Ask Ian: Progressive Twist (Gain Twist) in Small Arms?
This video explores progressive or gain twist rifling, where the rate of rotation changes from breech to muzzle. Historically used in firearms like the Carcano 1891 and early Colt revolvers, its primary benefit is reducing initial bullet stress to prevent jacket separation. While some claim accuracy improvements, historical competition data is mixed. Modern applications include the S&W 460 XVR.









