Slow Twist versus Fast Twist

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Rachen

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I have done some research over the past few days, and I know that fast twist rifling tends to improve accuracy, while slow twists are generally meant for patched roundballs.

Does a faster twist, like 1-56" barrel coupled with a heavy conical improve accuracy greatly than the same projectile being fired from a slower twist, like 1-77" barrel?
 
The fast twist rifles would be like the inline models have something on the order of 1 in 28" twist ..
The 1 in 48" twist like alot of the side lock Hawken rifles have will shoot well with the conicals , and reasonably well with patched round ball .
The 1 in 70" is the better round ball twist ...but won`t spin a conical fast enough .
 
Well, yes and no. Twist, like everything else in black powder shooting doesn't necessarily conform to a simple rule. Projectile weight, patch thickness, powder load and rifling depth, in that order, all have some mitigating effects.

In general, slow twist (1:60, 1:70, etc.) will shoot a patched round ball more accurately than a conical projectile of the same weight from the same barrel with the same powder charge. And conversely a fast twist (1:20, 1:30, etc.) will shoot a conical projectile more accurately...

And the 'legendary' 1:48 twist is the so-called best compromise, shooting each equally well (or poorly, as the case may be).

But you can get good accuracy out of a fast twist barrel with a prb by reducing the load from that used with the conical. It probably won't ever be as good as the conical in that barrel, but don't give up on it.

Rachen, the operative word in your question was 'greatly' - given that, the answer is no, not greatly, especially with the twists you quoted. A little bit, yes, but not greatly. It would be significant, however, if you were comparing 1:70 with 1:20, same weight projectile, same powder load.
 
Wow arcticap, thanks for the treasure trove!

And do you know what I found out today?

The Armi Sport Enfield has the SAME rifling as the original Enfield that has the served the Confederacy! One in 48 twist, just enough to keep that Minie stabilized at period-correct distances. The Euroarms have a slower twist.
 
The EuroArms Zouave rifle musket has a 1 in 66" twist ...I just bought one , and it`s a good round ball shooter ..I never shoot the heavy minnie`s , a 58 cal round ball is a BIG BALL . I don`t have a clue if this would be the original twist for the Zouave rifle or not . It is one to have a look at if your interest is in patched round ball shooting .
 
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