Author Topic: twist rate 223 and 243 (Read 1604 times)

melduja · « **on:** June 12, 2004, 01:53:37 PM »

Hi
Does any one know what the twist rate is for the .223 Rem and 243 Win. aWhat would be the best bullet weight to work with those twist rates.

I tried using 85gr in the 243, several loads and they were all over the place. I also tried 60 and 68 gr with the .223 and they were not all that great either.

HELP!!! before I go crazy.

Thanks

marv · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2004, 01:58:28 PM »

Meld Look in the sticky above it has all the twistrates.
I am surprised you didn't get good acerate with 85 gr in 243. Most
people use light bullets in 223. Marv.

stevex · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2004, 02:23:33 PM »

My 223 Ultra likes 45-55 gr bullets.
I shot the Winchester 45gr white box ammo at around 3/4 inch groups at 100yds.The Black Hills 55gr soft points shoot 3/4 inch also.
These are the only rounds I have tried so far and have not been dissapointed.Going to try some of the Black Hills 50gr Vmax and the 52gr match hollow points next.

SteveX

handirifle · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2004, 02:52:32 PM »

melduja
This is from the FAQ section.
What are the rates of twist?
Duce
posted December 28, 2003 07:09 AM

.17 HMR 1 in 9"
.22 LR 1 in 16"
.22 WMRF 1 in 16"
.22 Hornet 1 n 12"
.223 1 in 12"
.25/06 1 in 10"
.243 1 in 10"
.270 1 in 10"
.280 1 in 10"
.308 1 in 10"
357 Mag 1 in 18 3/4"
7x57 1 in 10"
7x64 1 in 10"
30/30 1 in 10"
30/06 1 in 10"
38/55 1 in 18"
44 Mag 1 in 38"
45/70 1 in 20"
45 Colt/410 1 in 16"
20 ga. 1 in 28"
12 ga. 1 in 35"

The 1-10 twist a a little slow for a 243 and the 223 could easily be a 1 in 9 but NEF doesn't plan on changing them for some reason.

melduja · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2004, 08:29:40 AM »

Should I be using light bullets in both the 223 and the 243

handirifle · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2004, 09:11:44 AM »

55gr and under for the 223 and most get better accuracy with 85gr in the 243. Some get very good accuracy with 100 grainers though. Try them all out.

Fred M · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2004, 09:22:39 AM »

The 243 1-10 twist is plenty fast for al the regular hunting bullets up to the 105gr Speer. Lighter bullets below 75 gr do not benefit from a 1-10" twist.
A 1-14" twist will shoot very well with 72gr bullets, a 1-12" inch is very popular in varminters using up to 90 gr bullets with fine accuracy.

The only faster twist than 1-10' would be needed for the long target bullets like the 108gr VLD and the 95gr VLD and the solid copper
Barnes-x. I doubt any one with a Handi would be interested in those expensive bullets and run of the mill barrels.

The twist is not the problem for sure. The 1-12 twist is an excellent compromise for the 223 for bullets up to 60gr. Personally I would prefer a 1-14" twist and shoot bullets up to 55gr. The less twist the better the accuracy potential specially with the shallow 0.002" grooves in some Handi's. Fred M.

melduja · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2004, 06:20:35 PM »

Fred

I floated the barrel today using an Oring and will put a different scope on it, maybe that is why the 85 gr .243 was all over the place.
I was going to use the 243 rifle primarily for varmint shooting, I guess if it likes only heavy bullets, I can kiss that idea goodby.

So the faster the twist the heavier the bullet should be?
Thanks

Fred M · « **Reply #8 on:** June 13, 2004, 08:15:56 PM »

Melduja.
The 75gr V-max should shoot well in a 1-10 twist. When I said the lighter bullets will not benefit from 1-10 twist meant that they will shoot better with a slower twist but some still shoot ok even with 10" twist but that has not been my experience. The 6mmPPC uses a 1-14' twist and shoots 65-72 gr bullets into one hole at 100 yards. The 68gr bullet is the most used.

