.224 75grn & 1 in 9" twist

[Zey]

So I've been shooting a bunch of Hornady 68grn BTHP's out of my 9" twist gun. They work pretty good. 1" at 200 yards, so 0.5moa, that's decent and to be expected from a factory rifle. So, I'm happy with that.

But while at Cabela's I found that Hornady 75grn A-max's were mega cheap so I bought a box. Just loaded them up and shot them on the weekend, quite good. Same 0.5moa.... but everywhere I read that you NEED a faster twist to shoot these rounds.

Well, I'm here to say its BS. These bullets shoot great. Even the Hornady manual says their testing was performed with 1 in 9 twist barrels, and then they put it on the box that they need 1 in 8 twist or better? I'm thoroughly confused.

Anyone else have experience with this?

 

[Mystic Precision]

Many many shooters have been happily sending 75gr amax downrange in 9 twist Savage/stevens for many years now.

Bullet twist recommendations are always conservative to ensure 100% success.

80gr Amax and Bergers definitely need an 8 twist though.

Jerry

 

[308BAR]

From my experience it didn't 75s didn't stabilize in my 1:9 Stevens barrel but your mileage may vary.

 

[Why not?]

My Stevens 223 has been rechambered to an Ackley Imp, and does just fine with the 75 AMax at 3000 fps, however it handled that bullet well at 2850, before the rechambering job.

Ted

 

[6mm Shooter]

Mine destabilized around 700 yards.

 

[Kevan]

My 40X 223 has a 9" twist and won't stabilize any bullet heavier than 70 gr.
69 or 70 gr. are 1/4 MOA or better...

 

[mpwolf]

The thing to remember about claimed rates of twist- they aren't always what they claim. A factory production tube that costs the manufacturer $10 to produce might be anywhere from 1-8.7"-9.3". (numbers are out of my head, but you get the idea). Just food for thought.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Mine destabilized around 700 yards.

Very surprised as other shooters have tossed these bullets to a 1000yds and I have shot them to a mile.

Twist rates in barrels do vary and Rem is on the slow side of 9. They may have fixed this now but there were many reports of Rem 9 twists not working with anything heavier then the 70's.

The savage/Stevens seem to be on 9 or a bit faster and the 75's have worked superbly in many many rifles.

YMMV.

Jerry

 

[JBD]

Ok one more vote, the 75 grain amax stabilize in my savage 1-9 223. Out to 900 meters.

 

[Cummins4x4]

75 Amax won't shoot in my CZ 9" twist. 3" groups. Every thing from 50 to 70gr shoots fine. I still have a Hornady box that says 10" twist or faster

 

[kombayotch]

Stability is also highly dependent on atmospheric conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity...). Just because it stabilizes in the summer, doesn't mean that it will in the fall and winter. The stability recommendations are meant to cover all conditions, with a bit of overhead.

 

[kombayotch]

Also, people seem to relate group size with stability. They are two totally separate things. You can have poor stability, yet still get small group such as the subsonic groups below. CBS, followed by a group of 3. Nice an tight, but if you examine the holes, they are oval. Accurate, but not stable...