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F T/R Competition Will a 1:8 work from 600 in a 223?

XTR

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Minuteman
  • Sep 4, 2010
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    Lebanon, NH
    www.onlinehumidor.com
    I'm trying to put together a mid range 223 and looking at barrel offerings. Will a 1:8 work well from 600 with 80s? Not really planning to shoot 90s out of this, and no intentions of ever shooting it from 1000. There seem to be a few 1:8s available out there so I thought I'd ask before I pulled the trigger
     
    Re: Will a 1:8 work from 600 in a 223?

    Oak Ridge is doing a mid range series this yr and I've got a Savage F class that currently has a 6.5-284 barrel on it that I'm going to screw off and make it into a 223. I gotta think that shooting a 17+ lb 223 is a lot of fun. I've also got an extra blank in a 31" 30 cal Krieger #14 1:10 5R that I'm seriously considering having mounted too. Cut the chamber with the same reamer that I'm using on my 1000 yard gun and make it a switch barreled backup/loaner.
     
    Re: Will a 1:8 work from 600 in a 223?

    I am not sure about the 80's but I know my wife's DPMS Mini SASS has a 1:8 and with the 75g Hornady HPBT allowed me to hold my own at the last shits and giggle match in 3" snow drifts. I was only 3 points off the leader who was shooting a custom 308.
     
    Re: Will a 1:8 work from 600 in a 223?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Denys</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A three inch snow drift? </div></div>
    Well, I guess it's all relative (LOL). Here in SD, 3" would be pretty remarkable.

    Wade,
    As far as the 8-twist goes, that is what Berger recommends for their 80, 80.5, and 82 gr loads. It ought to shoot very well with any of those. I also currently have a .223 bolt gun build underway; basically a GAP Crusader with a 27" barrel. I thought about an 8-twist, but ultimately decided to go with a 7-twist. I don't think either one would hurt you. I want to try the 80.5 gr Berger Fullbore projectiles first, with the idea of using 80 gr SMKs as a fallback, if the 80.5s don't work well. My choice of the 80.5s was simply based on the chamber specs. I wanted to be able to use 77 gr commercial loads for the primary purpose of this rifle as a "trainer". So I did not request any extra freebore. However, I would also like to use it occasionally in 600 yd F-T/R matches and an 80gr load would help a lot. The BCs are all pretty similar, but the 80.5s have the shortest axial dimensions of any of the three Berger 80-somthings.

    Have you decided on the chamber specs you want to use yet?
     
    Re: Will a 1:8 work from 600 in a 223?

    There is no bullet that will be stabilized by a 1:7 twist that would not also be stabilized by a 1:8 twist. In order to stabilize the 90gr bullets, the local guys use a 1:6.5.

    And a three inch snow drift in Michigan is what you get in June, not February.
     
    Re: Will a 1:8 work from 600 in a 223?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: zmann</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm hoping my 1:10 twist will shoot 69gr hpbt's well.

    Sorry I don't have much info on the 1:8 </div></div>

    A 1:10 twist is perfect for 69gr SMKs
     
    Re: Will a 1:8 work from 600 in a 223?

    Yes your 1 in 8 will be fine for the 80's. That is my choice also. Been using for years now and never had a problem. That being said a 7.5 or a 7 will work great also.
     
    Re: Will a 1:8 work from 600 in a 223?

    Wade,
    I have a 1:8 Shilen that hammers with the 75's and 77's ....I haven't tried the 80's with it. It is a small shank and is currently on a model 12 action....not the Target action. You Are welcome to borrow it if you want to give it a try before you jump into something. Just give me a shout, or we can touch base at an ORSA match.
    Jeff Saunders