Best twist for .357 cast

[sutherpride59]

So my S&W revolver needs a new barrel because some idiot down the line tried to put a K frame barrel on the N frame I now own. My Smith game me some options and I’m trying to figure out what the best barrel option would be. I already have a 158grn SWC hollow point mold and plan on shooting those over H110 and some wadcutter a over W231. What twist rate do y’all think would be best, most of what I can find on the Internet is 1 in 16 to 1 in 18. He is leaning towards buying and cutting a green mountain blank with 1 in 20 twist. In all fairness I don’t think he saw the 1 in 20 twist on the barrel blank. Also, keep in mind I’m going to end up what ever the choice is with a 6” barrel. I’m trying to get the most accurate gun I can out of this thing and I’m not trying to be too cheap about it lol.

[centershot]

IIRC, S&W uses a 1:18 twist, that's what I'd use. No need to re-invent the wheel........

[reddog81]

A quick Google search seems indicate Colt used 1:14. Given that all the major manufacturers use 1:14 to 1:18, I'd probably saw 1:20 isn't ideal unless you're planning on loading light bullets to high velocities and then maybe the slower twist will help prevent them from spinning too fast or something like that...

[rintinglen]

Many years back, I bought a PPC 38 with a 1-14 inch barrel for 38 wadcutters. Were I today concerned with maximum accuracy, I would do the same. 1-20 is too slow.

[sutherpride59]

I went with the Clark custom, they do 1 in 10 which is the best I have found from further reading for wadcutter a and full loads. I don’t plan on going heavier than 158.

[Forrest r]

I went with the Clark custom, they do 1 in 10 which is the best I have found from further reading for wadcutter a and full loads. I don’t plan on going heavier than 158.

Good ^^^^, Aside from the twist, the 4-groove rifling in the green mountain bbl is more for bp/muzzle loaders.

colt 1 in 14
most 35cal rifles (35rem/etc) 1 in 14
ruger 1 in 16
charter arms 1 in 17
contender 1 in 18
s&w 1 in 18 3/4

My ppc revolver has a 1 in 11
https://i.imgur.com/k2b51Hx.jpg

These 2 dw's have custom 1 in 10 bbl's. They are extremely accurate and are a hoot to shoot full house loads in with bullets anywhere from 110gr to 200gr.
https://i.imgur.com/lwCejE1.jpg

[sutherpride59]

That is a sexy picture sir lol. I’m glad I went with the Clark custom, I’m slowly dwindling my collection down from lots of guns to a few really nice ones. Hopefully this will end up as one of those.

I have to ask American select though lol?

[KCSO]

1-18 for heavier loads and 1-16 or 1-14 for wad cutters and lighter loads. The standard 1-18 will group into 1 1/2 inches at 50 yards with 158 standard velocity loads.

[wbrco]

Good ^^^^, Aside from the twist, the 4-groove rifling in the green mountain bbl is more for bp/muzzle loaders.

colt 1 in 14
most 35cal rifles (35rem/etc) 1 in 14
ruger 1 in 16
charter arms 1 in 17
contender 1 in 18
s&w 1 in 18 3/4

My ppc revolver has a 1 in 11
https://i.imgur.com/k2b51Hx.jpg

These 2 dw's have custom 1 in 10 bbl's. They are extremely accurate and are a hoot to shoot full house loads in with bullets anywhere from 110gr to 200gr.
https://i.imgur.com/lwCejE1.jpgAre those EWK shrouds? Who did the barrels? Still a bit new to the DW world, and yes I'm on the DW Forms.

[emoji3]

Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk

[Forrest r]

Yes they are EWK shrouds. The bbl's came from EKW also, then the forcing cones and crowns were re-cut and polished. Now EKW has 1 in 12 twist bbl's, been thinking about picking up 1 of their 8" 1 in 12 twist bbl's.

American select:
The wc bullet was designed take up case volume. Less case volume ='s less powder & more importantly lower sd's/less variation from shot to shot. Couple that with making the ammo less position sensitive. American select is designed to take up case volume & will take up 23% more case volume for the same load when compared to bullseye.
bullseye vs american select
2.8gr of bullseye ='s .3cc
2.8gr of american select ='s .37cc

Using the same bullet & 2.8gr load for both powders the AM select will have less pressure. This gives the bullet more of a push then a slap.

You'll find that using AM select with a 148gr wc/hbwc in the 38spl results in a load with excellent case fill/case capacity, low sd's, isn't position sensitive, less bullet distortion from low pressures/low short start pressures & extremely accurate.

Anyway I like to use powders that have large case capacities when loading target loads & use a lot of these powders.
https://i.imgur.com/uAEg86F.jpg

Bullseye vs clays/AM select/trailboss (same load weight)
AM select has 23% more case volume
clay has 33% more case volume
trailboss has 100% more case volume

Filling the case is what wc target loads are all about. The bullets are designed to do just that & most reloaders look at the bullets and not the powder.

[sutherpride59]

Thanks for the information. I like playing with trailboss and clays is my go to for SWC target loads in my 1911 I just haven’t heard much about American select. I’m new to the world ofb38 & 357 so I’m still learning how these wheely thingys work lol.