rate of twist

[model 70]

ok, found two lever action carbines in .44 rem mag

one has a 20" tube with a rate of 1:38. it's a marlin

the other (winchester) has a 16" tube with a rate of 1:26

i'm leaning towards the winchester but is the 1:26 enough to stabalize the 300 and 340gr. ammo from buffalo bore?

[Rocky Raab]

Since the twist rate is faster in the Winnie, it'd be MORE likely to stabilize those longer bullets than the Marlin.

My copy of Load From A Disk says that the optimum rifling twist for a .429" bullet of 300 grains (0.9" long) at 1600 fps is one turn in 35 inches.

So no sweat.

[Lone Star]

Here is what BuffaloBore themselves say about using their .44+P ammo in Marlins:

"Many folks today want their 44 magnums to be able to utilize the heavy 300gr. and heavier bullets—Marlin has not figured this out. If you want decent accuracy out of our new +p+ load in a Marlin, it will need to be rebarreled with a twist rate of roughly 1/20 inch."

Now you know the facts from the horse's mouth. :cool:

[model 70]

dang, i keep getting that mixed up. i keep seeing the bigger nuber as being faster. so the bullet spins once inside the barrel for every 38" in the marlin?

[Rocky Raab]

That's it. And once every 26 inches inside the Winnie - the faster twist.

Think of as doing a mile (or a furlong or any other fixed distance) in 38 seconds versus doing it in 26. The 26 is faster.