Splashes vs Barrel twist

A

AWS

Retired PM Staff
I just read a post about abandoning the Vmax 65gr 6mm due to splashes. I loaded a lot of these in my hunting partners 243 Win. Sure it wasn't fur friendly, exits but killed dramatically. His was an older 700. Newer 6mm builds are being built for high BC bullets. We're seeing a lot more complaints of bullets splashing could faster twisted barrels be part of the issue.

Any thoughts
 
I think you are 100% on track. I said something similar a while back when talking about 223 with 7 twist barrels compared to say a 12 twist.
 
Was probably my post,shot 2 and 2 splashes,not condemning them just did not work for me.Apparently they work for some people.Seen where a well known predator caller had a problem with splashes on the 65 grain Vmax too.Will not call names as I do not speak for other people.He went to the 87 like I did problem solved.Wish they had worked as they shot lights out for me in my Tikka 243
 
hm1996 said:
Why not; if you spin a bullet fast enough, it disintegrates, so it seems to make sense that the faster any bullet is spinning, the more fragile it would be on impact. JMO, looking forward to others' opinion.
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Barrel length plays a role as well, longer equals more heat, which can liquefy the lead core.....poof!
 
AWS said:
I just read a post about abandoning the Vmax 65gr 6mm due to splashes.
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I'm assuming you are referencing my post. You bring up a good point that I hadn't considered, but my barrel is an 18" 1:8 twist. I have a buddy shooting the same bullet out of a 20" 1:8 twist .243 at roughly 400fps faster and has not experienced what I am. I thought maybe you hit the nail on the head, but that doesn't jive. Anyway, I'm going to try the 75gr vmax and see what happens. Heard good things about them out of the 6arc.
 
I think there are a multitude of reasons. RPM's and impact velocity are pretty basic. Then you have stuff like bore diameter. Round count, etc. If a rifle shot a load perfectly fine for 800 rounds then every 12th round starts getting poofs. How much jacket integrity loss was there before you started losing bullets?

Because of all the variables it's hard to pin point 1 exact reason.
 
I know I'm preaching to the choir...
For a 6mm to splash its more where the coyote is hit....actually any coyote caliber splashing is shot placements.
Ya thin jacket rounds like the vmax will more than most ...they aren't designed for shoulder shots- broadside or straight on.
We can all add in the technical factors like people have mentioned and I totally agree with those factors.
Majority of our coyotes are 30-40 pounds...we shoot a lot wellllll over 40.
I'll stick with 70/80 grain PSP.
1/9.25 twist
 
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I would think the distance/bullet velocity is still the bigger factor. I question the reports of splashing too, how do we know it wasn't just a crappy shot. But we could test this theory with some ballistic gel at close range with two different twist barrels.
 
I think splashes are more related to velocity and bullet construction in my experience. I shoot a 220 swift with 1-14 twist and used to shoot 40 gr. bullets going almost 4400 fps i probably averaged splashes 1 in 10 animals. After destroying a 30 lbs bobcat I switched to 52 gr bullets going about 3850 fps and splashes almost never happen now. My buddy had similar experience with a 22-250 with a 1-12 twist barrel. I think if it were rpm related you would see bullets coming apart sometimes in flight.
 
I like to use a twist rate calculator for my bullets However, it would seem possible to spin the bullet so fast as to create a problem, so that is a possibility. On the other hand it would also seem just as possible combining factors like distance to target, angle of target, shot placement, and size/weight of target can or could be as much of the culprit as any other reasons. Hunting scenarios are real world results of bullet performance. I've gone thru my pics to find that a short 50-60yd shot has a BIG exit whereas a 150-200yd shot doesn't and again it varies on where I hit the coyote.
 
"The faster a bullet spins the quicker it comes apart" Sort of. Higher RPM, more rotational energy to cause the projectile to jump 90 deg to trajectory when it hits something. This reasoning for the 'fast' twist AR15 223 barrels.
 
Velocity and RPM (or RPS in this instance) are directly analgous, both decreasing as range increases. Then you have to consider POI. Bullet construction, of course is an issue and POI is all important; hit a shoulder or spine and all bets are off.
 
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