Twist Rates in the 223

[Enios]

I have the new H&R Ultra Varmint in 223 it has the 1/9 twist. Doesn't want to shoot anything I have loaded so I've got to start trying to come up with something.  Put factory Hornady 75 BTHP in a 1/2" group for the last 2 week ends so I know it will shot that. Thinking about 68 or 69 grains bullets to try. thing is my 1/9 AR does quite well with my loads, don't understand that. What gives the best performance in the 1/9. It didn't like my 65gr reloads but it loves the factory 75 Hornady.  I'm getting ready to make a bullet order and know I getting 200 of the 75's to work with, but I would like to know what yall are having the best luck  with, also.

Now for what I started with, in the FAQ's they only list 1/12 and 1/9 I had a friend bring by a H&R with what I would call a semi heavy barrel he bought 12 years ago along with a 270 barrel. I worked the trigger for him and he was wanting to try some of my loads so I checked the twist. I used a 270 brush on a Tipton rod and checked it 3 times, it's definitely a 1/14 twist. Is this that uncommon or are there more of these out there? Anyway I loaded him up some 40 grain, got him to put on a 6 X 20 white tail classic and now he's shooting under 1/2" with it. Before he was trying 50 and 55gr with 1 1/2 to 2" average group sizes.

[quickdtoo]

The 1:9" barrels have a checkered reputation for shooting the heavier, longer bullets, most shoot the same bullets that the 1:12" shoot well, but those made since Marlin started making the barrels have improved over those made 2006 and before. Use the search function, you'll find lots of info on what works in the 1:9" barrels. http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?action=search

Sounds like they chambered a 22-250 blank to 223 to me, mistakes happen, what's the serial number prefix on the frame of that 223/270 rifle?

Tim

[Enios]

I'll see if i can get in touch with him after he gets off work tomorrow and find out.

[PHATINJUN]

Sounds like a perfect bbl for a 225Winchester rechamber to me Kurt

[Enios]

The start of the 1/14 is NJ314 which should make it a 95 model and about 12 years old like he thought.

[PartsMan]

I have a 1 in 9" handi 22" bull barrel that loves Winchester 55g ballistic silver tips.
Have also been able to duplicate accuracy with varget under the same bullet.

It will regularly shoot .5" at 100yd.
A couple targets in the .2s.

[ECV Slick]

I too just recently picked up an H&R Ultra Varmint in .223 with the 1/9 twist barrel.  I'm planning on trying 55gr, 65-68gr, and 75gr bullets, but was wondering if anyone has tried the 40gr bullets.  I usually like to shoot Hornady bullets

Sorry, I'm not trying to re-direct this thread and am asking here since it seems relevant to the author's title question, thanks.

[McLernon]

Shooting 40 gr bullets out of a GOOD 1:9 twist is not a great idea. The bullets will be over stabilized and will not 'go to sleep' properly resulting in poor longer range accuracy. All bullets come out of the barrel with a bit of pitch or yaw and they 'wobble'(oscillate) until the the 'wobble' dampens out naturally(goes to sleep). If they are spinning too fast they resist the dampening forces better and take longer to stop wobbling..................resulting in a planing affect that is not repeatable shot to shot, thus the loss of longer range accuracy.

Also all bullets have a slightly eccentric mass. That is they don't spin exactly around the geometric center once out of the barrel, so they shouldn't be spun any faster than is necessary to stabilize them. A 40 gr in a 223 gets stabilizes very well even with a 1:14 twist.

Mc

[LONGTOM]

To PHATINJUNN:
While reading these posts on 223 twist you mentioned the 225 Win. I love that round and have several model 70s in it along with a custom 28" REMINGTON model 30S EXPRESS. I also have an old H&R re-chamber 223 to 225 that I have yet to find a frame that it will lock up on. I was thinking of sending one of my SB2 frames back for a new 223 and then re-chambering it. If I do which twist will the new barrel have and will it shoot the 52 to 55 gr. bullets?

LONGTOM

[quickdtoo]

Any new .223 barrel will be 1:9", unless you ask for a superlight which may still be 1:12", at least until they run out of that run of barrels, then it too will be 1:9"

Tim

[6Shooter]

I bought my Handi .223 4 years ago. It's a 1:12 barrel. The Winchester white box 45gr shoots about as good as it can get.
 I reload 40gr v-max that do well too. Anything over 50 grs and accuracy goes away. I like the slower twist better.
I wish they give us a choice betwixt fast or slow twist rates.

[ECV Slick]

Shooting 40 gr bullets out of a GOOD 1:9 twist is not a great idea. The bullets will be over stabilized and will not 'go to sleep' properly resulting in poor longer range accuracy. All bullets come out of the barrel with a bit of pitch or yaw and they 'wobble'(oscillate) until the the 'wobble' dampens out naturally(goes to sleep).

Thanks..  and as mentioned - I wasn't attempting to re-direct this question but rather add to its depth.

That said, I've not ordered any bullets lighter than 55gr for use in my new 1 in 9 .223 handi.

I'll post my results for all once I pick it up and can test it.