RE: a rifles rate of twist???
I don't know if this helps or not but Bushmaster rifles almost all of their .223 barrels 1 turn in 9". Their catalog states that the Gov't originally specified 1 in 7" twist but they (Bushmaster) found that 1 in 9" twist gives the best results with the widest range of ammunition and will stabalize most bullets up to 72 grains.