.223 Rate of Twist

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BigPapaPump

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I am sure this topic has been beat to death, but I had to ask again. I am looking at getting a .223 and I want to know what rate of twist will give me the most diverse selection of bullet weights and distance capability. I want to use it primarily for target shooting, and some yappy dog shooting. I want something that I can experiment with at 3 and 400+ yards or more. Any recommendations in a factory gun (new or used selections I should look for) that will meet my needs. I am a University student on a bit of a budget so $1000 is a little out of the question. I am asking this in the Precision Rifles section in hopes of more knowledgeable minds reading it.

BigPapaPump
 
Savage 1 in 9" or 1 in 7" will let you accurately shoot some of the heavy for calibre bullets. my 1 in 9 twist barrel on my model 12 has shown some decent results with bullets up to 70grs and will still shoot the 50 - 55gr bullets accurately as well.
 
I shoot a restocked Stevens 223 out to 1050yds using 75gr Amax and soon Bergers. Trigger is really heavy but that can be remedied for a bit of $.

next up would be a 12FV. Which will still you enough coin to get a decent scope for a total of less then $1000.

Jerry
 
I have 5 223s...3 with 14" twist, 1 with 12", and 1 with 9".
All will shoot 60 gr. and lighter bullets very well....actually they all seem to prefer the 60 gr bullets, but only the 9" twist shoots the 60 + bullets to any degree of good accuracy.
However at the same time the slower twist rifles handle 45 gr bullets better than the 9" rifle.
I don't plan on doing any long distance ( 1000 yd) shooting with any but the tight-twist rifle, but I wouldn't hesitate to try popping a coyote at any distance up to 300 yds.
In the end, whatever you should choose hinges directly on what you require the rifle to do.
 
Shooting bigholes at 100 yrds is fun, but sooner or later you will want to shoot at something at a longer distance and actually hit it. Wind deflrction if a major problem, unless you are shooting 75 gr or heavier. therfore, 1:9 or faster is your only real choice.
 
The 50 V-Max is a great all-around bullet and will shoot in any twist, but if you want to reach out that means 75-80 grains +. My favourite is the 75 A-Max. For that you need an 8 twist, a 9 "might" work.
 
My Remington 700 with 1/9 twist 26" barrel will shoot 55gr NoslerBT,75gr Bergers 69gr Sierras, 1"groups at 300 yards if its calm and I do my job.
My friends Savage 12 1/7 twist shoots 80gr Sierra's just under 1" at 300.
My brothers custom 40x 28" Hart Barrel shoots 80gr Sierra's .600" at 300 y
aLL 223 Rem.
Done a lot of testing with heavy bullets in .223, the powders that most people shoot one hole groups at 100 with 50gr to 55gr bullets,
I have had not much success with,H335,H4895,H322,W748,Rl7 the only one have success with 50S & 75gr is Varget, and others like Rl15
 
Ice-Pick said:
1:9 handles up to 68/69 gr bullets, once heavier than that the group opens up fast.

M.
Jr's Tikka has a 1-8
Click to expand...

Every 9 twist 223 Savage I have owned, seen or heard about launches 75gr Amax or Bergers just fine. Haven't heard of one shooting over MOA. My Stevens shoots MOA or better all the way out to 1050yds IF I dope the winds right.

Rems for a while wouldn't do it with their '9' twist. Maybe it was just a schnick slow?????

Unfortunately, that has tainted alot of shooters to believing a 9 twist is not enough for the 75gr beauties. Those who have Savages can certainly enjoy these awesome bullets at LR.

If in doubt, the Berger 70gr will most certainly stabilize in anybody's 9 twist.

Jerry
 
Tikka's are 1 in 8"

Comes from the factory with fantastic adjustable trigger & remarkable accuracy.

$639.99 for a blued/synthetic stock model.

Haven't tried them yet with mine, but should shoot up to 77gr bullets.

TFC
 
Previous AR I was shooting had a 1-9" Shillen barrell and it shot 68's and 69's very well but started to open up drastically at 75's
My current AR has a 1-8" and shoots Factory Federals (77 gr's) the best.
1/4 " at 100 on a calm day.

M.
 
Myself and my son have savage rifles in .223 both are 1 in 9 twist. My 12fvss loves 55gr FMJs and his rifle loves 75 gr A-max. I guess no two guns that similar may like the same ammo weights.
 
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