Best twist rate on a 223 bolt action rifle.

[LVJ76]

I have a some bullets in .224 caliber that I will be using on a 223 Rem bolt action rifle. These bullets are mostly light weight varmint and match bullets that need a slow twist rate, but I want to be able to use higher weight bullets like let's say a 70gr Accubond or maybe a 60gr partition or even a 60gr to 68gr monolithic bullet.

I want to get this rifle mostly for my son to shoot all of these bullets as mostly practice rounds and then I'll buy some higher weight bullets for him to hunt deer and javelina.

From what I've read a 1 in 9" would be the best option. I believe Ruger makes the RAR and I believe Savage does also make rifles with this twist rate. I already have the rifle options pretty much narrowed down but need advise on the best twist rate option for this situation so I can make sure I get the right one.

Thank you in advance for your help with this and best regards

 

[LVJ76]

These are the bullets I have and again thanks in advanve for the help.

 

[Wild Monkey]

Yes Sir, I believe you are on the money for the 40-50 Grain's. Although for the 70's you will prefer the 1-8 Twist. IMO

 

[Liberator]

I have a Stevens 200 with a 1-9 twist that is a shooter with everything up to Hornaday 75 s.

 

[LVJ76]

Thank you, I appreciate the input

 

[TRG65]

I had 2 different barrels on a bolt 223. They were both 1-8. Most of what I shot were heavier. But it worked fine with the lighter as well and gave me the flexibility to use 80s. The 80 Berger does a wonderful job on groundhogs.

 

[hunter67wa]

My 1x9 shoots 69 very well.

 

[J E Custom]

I have tried 1 in 7 to 1 in 10 and found the 1 in 8 perfect for all 223 Rem bullet weights. If a more powerful 223 is used (Higher velocity) A 1 in 9 to 1 in 15 is recommended depending on the bullet weight.

J E CUSTOM

 

[LVJ76]

Thanks all, appreciate the input

 

[del2les]

I've used most everything from a 7 to 14 twist in 223/5.56 and 223AI, and while my 9's in a 24/26 inch tube shoot well with wts upto and including the 75's, I have settled on 8 twist for my 69-82gr bullets out to 1,000+ yds.

For my Pdog rifles with the 55 to 35gr bullets, currently I run 12-14 twist to avoid the occasional jacket separation while in flight of a few of the TNT and othe HE designed varmint bullets.

If desiring a compromise twist for the 69's and under, I have good experiences with the 9's.

 

[xsn10s]

I've been testing 50gr ZMAX's in a 1-9" HBAR. 3180 fps and it works very well on sagerats and two badgers. I just got two boxes of the 53gr VMAX's and expect the same, if not better, results. I've read that 1-9" works well with 75gr tipped bullets which I'm wanting to experiment with.

 

[del2les]

I've been testing 50gr ZMAX's in a 1-9" HBAR. 3180 fps and it works very well on sagerats and two badgers. I just got two boxes of the 53gr VMAX's and expect the same, if not better, results. I've read that 1-9" works well with 75gr tipped bullets which I'm wanting to experiment with.

In my 24/26 barrels, the 9tw stabilizes the 75AMAX/ELD at 2900fps, but I have not used it in a 20".

 

[H59]

It's a bit fast but I've been running a rock creek 1/6.5 twist in a M24 contour specifically setup for the new smk 95gr. If you want to really get the most distance from your 223 the 95gr w/ a G7 b.c. of .310 & velocity of 2675fps keeps a bullet supersonic to 1200+ yrds at sea level. Of course most people don't want or need that capability but it is a nice,comfortable round to shoot. The 1/6.5 twist I'm using now also shoots the 69gr nosler, 77gr tmk, 75gr eld,80gr eld-m 80.5 berger all really well. You might hear people say that a1/7 twist or faster is too fast & you'll blow up bullets coming out of your barrel but the 223's velocity really isn't going to cause those kind of issues like a 22-250 might. I would at least go with a 1/7.5 at the slowest only because of the plentiful,really good quality bullets to choose from in the 60-69grain to 80grain plus range that can be used with a better b.c. than the 50-55 grain bullets and still do the same job...just with better ballistics.

 

[LVJ76]

Thanks again all. I tried the 40's and 45's in my 1 in 7 AR and it did not work out, could not get them to shoot accurately. I'm not looking to send the 40gr and 45gr bullets at 3,700 fps, I'm not in to varmint hunting except desert dogs every once in a while, so I'll probably use these at lower speeds for practice but still need accuracy. I'm afraid the 1 in 8 won't get it done with these bullets and I don't plan on shooting anything heavier than an 80gr on it.