.224, 53-grain VMax twist info

[B23]

hogpatrol, I agree with nearly everything you said and I think you're pretty spot on. Except, the part about the majority of factory 22-250's having 12tw barrels. The vast majority of factory 22-250's for years has been the rather slowwwww 14tw barrels. For awhile Savage had one of their models chambered in 22-250 you could get with a 9tw and Tikka for a period had one of their models you could get with an 8tw, at least I think it was an 8tw but if could have been a 9tw can't remember exactly. Some of the boutique companies offered 22-250's with faster than 14tw barrels but not many. I have a Kelbly 22-250 and it came with a 12tw.

I'd bet there are a whole bunch of folks that wished the majority of factory chambered 22-250's came with a 12 instead of the slower 14 twist.

Back in the day, even the 55's and 60's, didn't have the stretched out sleek design and high BC some of these new 53 - 60 grainers of today have and a 14tw would shoot any bullet that was available. Unfortunately, bullet technology has superseded the twist rate of most factory chambered 220 Swifts and 22-250's and for reasons I can't understand, the big manufacturers don't seem to have any interest in changing. I don't think Remington has EVER made a 22-250 that came with anything but a 14tw. If they'd all switch to a 10 twist then you could easily shoot the 53gr Vmax and up to the 60gr TMK and I think a 10tw would still allow you to shoot the 40's and 50's if you wanted to.

For my usage, a 12 or better yet 10tw 22-250 or 220 Swift makes a lot more sense than a 7tw 223.

 

[SmokinJoe]

From my personal experience, the 53 V-Max in a 12 twist is a roll of the dice. I have two 10 twist barrels that shoot them pretty well, but recently tried the Nosler Varmageddon 53 and it shot even better. That is a FB bullet but the advertised BC is higher than the 53 V-Max. BTW, both of these rifles are 223AI and produce 3600 + velocities.

 

[Zero333]

53 Vmax is a BT bullet that's long for it's weight.

I'd go as far as saying a 12" twist would be the MINIMUM if you shoot in cold temperatures.

Edit: just ran the #'s in the Berger Twist Calc. and it comes up with 9.75" twist being optimal.

 

[B23]

From my personal experience, the 53 V-Max in a 12 twist is a roll of the dice. I have two 10 twist barrels that shoot them pretty well, but recently tried the Nosler Varmageddon 53 and it shot even better. That is a FB bullet but the advertised BC is higher than the 53 V-Max. BTW, both of these rifles are 223AI and produce 3600 + velocities.

Nosler makes a good bullet, but they are well known for grossly inflating the BC of many of their bullets. Their 53gr Varmageddon is basicly the same length as the 53 Vmax, but is a FB with a much longer bearing surface. I know Nosler claims that bullet has a .303 BC but I bet if you had someone like Bryan Litz measure it out, the BC would be a good amount less than that. Doesn't make it a bad bullet and often FB are easy to make shoot well, but that .303 BC they claim is probably rather inflated.

 

[3Ackleys]

The 53 Vmax is all i shot out of my 14 twist Winchester Heavy Varmint. 4000 fps w/ A2700, i'm at 5600' ASL. No stability issues and very accurate. If I were getting a new barrel i would go faster like a 10 or 12.

 

[Mark M.]

53 gr out of the CZ 527 223 with a Pac-Nor 1-12, low 3's all day