1/9" twist rate for 223

[fdennis]

I'm thinking of buying a Remington 700 5r mil spec in 223 caliber. The barrel has a 1" to 9" twist rate. Is that twist rate too fast to handle 40 grain, 50 grain, 55 grain bullets, at around 3300-3500 fps? If not, I'll buy a 700 VS SF II in 223. Thanks. DH

 

[Terry]

It is not too fast. My 1:9 Savage .223 shoots 30's to 80's very well.

Have fun!

Terry

 

[fdennis]

Thanks for the info, Terry

 

[areaone]

I have a 22 250 Hart barrel 1/8 twist and will shoot 55 gr. Sierras great(3497 fps). dont think twice DO IT..

 

[k80skeet]

Yup, I agree with Terry my Savage with a 1 in 9 twist shoots everything under 1/2" and the 69 & 73gr in the low 2's.

 

[fdennis]

I guess that means I buy the Rem. 700 5R Mil.Spec. instead of the VS SF II. That means I give up 2" in barrel length, thus less velocity, but I gain the ability to shoot heavier bullets. Is there any difference, in terms of inherent accuracy, between the two rifles? All else being the same, that comes down to the barrels, and that comes down to the twist rate. Or am I missing something?

 

[A_Gamehog]

all my 9 twist .223's shoot 34's thru 75's

 

[gregori]

1 in 9 is the best all around twist in my own opinion. on the velocity thing,i have a 223 sps that i had chopped to 18 inches. i lost 120 fps from a 26 to 18 and my group size shrank in half.my only regret is that i used a 12 twist rifle for this experiment, wish i had a 9. but i dont think you will notice 2 inches worth of velocity in the two rifles you have to choose from, but you might want to shoot heavier bullets someday. you can always shoot lighter bullets with a faster twist but you cant shoot the heavies with slow twist. i would get the 9 twist and never look back! good luck.
greg

 

[k80skeet]

Why don't you think about buying a Savage their Quailty is way ahead of todays Remington's.

 

[fdennis]

I started out looking (on line at Savage's website) at Savage rifles, and I was interested, but what turned me away from Savage is I have never seen a Savage rifle. Never been able to touch one. I'm familiar with Remington rifles, having owned a couple, so I know what they look like, what their fit and finsh is like, and I can go to any one of several gun shops and look some more. I am reluctant to buy a rifle I've never seen. If I could see an actual Savage rifle in the models I'm interested in (generally varmint or target) I certainly would consider a Savage. From what I've read Savage makes a pretty accurate rifle, and out of the box accuracy is what I want most of all, but still, I want a rifle that is well finished.

 

[Ole]

If your only going to shoot up to 55gr bullets then buy the VS-SFII, if you plan on shooting up to 70-77gr bullets then buy the 5R.

Tom

 

[paul223]

I have 2 Savage rifles with accutriggers 22lr and 223. I am now looking at Rem 700 5r in 223 with the same 1:9 twist as my savage - why because of the "accutrigger". It is not reliableand buying a suitable replacement is impossible. Out of the box the Savage is worth every penny, but finding components for accuracy improvements are a bit harder.

 

[fr3db3ar]

Could you expound on the accutrigger being "not reliable" ?

all of mine have been extremely reliable IMO

 

[Bradley Walker]

I have 2 Savage rifles with accutriggers 22lr and 223. I am now looking at Rem 700 5r in 223 with the same 1:9 twist as my savage - why because of the "accutrigger". It is not reliableand buying a suitable replacement is impossible. Out of the box the Savage is worth every penny, but finding components for accuracy improvements are a bit harder.

The Rifle Basix SAV-2 is badass. I love mine. It breaks at about 6 oz like a glass rod.

 

[Bradley Walker]

I guess that means I buy the Rem. 700 5R Mil.Spec. instead of the VS SF II. That means I give up 2" in barrel length, thus less velocity

My 1-8 twist Benchmark 223 barrel is 20" and it hammers at 600 yards.

 

[paul223]

Could you expound on the accutrigger being "not reliable" ?

all of mine have been extremely reliable IMO

I have 2 Savages. One I stoned and polished the trigger sear etc and cut the spring put it back together and it shoots spot on. The other I took the stock off - never remover the trigger from the receiver assy. cleaned it by shooting extreme clean in followed by compressed air, made sure spring was set at the mfg designated min trigger pull weight, put it together and it trips when i work the bolt soft or harder- not slamming. well I have to take it off the stock and increase the pull weight- so far I am up 2 turns and it will still trip once in a while- and you don't want that in bench rest. The model I have is a predator max 1 which has a accu trigger and accu stock. nobody offers a light adjustable trigger except ss supply and as a condition of sale they need to check and time the receiver- $300. it is a $700 gun which has a fluted med barrel and I like to shoot bench so yesterday I bought a rem 700 5r. I hope it is a tack driver. Heck I keep playing with loads for the Savage it is a shooter, but with the trigger and barrel and my annual desire to feed the addiction what the heck is another grand plus scope ringe case etc. My late good wife is turning over in her grave. I am addicted to this stuff or it fills some of the void. hope this helps and isn't boring - too much.

 

[hogpatrol]

Remington's are known for their long throats. I'd be leery of buying one in .223 if you want to shoot the very lightweight bullets. They may not touch the lands or even get close. If I were buying one, I'd take the lightest bullet I want to shoot and check it with the OAL gauge to see if the bullet is still in the case when it's up against the lands. I have three 17 fireballs and none of them can shoot the 20 grain bullet unless they jump .060. Up against the lands, the bullet is in the neck less than .070 and none shoot worth a damn unless they're jammed .005. As an aside, I am NOT a fan of Remington rifles. Actions, yes. Rifles NO. Have you considered CZs? Waaay better quality. Hog

 

[paul223]

Remington's are known for their long throats. I'd be leery of buying one in .223 if you want to shoot the very lightweight bullets. They may not touch the lands or even get close. If I were buying one, I'd take the lightest bullet I want to shoot and check it with the OAL gauge to see if the bullet is still in the case when it's up against the lands. I have three 17 fireballs and none of them can shoot the 20 grain bullet unless they jump .060. Up against the lands, the bullet is in the neck less than .070 and none shoot worth a damn unless they're jammed .005. As an aside, I am NOT a fan of Remington rifles. Actions, yes. Rifles NO. Have you considered CZs? Waaay better quality. Hog

Hog, If you are speaking to me - I still can't fond the lands ofity Savage. This morning I got a blued bullet pulled out of a dummy case and it stuck in the chamber, When I tapped it out with a wooden dowel rod there was NOT scratch in the blueing. My OAL was 2.297. So i'LL keep playing.

 

[fr3db3ar]

I know remmies are different but in my Stevens I couldn't get a 80 barely inserted in the case to touch my lands.

 

[K22]

you can always shoot lighter bullets with a faster twist but you cant shoot the heavies with slow twist. i would get the 9 twist and never look back! good luck.
greg

Is this really true, no disrespect intended. Reason I ask is that I've been looking at a Tikka T3 Lite in 223 but the dealer can only get it with an 8" twist. I want to shoot 50 or 55 grain bullets (Nosler BT's) and was concerned about accuracy and ability to drive the those bullet weights in the 3100 to 3200 f/s range with that fast of twist.

Based on my research, there seems to be differences of opinions on this. Perhaps there is no definitive answer and it may depend on the indiviual rifle - I don't know.

I really like the Tikka T3 Lite - I have one in 243 and would like to have one in 223 but I'm warily of the 8" twist. Their website lists a 12" twist model but the dealer tells me that those are not being imported into the US. Go figure that one!