In my opinion only, and no testing to back it up. I would think a 1/24 twist might just be the cats meow in a 45cal ML. Time will tell that's for sure.
Thats pretty much what i think too for a mass production. It will handle a good variety well and some loads extremely well, such as a 40-230gr SST or a Barnes type 40 in about 220gr. (if they made them) Brass is going to be even harder to get the weight up and get them to fit a current sabots.
Mainly for shooting 250-325gr sabotless a 1-20 or even a 1-18 wins hands down. Knights 2006 45cal target rifle was a 1-18 conical shooter. Gordy should have one of those BTW.
Most guys go with the 1-22 so they can shoot sabots and upto 300gr sabotless. Pacnor, Douglas, Brux and Mcgowen all offer them in 1-22 as well as other twists. The 1-22 is by far the most popular with the current 40cal bullets but 1-24 would shoot them fine. Knight MK85 45cals were 1-24.
If you REALLY want a sabot shooter, they need a new sabots/bullets to take full advantage. Current 45x40 sabots are too short to easily handle a monolithic bullet over 230gr IMO. Ive seen the new 237gr copper and the ogive is extremely long to achieve the high BC. Jacketed bullets you can probably get upto 240gr without much trouble.
The White Power Star sabots would be awesome if you can find out who made them but it uses a 40-350gr BT IIRC. You wont get the fps that most people will want from a 45 even though those are deadly.
Good luck. A 1-24 45cal i would buy and probably will from one of the custom barrel makers if Knight doesn't soon.
