Rifling

[Star1pup]

Everytime I decide to buy a gun I start researching and become confused in the beginning and finally educated.    The T-3 in .223 comes with 8" & 12" rifling.  My friend has 8" and gets the best groups with heavy bullets.  I was told that if I want to shoot 50 & 55 gr. bullets I should go with the 12" rifling.

Here is where I get confused.  The 1:8" rifling should spin the bullet faster than the 1:12".  So why does the slower spin increase my chances with lighter bullets?   This might be a dumb question to some of you, but I've learned that the only dumb questions are the ones I don't ask and then screw up.

[chutesnreloads]

The faster spin only ALLOWS the use of longer (heavier) bullets.It doesn't mean the faster twist won't shoot the lighter bullets well.If you're sure you won't shoot heavier than 55 grain bullets ,either twist will do you fine.If you will want to shoot the longer/heavier bullets (over 65 grain) then you will NEED the faster spin to stabilize the longer bullet.I have a faster twist barrel and get excellent groups with bullets from 40 grains to 69 grains.You likely will find bullets regardless of weight your barrel just doesn't like.That doesn't mean it won't shoot that weight bullet.If you really want to shoot that weight ,try a different bullet in that weight.

[Star1pup]

I guess this is all what makes researching/buying a new rifle so much fun.    I agree that it's often a case of which load a rifle likes, but once I buy this, I'll be using it as long as I can hunt.  I'm having my dealer see if he can get the 12" twist as I'm sure i'll be sticking with lighter bullets.

My neighbor has the 8" twist and it shoots all bullets pretty well, but gets 3/4" groups with heavier bullets.

Now I need to get on the reloading forum and see what loads guys like.  I'll probably go with something from the Hornady manual and start low or midway in the data.  My .222 likes 4198 and my neighbor is using 4895.