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Author Topic: Preferred twist for .223  (Read 474 times)

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Offline jw1044

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Preferred twist for .223
« on: July 15, 2008, 03:20:31 AM »
After searching the FAQ's I am still confused about which twist is best for a .223 barrel.  Is the 9 1/2 twist better for the heaver cartridges?  If so how do they shoot the lighter bullets?  In general what do you prefer and why?
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Offline jmayton

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Re: Preferred twist for .223
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2008, 03:55:20 AM »
I have an older 1:12 that shoots 55grain Sierra GameKings great.  It's been mediocre with factory loads from 45gr to 55gr.  Anything above 55 and it's pitiful.  Just for grins I tried an 80grain in it and it hit the target completely sideways at 100yds.  I have an AR with a 1:7 and it shoots everything from 55gr and up but it really prefers the heavier bullet.  If I had my choice in a handi, I'd like to have a 1:9 that would shoot a 62gr as well as my 1:12 shoots 55s.  My experience has been that the faster twist, while shooting the heavier bullets better, doesn't really suffer bad accuracy when shooting the lighter bullets.  However, a light bullet with a fast twist and high velocity might not want to stay together too well, but I don't think you can get that kind of bullet-destroying velocity out of a .223. 
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Offline stimpylu32

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Re: Preferred twist for .223
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2008, 06:51:57 AM »
I am more than content to stick with a 1-12 twist being that I only shoot up to 55g bullets in mine , anything above that and I go to the 243 , Don't get me wrong , I do shoot some heavy for cal bullets in other rounds just can't see the advantage of doing it in a 223 .

stimpy
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: Preferred twist for .223
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2008, 11:25:47 AM »
I have two .223s, One is an extra barrel fitted to my 30-06 frame by NEF when I bought the gun in 1995.  This barrel has the older 1:12 twist.  It shoots up to 55gr bullets great at less than 250 yards.  Beyond 250 yards it scatters them everywhere and is inconsistent.  It does not shoot 60gr bullets well at all, it keyholes at 50 yards and on out.

The second is a H&R Ultra with the 1:9 twist.  It shoots the 50 and 52gr bullets great, on out to 400 yards.  It also shoots the 60gr bullets just as good at the same ranges.  Bought a box of 80gr bullets last week, have not had the time to reload some and go and try them out.  Will let everyone know how they shoot once I get around to shooting them.   
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Offline LaOtto222

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Re: Preferred twist for .223
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2008, 01:30:42 PM »
If all my choices are 1-9" and 1-12" then I like the 1-12" better. I have an Ultra with 1-12" twist, a Stevens 200 with 1-9" twist and a Stevens with a custom barrel A&B barrel with 1- 14" twist. I much prefer the slower twist. I like 50 grain bullets and a faster twist does not make it better and it will not blow up lighter bullets in mid air. I seem to get no more accuracy with heavy bullets in the faster twist. Faster twists will give you higher pressrures every thing else being equal. Like Stimpy said If I want to shoot heavier bullets, I reach for a bigger gun.
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