I have a hastings paradox on my 870. I would not shoot much over 100yds. I've killed the majority of deer with it including a 12pt at 40 yards and an 8pt at 75 yards. Hastings barrels have a 1-34 twist.
Here is an interesting article.
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=44960
Here is another interesting article.
The One in 28 Twist Rate and How it Came to Be
Back more than a few years ago (Figure around 1989) Randy Fritz from Tar-Hunt Custom Rifles and I were both working our own specialized businesses - he with the beginnings of what is now a household name, Tar-Hunt, and I with Accuracy Innovations which soon came to be Sabot Technologies Inc.? We both could see the problems with the BRI sabot slug, mainly extended range accuracy.? Randy with his quest for accuracy and his bolt guns along with his knowledge of benchrest rifles soon became intrigued with what I was playing at, trying to calculate the "perfect rate of twist" for a rifled shotgun barrel..
My pursuit left a stack of legal pads about 1 foot thick, each one filled with equations. I had found the correct number for twist but had no gun to prove it on and with limited contacts in button rifling . . ., well you can imagine how important Randy?s Tar-Hunt slug gun became.
Enter Shaw barrels and a fellow by the name of Olie Olson, General Manager for the Small Arms Manufacturing Company.? Small Arms supplied Shaw barrels for Randy?s 12 gauge bolt action slug gun.? And good shooters they were too. But extended accuracy at 125 and 150 yards still was not there.? Both Randy and I agreed that slug guns should be able to achieve sub-minute groups out to 125 yards and beyond.
You have to remember that we were working with this BRI sabot slug only, at that time. This was before the Lightfield Hybred?, Remington?s copper solid, etc. By far, the BRI was the sabot of the day.
When I finally explained to Randy my findings on rate of twist that had been triple check and cross checked through my calculations, he said that if? I was that positive that the 1/28 twist rate was the way to go, we?ll take a ride to Small Arms and see if we could coerce Mr. Olson into selling us a button at cost so we could have him make us one barrel to put it to the test.? Well Mr. Olson agreed.? About 3 ? weeks went by when Randy called and said the barrel was in, he'd assembled a Tar-Hunt bolt gun with it installed, and we could shoot the following week.
That following week I drove up to Bloomsburg to the range.? I was elated because after 1? years of work, off and on between other business responsibilities, I was about to see shotgun history in the making. (If it worked.)
Conditions at the range were less than perfect due to crosswinds.? But we carried on anyway.? With a premium barrel and an excellent gun we both were ready to witness what we had hoped for.? At all yardages groups tightened up with the 1/28 twist rate compared to the 1/34 that was standard at the time.
Well, the rest is history. Tar-Hunt has gone on to become one of the leaders in slug gun extended accuracy. Randy continues to make extraordinary slug guns and rifles at Tar Hunt Custom Rifles Inc. in? Bloomsburg, PA and oversees the technical needs for Lightfield Ammunition Corporation.? Olie Olson retired from Small Arms Manufacturing Co.? Without him saying ?yes? to Randy and me this achievement probably never would have occurred.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? As for myself, I have gone on to design and patent Sabot Technologies Inc.?s Sabot Pressure Wad with the hammerhead slug that is now the Hastings Laser Sabot Slug along with overseeing Hastings Ammunition Division.?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?The Universal Arbor, my first patented shotgun product, is still a profitable product for Sabot Technologies. As for current projects, with Sabot Technologies, I consult and develop new products such as the Trail Maker Scent Stick (just recently released) and am working on a 5 station loader that roll crimps,? plus a new slug for smoothbores for other clients.
Again, the total reason for the 1/28 twist rate is for extended accuracy. The 1/28 imparts spin (rpm) on the slug faster and therefore the slug stays stable longer. These extended accuracies are out to 125 and even 150 yards. By the way, again the 1/28 twist rate was designed for the BRI and any slug of at least that length or longer.(Shorties need not apply)
I never would have thought that my theory and equations would have ended up changing so many manufacturers? points of view on twist rate. Amazing how many big guys wind up following, not leading, in developing things.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?I hope you enjoyed this little walk through the past. It?s satisfying to be right and first at the same time after so much thought, work, hope and belief.? Most of all it?s fun and gratifying to be able to continue with projects that others find just as important as I do.
Shoot safely,
Rich Knoster
