best weight for 223 with 1 in 9 twist

[MOGLEY]

I have loaded 55 gr spsx rounds and they were pretty good but the 40 grain v-max's with 25.7 gr of benchmark do better I can wack a crow out to 150 yards. What weight are you finding works well with a 1 in 9 twist barrel.? I would have thought the heavier  bullet would have done better. The 40 gr v-max rounds were loaded at minimum.

[LaOtto222]

1st off I assume you are talking a 223. That is what I am going to talk about from here on. I have a 1-9" twist barrel and I started out loading 60 grain V-MAX for it. I was disappointed with it's accuracy. I then loaded up some 55 grain bullets and some 50 grain bullets. The 55 grain bullets did better than the 60 grain bullets and the 50 grain bullets did better than the 55 grain ones. I could see a trend here. Next time out I had some more loads for the 50 grain bullets and some 40 V-Max bullets. The 40 grain bullets did the best of all. I was using fairly fast powder in all loads. Up to this point the 40 Grain bullets were the best. They are seated a long way from the lands. With the 60 grain bullets, I was able to kiss the lands and still have the base of the bullet about where the neck started off of the shoulder. I am going to try the 60 grain bullets again, but with slower powders. I am going to try H4895 and Varget and I think I will set them off of the lands a little. I did not push any load real hard, but they were not a very mild load either, about in the middle. The 40 grain accuracy was acceptable, but not where I expect it to be, so I will be doing some more experimentation. I does not make sense to me either that the lighter bullets would shoot the best, I guess that is why I am going to make another stab at the 60 grain V-Max. I was so confident the 60 grain V-MAX bullets would work, that I bought several hundred of them. All of the rest of my 224 caliber guns are 1 - 14" twist and I do not think the 60 grain bullets will stabilize, so I am determined to get the 60 grain bullets to work. Watch loading the SPSX bullets up to max in a 1-9" twist barrel. They have a tendency to blow up in mid air, their jackets are thin. The SPSX were designed with a 222 and 1-14" twist in mind. I have used a 50 grain SPSX, and a medium charge of BLC2 to perfection in a 222. It shot very well until I wore out the throat. Twenty five years as my only center fire varmint round just wore it out. I have recently put a 221 Fire Ball barrel on it.

[PHATINJUN]

I was able to get 69 grain match king bullets to shoot very well in mine and feel that I could even go with heavier when I get the bug to work with it more but settled on 55g vmax for PD hunting. I have been working with IMR3031 powder.Kurt

[teddy12b]

I have a Savage 12BVSS in 223 with a 1 in 9 twist.  I load 69gr matchkings over 24.5grs of varget and I would feel comfortable shooting at a crow/rabbit/groundhog/raccoon...... whatever at 300 yards.  A 1 in 9 twist barrel is a good barrel to have.  I've also goofed around with 35gr v-max rounds too, but that was more for fun and giggles.  They shot well though too!

[PartsMan]

Nolser ct 55g ballistic tips over varget shoot well in my handi.

[LaOtto222]

I have not tried any thing over the 60 grain V-MAX. I use mine for shooting critters and such, and do not want to shoot any thing that may croom off into the wild blue. I do most of my shooting where there are houses not too far away. With that said, I still think the 60 grainers will shoot well, as well as the heavier VLD bullets up to around 70 - 74 grains. I just need to find a good powder and powder charge to go with it. I have Benchmark, Varget and H4895 to try with them, but have not had the time yet. I really think I will hit gold with one of them. I was using VV N133 which shoots a 50 grain V-MAX very, very well, but that is in a 1-14" twist barrel. I have several bullets in the 55 grain weight too. I would think I could find a good load with one of them also. I should mention that the 223 barrel that is 1-9" twist is a light weight 22" barrel. I have found that I can still find a load that shoots well  in them as long as I space out the shots. I am going on here a little, but I have found in general that the heavier the bullet, the slower the powder needs to be to shoot well. That is why I have the powders listed to try. They are in the slower end of the 223 range. Keep us posted on your findings.

[MOGLEY]

Thanks for the replies. I have forgotten to mention I was in fact talking 223,, sorry about that. Fast powders seldom ever work for me. I like the fact it takes less powder therefore more rounds per pound of powder BUT big deal if your loads don't hit anything. My loads with benchmark have been very good and they are just starting loads too. Good to know other guns shoot the lighter bullets well too.

[Jim n Iowa]

I have found that 52-55g bullets with 3031 is very accurate in my Savage 10. I did have some -1" 3 shot groups using 60g HP Hornady/TAC loads. Sierra makes a 55g ballistic tip bt that may be a winner.
Jim

[hylander]

55 V-Max seem to work th e best for my 1:9 CZ Varming Kevlar



Also my Savage 12FV 1:9 Loved them to