day and hit 8" tgts. at 600 yds.+ on the 1st shot often enuf that it'll blow your mind (altho. of course complete testing of the system is really necessary to be sure on game-- since there's really too many variables to expect it to work ALL the time). Once u get the system ironed out you'll go out and make these kind of shots, and u'll say to yourself, Man, did i do that? I still say that.

Ernie and i went to the Iternational Tactical Rifleman's Competition last year-- a long-range shooting event for sniper's and practical shooters, and we got to one of the stations where Ernie needed to engage 5 8" steel silhouette discs between 585 and 685 yds. He nailed every one the required 2 times each. I couldn't believe it and neither could he. I tell u it's amazing what can be done-- Don Bower was doing this stuff back in the '80's. U know how his Super line of cartridges got their name? When he or his brother would pick 1 up, and nail a primer box @ 5oo yds. on the 1st shot off a bench, he would say "Man that's just Super". He was doing this without ballistic/ranging reticles, good ballistic programs, certainly no lasers. Wonder what he would do now with all these extra ingredients?? Truth is, he was probably born too soon.

Steve,
Thanks for your input. It's all good advice. I only know a little about Mr. Bower, but would have to agree that he was born too soon.
I appreciate your suggestion on rate of twist too. I am dabbling at longer range shooting right now and your point of having a good tactical system established is well taken. That part of shooting fascinates me. Being able to calculate hold for a 800+ yard target seems amazing, and sounds fun too. The bottom line is be well prepared ahead of time, and you can make those types of shots. I'm always up for learning something new, and have enjoyed this exchange immensely with all the people who have participated.

Doug,
FWIW When Steve and I shot at ITRC we used our single shot XP's, not bolt rifles and customized AR-15's.

If you want the exact taper of my Patriot XP I can get the specifics when you need them. I will post a couple of pics to give you an idea of the taper. Each pic will show a different stock since the orginal black one broke (Older H-S stock). A light tapered barrel may NOT be what you want depending on the type or style of hunting / shooting you intend to do.



Here it is in it's current set-up as used @ SHOTS.

Ernie, I was looking on the Broughton barrel web site and there are quite a few different contours listed. From your photos your barrel seems to taper pretty quick and then looks to end up about .75-.8?? at the muzzle. Maybe Greg would be able to make a suggestion if I told him I wanted a 15 inch barrel with a Vais brake mounted to it. I noticed on his web page he lists a Vais brake for 1K yard shooting, do you know how thats different from the standard? Do you just have a standard Vais on your Patriot XP? I would like to keep the overall weight of the gun to no more than 4.5 lbs (before scope and mount). I am going to measure the muzzle diameter of my 6mmBR. That has the varmint barrel on it so its a bit heavier than the silhouette version. The difference probably being in how fast the barrel tapers.

Doug the Vais brake he is talking about for 1k shooting has the tannel baffle in it, whic helps at range beginning around 600 yard s and further. I have this on my heavy barreled 6.5-284, but not on my Patriot.
I will need to weigh my Patriot xp again. It will weigh more than before, because Greg added some weight on the yellow stock as it was first on my 6.5-284 XP.