Slow twist AR-15

[dexter]

Whatever happened to using slow twist barrels (like 1:12) in ARs to varmint shoot? I can only find two places that sell them--X Cal & W.O.A. These slow twist 223 barrels are GREAT for shooting light bullets (varmint bullets) and are SUPER accurate. A real pleasure to shoot. Am I currently out of touch with the latest & greatest they have to offer? Am I missing out not shooting expensive VLD type bullets? Showing my age for sure

 

[alf]

Whatever happened to using slow twist barrels (like 1:12) in ARs to varmint shoot? I can only find two places that sell them--X Cal & W.O.A. These slow twist 223 barrels are GREAT for shooting light bullets (varmint bullets) and are SUPER accurate. A real pleasure to shoot. Am I currently out of touch with the latest & greatest they have to offer? Am I missing out not shooting expensive VLD type bullets? Showing my age for sure

My last three builds are all slow twists, 22 DTI Shilen 12" twist, 223 Rem (not Wylde) X-Caliber 12" twist, and a 6x6.8 SPC X-Caliber 10" twist. I went 10 on the 6 in case I wanted to try 87's, but I'm pleased with the 70's at 3200.

 

[CSLR grandpa]

Dexter nothing wrong with the slow twist AR, most shooters probably don’t want to limit themselves to just squirrel and PD ammo, 9 twist Olympic arms ultra match is very accurate with 50 VMax.
Krieger 13 twist is so accurate you would think your shooting a bolt gun you can get what you want.
CSLR grandpa

 

[effendude]

I've never had an issue shooting even 40 grain V-Max's out of 1-8" AR's for prairie dogs. I'm often tempted when rebarreling to try one of WOA 1-12" but the faster twists just keep my options open for heavier bullets.
Scott

 

[natdscott]

That, and the quality of match grade bullets is so high, now, that many "light" bullets shoot quite well, even when overspun.

May not get quite the speed, but more residual RPM at impact never helped a Pdog, either.

 

[SteveOak]

Did you not know that anything other than a cold hammer forged, chrome lined, 7 twist barrel is junk. LOL

This is the same mentality as in the motorhead world that insists if you are going to have forced induction you need to run a neutered compression ratio.

 

[natdscott]

This is the same mentality as in the motorhead world that insists if you are going to have forced induction you need to run a neutered compression ratio.

Yeah! Because buckets Olympics 1962, pizza Abraham Lincoln canoe Moon!

(#WhatDidheJustSay?!)

 

[alf]

My last three builds are all slow twists, 22 DTI Shilen 12" twist, 223 Rem (not Wylde) X-Caliber 12" twist, and a 6x6.8 SPC X-Caliber 10" twist. I went 10 on the 6 in case I wanted to try 87's, but I'm pleased with the 70's at 3200.

I should add, my builds were specifically for calling coyotes at night with thermals, where speed wins.

 

[GotRDid]

Yeah! Because buckets Olympics 1962, pizza Abraham Lincoln canoe Moon!

(#WhatDidheJustSay?!)

You quoting the current prezadent?!?

 

[natdscott]

You quoting the current prezadent?!?

Not necessarily, but if the watermelon rugbys, wander it.

 

[dexter]

That, and the quality of match grade bullets is so high, now, that many "light" bullets shoot quite well, even when overspun.

May not get quite the speed, but more residual RPM at impact never helped a Pdog, either.

Good point. For varminting I think more RPM is better (relatively speaking). I'm just imprinted with the old benchrest mentality of slow twist just shy of instability for utmost accuracy, but the new varmint bullets spun quickly can be very accurate indeed.

 

[msalm]

In the past I’ve used Green Mountain 1-12tw blanks and chambered/contoured some AR barrels for just that. They shot exceptionally well although I did hand lap them after a rough contour operation before chambering. No complaints, easy 1/2 MOA w/ 50-55 gr tipped varmint bullets.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

I have a Rem 700 I just rebarreled with a Kreiger 1-12 in .223 to shoot moly 50gr TNT's.
Dogs come apart with that combo! 3350fps
Oh 18"

 

[1lessdog]

I shoot the 1 - 12 twist WOA and Sierra 45 gr Spitzer and Coyotes die just as easy as 69 gr Sierra BTHP in some of my 1 - 8 twist.

Speed kills and I will take that over a lobber any day.