Thanks guys, that makes perfect sense. Follow-up:

MPDC mentioned
"but the 1/8 is better IF you are shooting the heaviest bullets available. The 1/9 is fine up to about 70grn bullets and should be slightly better for very light loads. Both handle the popular 55 grn. rounds well."

This is exactly the reason for my question. Sometimes I'm guilty of paralysis by anaysis, but my research seems to show that the 1/7 or 1/8 will handle heaviest bullets well, and also do fine with the lightweights. Whereas the 1/9 is pretty well limited to 55-60gr, and it's a toss-up as to whether they'll stabilize the 65+ weights.

Given that I'd be using heavy for HD, whatever hunting, and the 1/7 or 1/8 seems more *versatile*, doesn't it make sense to narrow my rifle choices to the faster twist barrels?

-jb