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.223 twist rate & bullet size
jb4lcm
Member Posts: 119 ✭✭
I have a Remington 700 VLS .223 - heavy barrel with a 1-12" twist rate.
I have only shot 55gr or smaller in this rifle. I see some 62gr and 70gr ammo out there that I may want to try but I have also heard that a 1-12 twist may not make the heavier bullet stable enough at 200 yards.
Anyone have experience in this and would like to chime in?
Thanks!
JB
Comments
1-12 ain't gonna do it for just about any bullets over 60 grs. If looking for something other than a varmint bullet I would search for some Barnes TSX 53 grain.
What about some Frontier 55gr hp or Fiocchi 55gr PSP?
JB
I'd say that's a NO.
Long ago, I was trying to find a low recoil deer hunting rifle for Grouch Attack so I loaded some 63 grain bullets in a Rem 700 in 22/250 (1-12 twist). At hottest safe load, these bullets were barely stable and accuracy was in the 3 MOA range. Later, handicapped Son was shooting a .223 and I tried the same bullet in it but accuracy was even worse. Good enough for 100 yard deer hunting but worthless at longer ranges.
I also have a WBY Vanguard(HOWA) .223 with 1-12 twist that shows only marginal accuracy with 60 grain loads and 5-6" groups with 63 grain loads.
Is there a specific reason for wanting to use the heavier bullets? There are plenty of 55 grain bullets that will do anything the .223 is suitable for.
I have done considerable experimenting with the .223 as well as other .22 caliber centerfire rifles (it's my hobby) and my results mirror what has been said above. As an example, in my Sako Vixen with 24" 1-12" heavy barrel, I fired four 5-shot groups of a Federal factory load, loaded with the Sierra 69 gr. BTHP. The average velocity was 2894 fps and average group size was 3.02". In contrast, I've fired 50 (yes, 50!) 5-shot groups with a hand load of 50 gr. Nosler ballistic tip over 29 gr. of Winchester 748 from this rifle. The average velocity was 3315 fps and average group size was .96". Having said that: I found some bulk 62 gr. FMJ BT bullets at a distant gun shop for a great price, so I thought I'd get some of them for a friend that shot AR's. I bought 200 and kept 40 to try in my 1-12" bolt guns. To my surprise, they grouped 1.02" in my 788 and 1.34" in my Win. 1885! I wished that I had bought the whole cardboard box of them--Oh well.
I think it should be mentioned here that the critical factor in bullet stabilization is the length of the bullet with weight being incidental. The longer the bullet, the more RPM's required to stabilize it, IOW, a faster twist or more velocity. Of course if you add weight to a bullet, you generally add length, too, but not always. If you take an ordinary pointed bullet, add a boat tail and a plastic tip keeping the weight the same, the bullet becomes longer. An example: I measured some bullets. A 50 gr. Hornady spire is .660" while a 50 gr. Hornady Vmax BT is .773". The Greenhill formula will give you an approximation of what bullet length will stabilize in your twist.
Probably the most famous example of rifling contrast is the .243 Winchester vs. the .244 Remington. Both were introduced in 1955 with the .243 1-10" and the .244 1-12". The gun press soon discovered that stabilization of 100 gr. bullets in the .244 was "iffy", and proceeded to dwell on that. 100 gr. Hornady BT will wobble from my 722 .244, but 100 gr. Sierra flat base shoot great.
In the 1930's, rifling twist was an obsession. Barrels being comparatively inexpensive, target shooters and woodchuck hunters experimented with rifling twists with as little as 1/2" variation in search of the magic twist. The theory at the time was that best accuracy was achieved when the bullet was just barely stabilized. I don't know if that theory has ever been proved.
In the long ago, pre-.223 days, the standard twist for .22 centerfire rifles was 1-14" with the Hornet being 1-16". We blundered along, fat and happy, not knowing any better, and did pretty good work with those old rifles using 50 +/- 5 gr. bullets. They still work quite well today.
Sorry for the length of this post; I got going and couldn't stop. Long story short, I stick with 55's in my .223 bolt guns. Factory 62 + loads are designed for quicker twists than 1-12" and most will note that on the box.
Good luck!
Don't claim to know much about twist rates but I do know I have a AR with a 1 in 7 twist rate that shoots 68 grain bullets quite accurately. I'm very happy with the way this AR shoots heavier bullets.
1-12 twist with bullets over 55 grains tend to keyhole at pretty short distances. I would stick with 52 gr and under for better results.
FWIW, I have fallen in love with the Berger 52 grain FB bullets in 22 caliber centerfire rifles. The other go to bullet is the Sierra 53 grain BT Match bullet. Both have proven to be awesome fodder in 1:7 to 1:12 twist barrels.
Have you considered changing the barrel to a 1:8 twist? It may cost a few bucks but may also prove to be more useful for what you want to achieve.
I would not expect BUYING ammo to be very worthwhile or smart just to try for a heavier bullet.
I'm wondering what you are trying to accomplish, like what are you going to shoot at besides paper? are they for deer size game, varmits, black birds and crows or ???
If you were going to reload it would be worth while venture.
What the guys say above are the norm. I have 223's in several twist rates and normally a 1-14 to 16 has best accuracy with a 35-40gr bullet, 1-12= 40-50 gr and maybe 60 gr but doubtful for less than 1 1/2 inch groups. I have some 1-10 twist that will group a 70 gr bullet good for deer hunting. Nosler has a 60 gr Partition and Speer has some good 70 gr hunting bullets.
On deer you do not want a HP bullet. (even better do not hunt large deer with a 223 unless you want to get depressed and/or like to track small blood trails and get experience as a good tracker)
HP's are for just fun shooting not hunting in 223 guns.
You have a normally good gun and you can pick (select) 55gr bullets as a reloader and do most all what you want to do, but you have to reload to get consistent accuracy.
If you want really great accuracy from 60 gr and heavier you need to buy a fasrter twist gun and that gives you a good EXCUSE to do such.
50-53 grain are the sweet spot. Try some Sierra MKs in 52 or HDY 50 ELDs.
55s start to spread as most 55s are mil bullets. I have yet to see anything over 60 do well in a 1&12.
Again, since you can't change the barrel twist w/o great expense, look for a bullet that will do what you ask or use a different cartridge.
Thanks for all the input - I appreciate it!
Sounds like staying with 55gr is my target size for plinking and hunting for this gun. Hornady 55gr GMX for deer. It's just about finding it!