223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

[thefiremeister]

Whats the best twist rate for bullets in the 55 to 69 grn range?

I might shoot some thing a little heavier but don't expect to. This upper will be for 3gun matches

I was looking at a RRA upper and it looks like I can get either a 1/9 or a 1/8.

 

[kz45]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

1/8, you can shoot up to 77 gr

 

[boltstop]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

So what's the heaviest bullet you can reliably shoot with a 1:9 barrel?

 

[thefiremeister]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

I'm getting conflicting info from the internet. Imagine that.

Did find this on ar15.com

http://ammo.ar15.com/ammo/project/perf_m193acc.html

 

[DT1]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

Either 1/8 or 1/9 should be just fine for 55's and 69's. I wouldn't get too hung up on shooting 77's for 3-gun. Most of the matches have close up stages where 55's do just fine. For the stage or two at longer distances, 69's will do great.

 

[Wild_Bill]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

in an ar you are best staying under 69gr with a 9 twist but the 8 twist barrels will also shoot 55gr projectiles well and the 75-77gr projectiles are awsome in them also the 69's shoot realy well throught the 8 twist barrels.

Work out what projectiles youa re going to shoot the most and if you are never going to shoot heavier than 69gr go the 9 twist but if you want to try the heavier projectiles get the 8 both will work for you.

 

[mscott]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

I would get a 1/8 twist so that you have options.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

If in doubt, go faster.

Faster twist will shoot lighter bullets better the slower twist will shoot heavier bullets.

Check out this chart.

 

[ORD]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Faster twist will shoot lighter bullets better the slower twist will shoot heavier bullets.</div></div>

Just for clarification sake...that is backwards, but I know what you were trying to say.

Faster = 1 complete revolution/twist of the rifling in fewest inches of barrel. i.e. - a 1:7 twist is FASTER than a 1:9 twist.

A FASTER twist (like the 1:7...1 complete twist in 7") will stabilize the heavier/longer bullets better.

A SLOWER twist (like the 1:9, 1:12, 1:14, etc.) will stabilize the lighter, shorter bullets better.

For 3-gunning purposes, unless you really want to shoot heavier, match bullets, there is no reason to go faster than 1:8. If it were me, I would opt for a 1:8 twist which will give you arguably the best bang for the buck in terms of what you can run. A 1:8 will run very well with bullets from 52gr-77gr without missing a beat.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

No sir, its not backwards.

For example, a 1:7 will shoot 55 grain bullets better then a 1:12 will shoot 69 grn bullets. The faster twist is NEEDED for heavier bullets.

Meaning a faster twist will shoot lighter bullets better then a slower twist will shoot heavier bullets.

Again, look at the chart I posted.

 

[rpk762]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

As my tubes are getting burned up I have been moving everything to 1:8 twist tubes. Most of the time I shoot stuff in the 55gr range but if I wanted I can shoot 80gr bullets as a single shot.

If you are only going to shoot up to 69gr bullets then a 1:9 is all you need.

1:7 is not needed at all for any one it does not stabalize 80gr bullets any better than a 1:8. You will not be shootin 90's so there is no reason for a 1:6.5 twist.

 

[ORD]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No sir, its not backwards.

For example, a 1:7 will shoot 55 grain bullets better then a 1:12 will shoot 69 grn bullets. The faster twist is NEEDED for heavier bullets.

Meaning a faster twist will shoot lighter bullets better then a slower twist will shoot heavier bullets.

Again, look at the chart I posted. </div></div>

DOH!! I see what you were saying now and I agree 100%. I missed/misread how it was stated, thinking you were simply saying that faster works better on lighter bullets, but instead, you were saying you can better run a lighter weight bullet with a faster twist than you can run a heavier bullet with a slower one. My goof.

 

[thefiremeister]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DT1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Either 1/8 or 1/9 should be just fine for 55's and 69's. I wouldn't get too hung up on shooting 77's for 3-gun. Most of the matches have close up stages where 55's do just fine. For the stage or two at longer distances, 69's will do great. </div></div>

I figured 55s and 69s would be good for the 3 gun. I don't plan on shooting any thing heavier

Just got off the phone with sierra and was told I can shoot 45gn high velocity bullets to 77gn with a 16" 1/8

Or


A 1/7 twist will shoot just about anything.


A 1/8 twist:

will shoot 45gn high velocity bullet to 77 grn bullets in a 16 inch barrel

You can shoot 45 gn to 80s and maybe 90s in a 20 inch
1/8 barrel the 90s may be marginal


With a 1/9 twist in a 20 inch barrel

Can shoot down to 40 or 45 gn high velocity bullet.
Will shoot a 69 grn bullet well.
Will shoot a 77 grn bullet but may be marginal
Won't shoot a 77 gn bullet very well in a 16 inch barrel.

 

[longguntoter]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

I like the 1 in 8 twist myself.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

I have ARs with 1 in 9 and 1 in 7 twists. The last match I shot 55 Grain FMJ PMC ammo in the 1 in 7 twist at distances of 20 feet on paper to 300+ yards on 8" steel plates and had no problem. But, I could have done the same with the 1 in 9 twist gun too. This just supports the fact that 55 FMJ bullets will stabilize properly in the 1 in 7 twist.
The trend I see now is more and more manufacturers shipping guns with the 1 in 8 twist barrels. I think that is the way to go. My 1 in 8 twist 223 bolt gun shoots the 77 SMK into tiny groups out at very long ranges.

 

[thefiremeister]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

I was looking at the RRA upper and I wanted to go with the crome moly barrel but it has a 1/9 twist. The stainless has the 1/8 twist and a wylde chamber.

I'm leaning towards the stainless with the 1/8

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

CM barrels are fine with conventional rifling and chrome lining. S&W has the inexpensive Sport rifle out now. It is a CM 1 in 8 twist with 5R rifling (not chrome lined) and those guns are shooting great. Not real familiar with RRA barrel options but I thought their S/S barrels were 20 to 24 inch affairs. At any rate, you won't need anything longer than 16" for the 3 gun game.
You might look at one of these:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/s...playErrorView_Y

 

[thefiremeister]

Re: 223 twist rate for 3 gun matches

Thanks for the link but I wanted something a little more simple. Has to tacticool but not all railed out and I'd still like to have a A2 sight on it.