no clear explanations why it happens...
Pellets are one thing but for bullets it gets a little more complicated than simply a certain twist rate for a certain caliber although those are definitely generally good guidelines. One must also consider bullet construction and how fast you are trying to push the bullet. Trying to push a bullet at very high velocity in a fast twist barrel can do two not necessarily desirable things-it can raise chamber pressure and it can possibly lead to jacket separation from the bullet core (rotating too fast for design or possibly damaged by movement through the rifling). Not the same as pellet shooting but bullets were mentioned.A company called Ferguson Custom Rifles used to make a rifle called a Habanero which was apparently highly sought after in west Texas. It was a 30-378 Weatherby shooting light for caliber rounds (130 grain if I recall correctly) at very high velocity (at or very near 4000 fps). Ferguson seemed to have built his reputation on the concept that, contrary to the idea that you must have a very heavy for caliber long bullet to shoot successfully at long range, you could be well served by a lighter bullet at very high velocity if the caliber were large enough to provide effective mass. He developed a load for each gun and the shooter was given the load data to replicate for both velocity and safety. But I've read that he did use a slower twist barrel than one would normally expect to both lower chamber pressure reached in attaining those velocities and to keep the bullets from coming apart in flight. I've never shot one of Ferguson's rifles but I've also never seen a used one for sale-seems people hold onto them. He also had a 25 caliber working under the same concept. I believe he is retired now.
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