.223 Best All Around Twist Rate

1 in 8 has worked very well for me, handling everything from 40 gr to 75 gr with gusto.

I discovered a long time ago that there is almost no downside to using a fast twist regardless of bullet weight.

I'd echo CV and Boomer. Having owned a couple 1-12s, one 1-7, a couple 1-8s and still owning a 8 twist. The fast twist have shot lighter bullets just fine and are a pile of fun with the heavies. No reason I can see to own a slow twist, other than if the rifle you just have to have isn't available with the faster RoT.
 
So if there is no loss of accuracy with a very fast twist, what downsides are there? Two come to mind, one might matter, the other in a .223 probably won't..

There is also a reduced barrel life. That and over-stabilization tends to cause the tip of the bullet to point skyward rather than downward after the apex of the trajectory arch, this has negative effect on predictable wind drift..
 
Not to try and head down a rabbit hole but why does the 22-250 have a 1=14".Perhaps the velocity gain makes up for the bullet length[bearing surface]Or speed was the selling feature? I know my buddies 77R .220 Swift had to be run on full throttle to get the now extinct Speer 70gr RN to print nose first.Harold
 
Not to try and head down a rabbit hole but why does the 22-250 have a 1=14".Perhaps the velocity gain makes up for the bullet length[bearing surface]Or speed was the selling feature? I know my buddies 77R .220 Swift had to be run on full throttle to get the now extinct Speer 70gr RN to print nose first.Harold

Speed was definitely the selling feature, as a varminter.
 
A curious mind wants to know why would most of the Daniel Defense barrels be 1 in 7 when 77gr is pushing the max length to remain mag fed? (As i understand, could be wrong here) Anyone have any insight? Is it just to make sure you've got everything covered given it's not likely you're primary use for the rifle is precision bench?
 
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There is also a reduced barrel life. That and over-stabilization tends to cause the tip of the bullet to point skyward rather than downward after the apex of the trajectory arch, this has negative effect on predictable wind drift..

I disagree. Barrel life is determined by the effect of throat erosion, and throat erosion occurs before the rate of twist becomes a variable. There is no such thing as over stabilization, such comments are communist propaganda intended to destroy western democracies. The faster spinning bullet is more rigid in flight, thus it recovers more quickly from precession than slower rotating bullets, and is more inclined to fly point on. They do exhibit greater spin drift, but spin drift is a constant that is easily allowed for. In a hunting bullet, the quick recovery from precession produces increased terminal performance, which makes varmint bullets more explosive, and game bullets deeper penetrating. Wind drift of spin stabilized bullets often comes with a vertical component. Sometimes its predictable, sometimes not so much. Shooting in the wind is challenging regardless of the rate of twist.
 
A curious mind wants to know why would most of the DD barrels be 1 in 7 when 77gr is pushing the max length to remain mag fed? (As i understand, could be wrong here) Anyone have any insight? Is it just to make sure you've got everything covered given it's not likely you're primary use for the rifle is precision bench?

Please excuse my ignorance, but what's a DD barrel? :confused:
 
1/7 twist works for me the best

80.5 gr Bergers,lapua,cci br4, Varget, at 2950 fps at 100y 5 shot group



90 Gr Bergers,Lapua,Br4,varget at 300y 5 shot group
Yes its three bullets in one hole.



3 shots at 300 y


Savage offers a 1/7 twist you may have to get a smith to lengthen throat for 90 gr not a big job, 90 gr are very long and you would be compressing powder with a short throat.
I have shot 55 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips very accurate at 100 y but the get blown around to much at longdistances the 80 & 90 will skin the small bullets.
3 friends shoot the 223 with 80 & 90 gr in F class out to 900 m they can run with .308win.
We shoot together often at 300 y at Stittsville Ranges in Ottawa a lot of shooters using 22/250 with small bullets 50 to 55 gr shoot some very impressive groups at 100 y. But when we shoot for looneys or toonies at 300y they never win. fellows shooting the 1/9 with 69 gr to 75 gr do quite well at 300 y but the 90 gr out to 900 m are the best by far
manitou
 
A curious mind wants to know why would most of the Daniel Defense barrels be 1 in 7 when 77gr is pushing the max length to remain mag fed? (As i understand, could be wrong here) Anyone have any insight? Is it just to make sure you've got everything covered given it's not likely you're primary use for the rifle is precision bench?

As I understand it, the 1 in 7 twist rifling was supposed to better accommodate the 64 gr FN L110 (US M856 equiv) tracer round.
 
Well the Hornady 50gr SX's did turn to grey mist out of a Swift before reaching a 100 yard target but they were supposed to not be driven at over 3400fps or thereabouts? Not for the Mini 14 with it's 1-10 at least 80's series either. Just for info purposes was the gain twist in early Carcanos meant to reduce barrel wear and keep pressures down?.............. something like 1-20 then 1-7 at the muzzle.Some thought the jackets would be slurred ruining accuracy.Harold
 
I disagree. Barrel life is determined by the effect of throat erosion, and throat erosion occurs before the rate of twist becomes a variable. There is no such thing as over stabilization, such comments are communist propaganda intended to destroy western democracies. The faster spinning bullet is more rigid in flight, thus it recovers more quickly from precession than slower rotating bullets, and is more inclined to fly point on. They do exhibit greater spin drift, but spin drift is a constant that is easily allowed for. In a hunting bullet, the quick recovery from precession produces increased terminal performance, which makes varmint bullets more explosive, and game bullets deeper penetrating. Wind drift of spin stabilized bullets often comes with a vertical component. Sometimes its predictable, sometimes not so much. Shooting in the wind is challenging regardless of the rate of twist.

State what you think to be true, and I will state what I know to be true...
 
Not to try and head down a rabbit hole but why does the 22-250 have a 1=14".Perhaps the velocity gain makes up for the bullet length[bearing surface]Or speed was the selling feature? I know my buddies 77R .220 Swift had to be run on full throttle to get the now extinct Speer 70gr RN to print nose first.Harold

velocity does affect spin rate
think about it:
1 turn in 12" for a muzzle velocity of 2400fps means 1 turn per foot times 2400 feet/second = 2400 turns/second = 144000rpm
1 turn in 12" for a muzzle velocity of 3600fps means 1 turn per foot times 3600 feet/second = 3600 turns/second = 216000rpm

quite a difference

I've read a study about gyroscopic stability where the researchers decided to vary the muzzle velocity instead of using different twist rate barrels in order to minimize the barrel effect on stability.

edit: found the research paper
 
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