what barrel for 45 lc.

[dangerranger]

If you had the chance to choose between 1:16 or 1:18  in a handi what would you choose. I normally shoot 230,and 255gr cast bullits that I share with my revolvers. and in light enough loads that if one got into an old colt Id have no worrys. I have a mould that casts 160s also but have yet to find an accurite load for it. may be a little under sized. would the 1:18 be better for heavy bullits?  what do you think ? DR

[gcrank1]

I'd go 1:16. The nice thing about the faster twist is that it will not only shoot (stabilize) the longer, heavier bullets but if you want to shoot sub-sonic loads the stabilization will be there too.
Caliber aside, as a for instance (per C.E.Harris) the old 38spl cartridge shoots better in colts with a 1:14 twist than the S&Ws with the 1:18+ twist, especialy evident at 50yds out.

[gendoc]

i like throw'n heavy boolits slow 
it works in all 7 of my colts, 6 shooters and raffle guns

[gcrank1]

Yeah, as in,"even my fast gun is slow" works for me too.

[dangerranger]

 Go figuer, Id have thought the 1:18 would have been the hands down winner for heavy bullits. [250-300gr]. DR

[gcrank1]

The 'rule of thumb' is: the longer (and thus heavier) the projectile the more twist is required to stabilize it.
There is the oft mentioned 'Greenhill Formula' that you can reference. If you find a chart for your caliber keep in mind the twist is a minimun for the bullet length (or weight) you look at. You will be well served by ereing to a bit faster without any trouble.