I'm building a 4"PPC bbl gun for double action shooting. I've been given a piece of douglas bbl with a 1-18 twist ro use on this gun. I'll use it mainly with 158 gr lead round nose bullets or 148 hbwc at 50 ft. Will this twist do it or will I need the 1-14 thats available? I'm using a pre war frame for the long action. What twist does S&W use in their .38 spec? Thanks, Larry

For 50 ft, 1-18 will do, but 1-14 will "do better". At 50 yds you'd start to notice a bigger difference. Smith factory twist is 1-18.375 or 1-18.75, don't remember which. That's just a bit too slow to fully stabilize the rather long bearing surface of a 148HBWC.

S&W twist is 1 in 18.75. Correct about using 1 in 14 twist if possible. Back in the 70's when PPC competition was very popular most of us built our match revolvers with the 1 in 14 Douglas barrels. They were a little more accurate with 148 WC ammo and, correct again, definitely more accurate at 50 yard stage.

__________________
S&W Armorer
Lost in the 50s

Thanks for the input. One gunsmith said he would put a bbl on the frame for 135.00 and I'll talk twist with him to make sure I get 1-14. He seemed to have to order the bbl, didn't have one. His price didn't seem too high. Larry

"Jebus35745",

Have you seen these:
CLK-600-KS-OS Slab Side Blank (K frame) S&W .38/.357, Blue Steel $ 75.00
Revolver Bull Barrels & Underlug from the experts at Clark Custom Guns, Inc.

Unique, Off Set 6" barrel blank for your K frame Smith & Wesson Revolver
Choose between 1 in 12" or 1 in 14" twist Douglas Blank
.38 / .357 caliber
Chrome Moly (blue) Comes in white
Slab Side, Integral Ejector Rod Shroud
Weighs 1 lb 4 oz
Measures 1.170" on rounds / 1.000" across flats

Hope this helps

I built mine on a Model 14 frame and a slabbed a bit of Apex 1:14 barrel - it holds an inch or better at 25 yards with the right load.

I used a Millet .410 rear sight and a Weigand front sight base with a .200" high sight.
If I was doing one today I would use an Aristocrat 4" sight rib and keep the barrel 1" in diameter.

__________________
"The older I get - the faster I was"

Thanks again for the reply's. Had a PPC built on a model 13 frame. The frame was hard chromed, the bbl & cyl blue and I wanted an all blued gun. It was too heavy for off hand shooting so I figure a 4" slab side should be a lighter piece. I also want a long action for shooting double action. Founds a pre-war M&P with the bbl cut for cheap so here we go. SPDGG, what are you building?
The gun club shoots a DA only league for 7 weeks after the .22 winter bullseye league. I'll re-blue it but I'll hand polish it like in the old days and stay away from the lettering. I'm sure someone local does bluing
Larry