I'm wondering what kind of accuracy you guys running fast-twist .224 barrels are getting with light .22-caliber bullets. I guess I'm thinking of 1-8" barrels and bullets of .40, 45, 50 grains. Is there anything to "over-stabilization"?
Light Bullets in Fast-Twist 22s
- Thread starter South Pender
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Just had this conversation with a F-Class champion shooter, and world record holder for smallest 1000yd group. I have a Weatherby S2 Varmint in 223 with 1/9 twist. He suggested that I try 40gr bullets (particularly the Nosler Ballistic Tip) out to 300yds (max distance at our range). He used them himself and had excellent results. Just in the process of ordering some to try out. He also suggested to use Benchmark powder.
I have had good results with 50gr bullets. Haven't played much with the 60gr's yet in a bolt rifle.
I have had good results with 50gr bullets. Haven't played much with the 60gr's yet in a bolt rifle.
Big bore dinosaur
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My savage 6mm br norma shots 55 gr bullets well under an inch .. which is weird , the bullet is out of the case , when it is engaging the lands..
Groups out to 300.
Better with 75 and 87 gr bullets for sure.
Groups out to 300.
Better with 75 and 87 gr bullets for sure.
My T3 Varmint 223 1-8” shoots 50gr well. Not as well as 62-68gr but still inside an inch. I will pick up some lighter options and see how it likes them. I hunt coyotes inside 300 yards mainly so flat shooting 40-45gr bullet options are appealing. I also have an older Sako made Browning 222 that shot ok with 50-55gr but became an absolute laser beam with 40gr Nosler BT’s. I’m not sure of it’s twist though,
Patrick
Patrick
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My 1:8 precision AR15 shoots 55gr VMAX bullets very well, sub-MOA. The only thing that I would worry about with lighter bullets is that they don't have thin jackets. Overstabilized thin jacketed bullets might just come apart. I also have a 1:7 5.56 AR15 that shoots 55gr bullets very well. For versatility, I would go with 1:8 that'll be good for 40gr to 80gr bullets providing you use quality bullets.
My 1-8 twist Tikka shoots 68 grain BTHP well. Tried some 60 grain V-max and accuracy fell dramatically. So I can agree with varmint bullets being a NoGo.
Shoot straight - chrisco
Benchmark and 40g max works well in my T3 1:8 twist. Haven't shot them far but they group well at 100y and on gophers out to 200-250. I also didn't have any luck with the 60g Vmax in the Tikka. Seemed like the only bullet it didn't like right away with the usual popular 223 powders.
I've owned a few fast twist 223s- 1/7 or 1/8. All have shot 50 and 55 Vmax extremely well. Indistinguishable from the 75 Amax on 100 meter targets. That said- the 75 Amax and ELD far outperform the lighter bullets as the ranges get longer, so other than early experimentation with a new barrel, I haven't bothered with the light bullets for years.
If you want to run a combination of light and heavy projectiles, then I would strongly suggest looking at gain twist barrels.
Bartlein does a lot of gain twist, or what I believe they call "progressive twist".
I've been shooting 40g Nosler for quite a while in my CZ527 1/9 twist. It's very accurate ( ask the gophers.....) I also think high velocity and fast RPM light frangible bullet makes for an explosive combo !!!
I also shoot 70g Berger or 69g Lapua with great accuracy !
I have a 1-9 twist bolt gun and 1-7 twist semi-auto.
Both have shot the 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade (Black Hills ammo) with "reasonable" success. And by "reasonable" I mean no keyholes or disintegrating bullets but accuracy only around 1.5 MOA in both guns. The 45 grain hollow point in the cheaper "Winchester White Box" ammo giving similar results of lackluster accuracy but no bullet failures.
The load I am currently using (though I plan to further test seating depth for the single shot bolt gun) is a 60 grain Nosler Varmint bullet over 26.6 grains of CFE223. This is currently delivering 1/2-5/8 MOA in the bolt gun and right around 1 MOA in the semi-auto when using a seating depth that fits in a magazine.
I also have some Sierra 40 gr Blitz Kings I hope to try in both guns but I cannot report any results at this time. Currently prioritizing the 60 grain Nosler load to be ready for this springs gopher season. Maybe later this summer I can test the Sierra 40 grainer.
Both have shot the 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade (Black Hills ammo) with "reasonable" success. And by "reasonable" I mean no keyholes or disintegrating bullets but accuracy only around 1.5 MOA in both guns. The 45 grain hollow point in the cheaper "Winchester White Box" ammo giving similar results of lackluster accuracy but no bullet failures.
The load I am currently using (though I plan to further test seating depth for the single shot bolt gun) is a 60 grain Nosler Varmint bullet over 26.6 grains of CFE223. This is currently delivering 1/2-5/8 MOA in the bolt gun and right around 1 MOA in the semi-auto when using a seating depth that fits in a magazine.
I also have some Sierra 40 gr Blitz Kings I hope to try in both guns but I cannot report any results at this time. Currently prioritizing the 60 grain Nosler load to be ready for this springs gopher season. Maybe later this summer I can test the Sierra 40 grainer.
My 1-9 783 wount group very well at 100 with 45 or 50 grainers. By the time they get to 300 can't even hit paper. Switch to 55 and they shrink to just above moa at 300 . Made me want to switch to a slower twist because I like velocity from the lighter bullets , but looking at this thread maybe its just my barrel that doesn't like the light ones.
I’m thinking you’re going to have real problems with light ones in the 22 creed. 7t 22-250 explodes 40,50,55 vmax, 52gr bthp, 55 varmageddon, tipped and HP. Berger 55 fb target are close but I lose 1-10.
80.5gr bergers are awesome, load them for 10 thou jam in a decent barrel and they’ll shoot. I plan on loading some 69gr tmk for the 22-250 next.