The 243 was made to be a deer/varmint rifle with the use of 100gr bullets hence the 10" twist. When Rem came out with a 244 it had 12" twist and it would not handle the 100 gr bullet for deer, so the caliber died. Later they came out with the 6mm Rem same damn case but with a 10" twist. It never made it either because the 243 was too well established.
This is all old hat.

Make sure you have full barrel latch engagement. Smoke the notch in the underlug and close the action you will see how much the latch closes. I had to hone mine to get full closure. Be careful you can't put metal back on again. I even beefed up the latch spring which is in front of the trigger guard. Fred M.

DislocatedOkie · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2004, 06:38:11 AM »

Exactly the kind of information I was looking for! I bought a .243 Hani at a gun show Saturday, and was wondering about the twist rate and what ammo to start with looking for accuracy. Excellent input, Fred, and thanks!

--DislocateOkie

melduja · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2004, 03:46:39 PM »

Fred

Thanks for all the info. Are you in Canada? My wife is from Canada, we love it up there.

So what kind of powder would have better results with the 243 inn 100 gr. In the past I used Varget and now that I am out, I'd like to explore adifferent powder.
Thanks

Bis · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2004, 04:15:06 PM »

melduja- I think a few 243's got out of the factory with a 1-12 twist. I bought a 243 ultra and it hates 100 grain bullets (they would go thru the target sideways), but loves 80 grain bullets ( 3 shot groups at 110 yards that you can cover with a dime). I measured the twist and came up with 1-12, I called H&R and they said all 243's were 1-10, so I measured it again, the same result. Then I had a friend come over and measure it, he came up with 1-12. If the thing didn't shoot so well I would send it back, I am just going to live with light bullets. Hope this helps.

melduja · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2004, 06:20:18 PM »

Bis
Thanks for the insight, I never thought to measure the twist. I sahll do that, but how do I measure the twist? Do I use the cleaning rod and a jag or is there a different way?

Thanks

Fred M · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2004, 07:39:05 PM »

Yes it is a good idea to check the twist. A 1-12" will shoot 90gr Bullets quite well but not 100gr.

Varget is not the powder I would use for 100gr bullets in the 6mm bore.
I used mostly Reloader 22 in both the 243 and the 243AI. In the Hodgdon line of powders the H1000 will give you the highest velocity and the lowest pressure with 100 and 105 gr bullets. IMR 4831 is also very good with the 100gr bullets.

For lighter bullets like the 70 gr H414 is very good and very accurate. Any lighter bullet in the 243 Win is a waste of barrel steel.
Benchmark can be used with light bullets with good results.

Fred M.

Bis · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2004, 05:41:30 AM »

melduja- I used a cleaning rod with a tight patch. I ran the rod in about 3/4 of the way, then put a piece of masking tape on the rod right next to the breach and marked a line on the tape. Then then I pulled the rod out (using the handle so that the rod could rotate on its own) until my line on the tape made one rotation and then measured the distance from the breach to the edge of the tape. This was the only way I could think of to measure the twist. It may not me the most sophisticated way but it seems to work.

Good luck.

melduja · « **Reply #15 on:** June 17, 2004, 05:00:18 PM »

Bis
Thanks for the instructions. I will try doing that tonight.

Bis · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2004, 05:56:30 PM »

meldjua- Let me know what you come up with. I am curious to know if I am the only one that has and odd ball :grin:

melduja · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2004, 04:21:26 PM »

BIS

I trid it and it showed almost 9 3/4 inch in one turn for the NEF 243. It worked. I am loading some 100 grain bullets on a 38 to 40 gr of h4350, maybe she'll like those.
Thanks again

Bis · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2004, 04:02:53 PM »

Melduja- I'm glad to hear you got things figured out, now just enjoy your new toy. I know I sure enjoy the little Handi, I have rifles costing a whole lot more, but I keep coming back to my Ultra, they are just fun. If you are ever in East Texas give us a call.

Bis