Author Topic: accuracy with a 1 in 30 twist barrel (Read 579 times)

jd45 · « **on:** October 23, 2004, 10:43:24 AM »

Hello to all, I recently bought a Puma '92 carbine in .45 Colt. I talked to a person at LSI, (the importer), who said the barrel, (20"), has a 1" in 30" twist rate. I've never heard of this rate in .45 Colt chamberings, altho I have seen this in Lyman's Black Powder Handbook for a .45 caliber single shot pistol. With as wide a range of bullets available for handloading, can someone help steer me in the right direction? Should I stick with the medium, (250-275), or will the heavier weight bullets give better results. I plan to use a fairly stout load on deer. Thanx for your input. JD45.

ricciardelli · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2004, 11:21:07 AM »

1:30 sound kind of slow to me, for any jacketed bullet from a rifle barrel in .45 Colt.

Flash · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2004, 12:37:36 PM »

Just for the sake of conversation, I just measured my Winchester 94 45 Colt and got 1 in 16" twice in a row. I only used a cleaning jag but still, this should be close.

jd45 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2004, 01:57:49 PM »

Flash,............Bingo! I'd expect something like a 1 in 16 barrel, but a 1 in 30?! Where in the hell does this come from? jd45.

Iowegan · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2004, 03:18:21 PM »

1:16 is pretty much standard for 45 Colt in handguns. In rifles, 1:30 will get about the same spin as a hand gun due to higher velocity.

If you think 1:30 is slow, look at Ruger, Marlin, Rermington, Winchester, and Browning rifles in 44 Magnum. They have a 1:38 twist.

jd45 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2004, 05:43:36 PM »

Iowegan, I had a Browning 92 in .44 mag with a 1 in 38 twist. It shot well with Hornady 265 fp's. I guess I'll try out a variety of weights & see what does best. Thanx. jd45.

ktw · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2004, 07:58:39 PM »

Winchester/USRAC web sites lists 1 in 26" as rate of twist for 45 Colt in current production 94s.

I haven't measured twist in my recent vintage trapper to verify, but it seems to handle both 250g and 300g jacketed very well, at least in the 1200-1600fps range.

Flash · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2004, 01:37:06 AM »

I really had no idea that the twist was that slow in rifles firing handgun ammo. My method of measuring wasn't the most accurate but seemed to be good enough at the time. I am amazed that I was off by 10".

ricciardelli · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2004, 07:34:11 AM »

Winchester 94 .45 Colt 1:26
Winchester 94 .44 Magnum 1:26
Winchester 94 .357 Magnum 1:16
Winchester 94 .450 Marlin 1:14

Ruger 96/44 .44 Magnum 1:20
Ruger 77/44 .44 Magnum 1:20
Ruger 99/44 .44 Magnum 1:20

Rossi 44B .44 Magnum 1:16.5
Rossi 45B .45 Colt 1:16.5

Marlin 1894 .45 Colt 1:16
Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum 1:38

jd45 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2004, 03:30:51 PM »

Thanx everybody for your feedback on my question, especially Steve......I'm gonna check the rate of twist on this Puma myself. I posted this same basic question on Leverguns.com & in a week didn't get one....not one, response. jd45.