I have a barrel coming for a Contender that I'm building in 223 and it has a 7 twist. Would I be able to shoot 50 gr bullets or would they separate before hitting the target? I shoot lots of 60 gr in my rifle with no issues, but I'm looking for a light weight bullet that would work well with the 7 twist.
223, 1-7 twist vs bullet weight
- Thread starter K9TXS
- Start date
It's the quality of the bullet that is important in really fast twist barrels. Poorer quality bullets or ammo with a lot of runout.... the really fast twist can cause accuracy issues.
As an example and this is an extreme one... 55gr ball ammo/bullets out of a 7 twist barrel I've seen them go thru the target sideways at a 100 yards but loaded and shot 52gr Hornady HPBT match bullets and they shot and held 3/4" groups at a 100 yards. Same day...same gun. So stick with a quality bullet/ammo and you should be just fine.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
As an example and this is an extreme one... 55gr ball ammo/bullets out of a 7 twist barrel I've seen them go thru the target sideways at a 100 yards but loaded and shot 52gr Hornady HPBT match bullets and they shot and held 3/4" groups at a 100 yards. Same day...same gun. So stick with a quality bullet/ammo and you should be just fine.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
I shoot 53 grain noslers out of my 1:7 223 at 3400 FPS, they're fine.
My Savage Model 12 LRPV in .223 with a 7 twist will throw 55 grain bullets literally over hell and half of Georgia.
dusterdave173
Silver $$ Contributor
I have two 7 twist 223's
Both will shoot the 53 g Vmax like a Champ! Zero issues at around 3250 FPS
So..I had some leftover 40g Vmax running around 3600 from another rifle--I was very surprised that they grouped very well at 100 yds--nice round holes--excellent groups--seems like no issues at all
FWIW one barrel is Hawk Hill cut barrel and the other is an Urban Rifleman button barrel ( which looks smooth as can be )
So..Try It...I think you may be surprised--if I do the math on that 40g load it is spinning way past what conventional wisdom says will work .
Both will shoot the 53 g Vmax like a Champ! Zero issues at around 3250 FPS
So..I had some leftover 40g Vmax running around 3600 from another rifle--I was very surprised that they grouped very well at 100 yds--nice round holes--excellent groups--seems like no issues at all
FWIW one barrel is Hawk Hill cut barrel and the other is an Urban Rifleman button barrel ( which looks smooth as can be )
So..Try It...I think you may be surprised--if I do the math on that 40g load it is spinning way past what conventional wisdom says will work .
A tight bore doesn't give better accuracy or help barrel life etc... if there is a problem... the tight bore isn't going to help anything.
I don't run tight bores in anything anymore. Haven't for years.
I agree with you, as I never said anything about accuracy or barrel life. A tight bore with high rpm can induce jacket separation, which I believe is what the original poster was asking about.
My 1:7 and 1:8 twist rate .223 Wylde chambered rifles shoot 52/53 grain match bullets into tighter groups than any other weights.
My 20 VT shoots 32 gr & 40 gr Vmax very accurately. It looks like the PD sat on a bomb when it's hit.
My 1-8 twist shoots 40 gr Vmax just fine! 60 gr are the lowest I go with the 1-7!!
If you planned on shooting light weight bullets , why did'nt you go with a slower twist when you ordered the barrel ???
I purchased this barrel new at a very cheap price. I'm not sure why they sold it so cheap, but I very seldom get a deal like this. Plus, the wait time for a new barrel is 3-6 months depending where it's purchased.
I can live with the 7 twist, just looking for a light bullet that will work.
I can relate to the barrel wait times being unacceptable...
this guy on here UrbanRifleman seems to have great stuff in stock ..
I just found this place , or I would have bought my 22Creed barrel from him ,
Lone Hunter
Silver $$ Contributor
I shoot 50 grain Nosler B.T.‘s out of a 1/7 twist and they shoot great. They actually ( out of this rifle) shoot better than the 1/8 and 1/9 twist do. I am not trying to blow the jacket off of them and am running about 3/4 max load. Crows and groundhogs don’t like them at all.
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