all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

[flyfisher117]

Ok I dont like coming to this forum usually just for the fact that i have no clue about any of the long range shooting you guys do so i usually just stick with my favorite smaller forums that are just more hunting based so that i dont bug ya with repetitive questions. but i can not get a definate answers as far as barrel twist rates on .223s and bullet weight.

my gun is a Remington 700 SPS Tactical so it has a 1:9" twist rate. what is the maximum and what is the minimum bullet weights a 1:9 can shoot? ive had guys try to tell me that a 1:9 cant shoot any bullets below 45 grain because it spins them so fast they turn into "dust" and that the heaviest it can shoot is only 62 or 64 grain. then ive heard it can shoot anything up to 78 grains.

I dont reload YET but my dad does and he has everything to reload for the .223 so ive been looking around for a good coyote load (in the 62 grain range) and also i want a load for long range shooting because i definately want to get into long range shooting but i dont yet have a .308 so my .223 is the next best thing... any and all help is greaty apreciated

 

[brand692]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

The 40 grainers may be over spun and could grenade. My experience is that a bullet really needs to be screaming to grenade, but the light ones can be over spun and actually destabilized.

Some guys get a 1:9 to stabilize the 69gr bullets, some don't.

Anywhere between 50 and 69gr and you should be good.

Choose somewhere in there and you should be ok.

 

[sinister]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

Longer bullets generally require faster twists to keep them flying stable.

A 1-9 twist should be able to keep a 68 or 69 to 73 grain bullet flying straight. Depending on barrel brand and true rifling twist you may or may not keep a 75 or 77 grain bullet stable -- you really have to shoot them and see. It will be readily apparent if your barrel can't because they will be spinning all which-way even at 25 yards and you'll be lucky to hit a bull in the butt at 100 yards -- it will be that apparent.

A 1-9 most probably will NOT stabilize an 80-grain bullet.

 

[Sapper524]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

My 24 inch 1:9 twist CR6724 Colt shoots great with 77g SMKs. I have had 1:9 twist barrels spit 77g SMKs all over the target like a shotgun. 69g bullets will work fine. You will have to try 75g and 77g and see. Buy a box and give it a try. Worst that can happen is they don't work. I know a few guys with 1:9 and they have all settled on 75g AMAX Hornady.

 

[flyfisher117]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

ok i have been wanting to just buy a few boxes of factory loads in various weights just to try but i just wasnt sure if it was unsafe to fire to big of a bullet from the gun. i didnt want to try some 68 grainers and have them be to heavy and somehow plug the barrel but didnt want to either try a 45 grain and have it be unsafe or damage the gun

ill just get some extra cash saved up and try some different weights. while ive got all of your guyses attention what are Sierras match king bullets like?

 

[Sapper524]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
ill just get some extra cash saved up and try some different weights. while ive got all of your guyses attention what are Sierras match king bullets like? </div></div>

I personally shoot Sierra bullets almost exclusively 77g SMK in 223 - 175g SMK / 180g SGK in 308. Friends of mine shoot Hornady AMAX exclusively. Both are great bullets and in quality factory match loads will shoot very accurately (Federal/Black Hills/etc)

I would suggest you buy a box of 20 Match rounds in 69g SMK, 75g AMAX and 77g SMK and see how they shoot. Your rifle will tell you what it likes.

 

[flyfisher117]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sapper524</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I would suggest you buy a box of 20 Match rounds in 69g SMK, 75g AMAX and 77g SMK and see how they shoot. Your rifle will tell you what it likes. </div></div>

maybe i will do that... but at $50 a box of 20 i might just have to shoot 55 and 62 grains of what ever i can get loaded.

 

[Sapper524]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sapper524</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I would suggest you buy a box of 20 Match rounds in 69g SMK, 75g AMAX and 77g SMK and see how they shoot. Your rifle will tell you what it likes. </div></div>

maybe i will do that... but at $50 a box of 20 i might just have to shoot 55 and 62 grains of what ever i can get loaded. </div></div>

http://www.triadtactical.com/Ammunition/

I said box of 20, was thinking 308, most 223/5.56 ammo comes in boxes of 50. Triad has good prices

 

[gstaylorg]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

There are MANY threads addressing this question that you can look through. I personally did some experimenting with a lot of different commercial loads to address this same question with a Sig 556 DMR, which has a 21", 1 in 10" twist barrel (link below). If your Remy has the 20", 1 in 9" twist barrel, I'd expect the stabilization to be at least in a similar neighborhood as what I found, maybe a hair better.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...625#Post2004625

From everything I've read and what I actually found at the range, you will likely be able to shoot a pretty wide range of bullet weights (lengths) with your barrel. As you get up to the longer (heavier) loads like the 77 gr, I would expect you may notice accuracy drop off somewhat with the 1 in 9" twist, particularly as you get out past 300-400 yd. But that doesn't necessarily mean complete loss of stabilization and keyholing.

Probably the best thing you can do is to take 3 or 4 of the better commercial loads of various weights out to the range and see what your weapon "likes" the best. For example, you could get some Black Hills and/or Federal Gold Medal Match ammo in 53, 68, 69, and 77 gr range and see how your rifle shoots at 100, 200, 400, etc., if you have access to a range with those distances. Although somewhat pricey compared to other brands, at least you would have some idea then of what your Remy prefers. Anyhow, hope this was helpful and good luck!

 

[Racinready300ex]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

I have a savage with a 1-9 twist. I've been trying to find a good heavy bullet with high BC for 600 yard shooting.(hope to try 1k when the local range gets done.)

Anyway so far I've had good results with the berger 70gr, and similar with the 68 gr hornady match. The 75 grain A-max just don't seem to want to work in my gun. But the 75 grain Hornady BTHP Match does.

Basicly just try stuff and see what happens. Save your brass and start hand loading when you can.

 

[biffj]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

The twist rate you need is based on the length of the bullet you are shooting and velocity. The bullet length is based not only on the weight but also on the type. A round nosed 60gr bullet won't be much longer than a 50gr boattailed spitzer but a 69gr boattailed Spitzer is considerably longer. In order to keep the longer bullets from becoming unstable and tumbling you have to spin them faster. Since they are heavier your velocity will be lower(generally) and that contributes to lower stability as well since the spin rate is based on velocity and twist. The reason the fast twist rate will vaporize really light bullets is that not only is your twist faster but the velocity is too, making the tiny bullets spin up past the ability of the copper jacket to hold the lead core against the centrifugal loads. In reality a 1-9 twist should be fine for your rifle to shoot most stuff up to the 73gr BT. You can try just about any weight you want with little fear of damaging anything but your pocketbook as even the 90+grain slugs won't stick in your barrel, they just don't fly right. Your target will probably show the bullets hitting sideways as they tumble downrange. So this means you can test to your hearts content. The only time you'll have any real problems is if you are shooting suppressors. In that case you should work up a load and bullet combo without the suppressor installed and then proceed carefully.

Frank

 

[Top Cat]

Re: all of this barrel twist rates is confusing me.

From what I've observed, a 1/9 twist will handle any standard bullet weight up to a 77smk.

A-max and Bergers are in a different category, but all the 1/9 twist rifles I shot would shoot the 75 A-max well in handloads. You have to load them at the upper range. Never tried the factory ammo.

The 75 Hornady bthp is a safe bet. It has a forgiving twist requirement, good BC and Hornady loads it.

TC