Miller twist rule


Miller twist rule is a mathematical formula created by Don Miller to calculate the optimum rate of twist for a given bullet traveling through a rifled barrel. Miller suggests that while Greenhill's formula works well there are better and more precise ways to calculate what the proper twist rate for a bullet should be that are not much more difficult to calculate.

Formula

The following formula is one recommended by Miller.
where:
Given those definitions we can expand:
where = twist in inches per turn, and
where = bullet length in inches.

Stability factor

Using Miller's formula we can also calculate the stability factor assuming we already know the twist. Simply solve for.

Twist in inches per turn

It is possible to solve for twist in inches/turn directly by solving for

Safe values

When computing this formula Miller states several safe values that can be used in place of some of the more difficult to determine variables. For example, he states that assuming a mach number of = 2.5 is a safe value to use in regards to velocity. He also states that rough estimates that involve temperature should use = 2.0.

Example

If we take the Nosler Spitzer.30-06 Springfield round, which is similar to the one pictured above, we can easily fill in the variables and calculate the estimated twist rate. Starting with the formula
We then fill in:
Which tells us we have 39.2511937 calibers per turn. We calculate using and see that
So our rifling should be roughly 12" per turn. The average twist of.30-06 caliber rifles is 10 inches per turn, so 12 inches per turn is fairly accurate. The discrepancy seen here also helps explain why certain bullets seem to work better in certain rifles when fired under similar conditions.

Comparison to Greenhill's formula

Greenhill's formula is actually much more complicated in full form. The rule of thumb that Greenhill devised based upon his formula is actually what is seen in most places, including Wikipedia. That rule was:
The actual formula was:
where:
Thus, Miller, in essence, took Greenhill's rule of thumb and expanded it slightly while, at the same time, keeping the formula simple enough to calculate without advanced training in mathematics. To improve on Greenhill, Miller used mostly empirical data and some basic geometry.

Corrective equations

Miller, in his work, notes several corrective equations that can be used:
The velocity correction for twist :
The velocity correction for stability factor :
The altitude correction under standard conditions: where is altitude in feet.

Calculators for stability and twist

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