Building 6mm Remington. Rate of twist question

[morcey2]

Over the next couple of months I'm going to be gathering all of the parts to build a 6mm remington. I have a bubbafied 1909 argentine that has an extremely smooth action. It already has no collector value since it has been reamed out to 31-06, the barrel chopped, and the bolt bent. It shoots ok with heavier bullets with longer bearing surfaces, but nothing to write home about.

Dear mom,
My rifle sucks....

The primary purpose of this gun will be a varmint gun with a focus on coyotes and red foxes. BUT, I'd like it to be able to work well enough as a light deer/antelope rifle w/ 100 grain partitions et. al. Most of the barrels are either 1 in 8" or 1 in 10" twist. I don't foresee myself shooting any of the long VLD or heavier boat tail bullets requiring a 1 in 8 twist. I've read in several different places that even the flat base spitzers like the partition and the sierra pro-hunter would benefit from the 8" twist.

Anyone have any experience with these?

BTW, after I get this one built, I'll have all 4 of the major 57mm long mauser chamberings: 8x57, 7x57, 257 roberts (currently being built), and 6mm rem.

Magnums! We don't need no stinking magnums!

Matt

 

[MachIVshooter]

1:9 became the standard when the cartridge name was changed from .244 Rem. 1:8 is pretty tight if you're going to be using bullets in the normal weight range. 1:10 should stabilize anything short of custom 110 gr.+ pills.

I have a Ruger M77 in 6mm with the standard 1:9 twist, and it shoots all bullet weights pretty well, though I haven't loaded havier than 105. I mostly use 90 gr. FMJ-BT for coyotes to keep pelt damage to a minimum, though my .17 Rem largely displaced the 6mm as a pasture poodle gun (those little 20 & 25 gr. pills at over 4k FPS kill like lightning and do not exit)

 

[Biggerhammer]

If you want to use the rifle for varmints and deer, I would go with a 10 twist. From what you say you have no need for a 8 twist for the heavier VLD style bullets.

 

[MistWolf]

My very first centerfire rifle was a sporterized 1909 Argentine in 6mm Remington. It is, even now, my most favorite rifle. It now belongs to my son. It has a 1:9 twist barrel that about 23 inches long and easily handles 100 gr boatail bullets. I used 100 gr Sierras and Nolsers and both would group an inch or less at 100 yards with little effort.

The 1909 Argentine action is, in my opinion, the finest Mauser produced. All that I've looked at had smooth actions. Take your time and do her up right