Another reason for 8" twist barrel is the leadfree bullet we are forced to use here in California. For all of you live in USA you don't have to deal with the leadfree crap fortunately. But when shooting leadfree bullet a faster twist barrel is required, 12" or 14" twist barrel is not going to stabilize the long leadfree bullet
8"twist 223
- Thread starter Ironworker
- Start date
My 9T 223 AI AR loves the 69 TMK for 500ish-yd. coyotes. If I were setting up a short-throated 9T rig for long-range PD's though I'd start at the highest BC/weight "short bullet" available, probably the 53 V-Max, and definitely try the new 60 Sierra TMK, assuming long-range is high on your list of priorities.
As an aside here if I were setting up the ideal "long-range" PD killer it'd be a 7T .223 long-throated of course for the bigger polymer-tipped bullets like the 77 TMK and especially the 80 ELD-M.
As an aside here if I were setting up the ideal "long-range" PD killer it'd be a 7T .223 long-throated of course for the bigger polymer-tipped bullets like the 77 TMK and especially the 80 ELD-M.
I too like the Sako. I have been looking at the stainless Forester 85 in 223. I like everything about it, except for the carbine barrel...but that seems to be all gun makers can produce these days. I would have pulled the trigger on one too, but I know several guys that have purchased new Sako's in the last two years. Not a single one of them shot very good.
I have not had much luck with 1-in-8 twist barrels. I know there are some out there that will shoot, but I cant seem to get my hands on one. That is mainly because I haven't really tried...I just have no use for a 223 that shoots heavy bullets. I try to stick with the recommended twist rates for the bullet I intend to use, but have had pretty good luck shooting lighter bullets in a 1-in-9. I have had a lot of trouble getting many of today's current manufacture bullets to group. The same bullets used to shoot great 10-15 years ago. I don't know what is up with that, but I do know it isn't the rifle and it isn't the shooter, because I got no problem shooting good groups with the right bullets. The two best performing and most accurate bullets I have used lately is the 55 grain Varmageddon and the 64 grain Berger Varmint.
I always suggest to anyone gearing up a rifle to pick the bullet first and then the proper twist. In most cases the slowest twist that will still adequately stabilize the given bullet will always be the most accurate. Prairie dogs are not big targets, so if it's primarily a PD gun then you are not going to be happy with 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards.
I have not had much luck with 1-in-8 twist barrels. I know there are some out there that will shoot, but I cant seem to get my hands on one. That is mainly because I haven't really tried...I just have no use for a 223 that shoots heavy bullets. I try to stick with the recommended twist rates for the bullet I intend to use, but have had pretty good luck shooting lighter bullets in a 1-in-9. I have had a lot of trouble getting many of today's current manufacture bullets to group. The same bullets used to shoot great 10-15 years ago. I don't know what is up with that, but I do know it isn't the rifle and it isn't the shooter, because I got no problem shooting good groups with the right bullets. The two best performing and most accurate bullets I have used lately is the 55 grain Varmageddon and the 64 grain Berger Varmint.
I always suggest to anyone gearing up a rifle to pick the bullet first and then the proper twist. In most cases the slowest twist that will still adequately stabilize the given bullet will always be the most accurate. Prairie dogs are not big targets, so if it's primarily a PD gun then you are not going to be happy with 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards.
I shoot an 8T in an AR for PD's and Coyotes. It has a 5.56 mil spec chamber (so I don't know what that means in terms of freebore mentioned by some prior posters). I load everything from 52 gr to 80 gr for it. Shoots them all well (sub .7 MOA). Like anything else in accuracy, you have to put in the time to get the right loads together. The 52's don't come apart, but they are only going 3000 fps. For 500 yard work, the heavier the better from my perspective. When I load the longer, heavier bullets over 70 gr., I single load them (Sinclaire single load follower) while shooting. They are loaded longer than magazine length and touch the lands. When I do this, it shoots sub .3 MOA and is a great long range shooter out to 600 yards. Your problem will be finding a hunting bullet in a larger size. The load I mention uses 80 gr. Berger VLD's and Varget. Not exactly a hunting bullet made to expand on contact. But perhaps this can give you some perspective to work with.
Not exactly relevant to the OP's question but I shoot a Tikka T-3 with an 8 twist using 40 gr Nosler BT and it will easily shoot 5 shot groups into one-half inch. It does shoot just a bit smaller groups with the 50 gr Nosler BT.
Moral of the story - if the bullet has a fairly stout jacket like the Nosler BT shooting tight twist does not seem to be a problem.
drover
Moral of the story - if the bullet has a fairly stout jacket like the Nosler BT shooting tight twist does not seem to be a problem.
drover
Yep.. ive had several sako 85s... very nice actions id love to build off of, stock aint bad at all, barrels are hit and miss to could all be replaced... your buying the action mainly... stock is nice but cheap, barrels are junk.
But what I consider junk isnt eveyones definition. I want .25 inch groups or less... or I get rid of it, or change barrels.. just me tho
They guarentee 1 moa accuracy... so alittle bigger than an inch. Had one that did this too before, got rid of it..
I have a Tikka T3 Lite in .223 with a 1/10" twist (my first rifle). It shoots factory ammo from 40gr to 69gr without any stability issues at 100 yds. I would not push it beyond 70gr. It loves Nosler and Sako ammo, and absolutely hates Hornady. If I'm doing my part, good factory ammo in the range of 40-69gr will easily shoot sub MOA in 3-shot groups. A dialed-in hand load would probably achieve 0.25 MOA. It is really fun for target shooting, but I wish I had gone for the 1/8" twist.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
From 250-325 yards is where you miss or unzip a lot of coyotes, flat shooting 55's at 3400 + with Benchmark and cci 450's will give you a serious edge in trajectory, 53g V max is awesome also.
Sight your rifle in at 200 hold on top of their back to 325 or so. Remington 700's love a load in Lapua brass with cci 450 and 27g of Benchmark, this is not an AR load, nor a load for a fast twist. Velocity is 3480 fps with the 53-55g bullets seated to touch the lands, in 12T Remington 700's. If you start off with other kinds of brass, change out a primer, or can not touch the lands, do not expect stellar results. Remington sps stainless and chrome moly are very, very accurate rifles in the 223 with a 12T factory barrel.
While this load above is safe in several of my rifles, it may not be safe in yours, so work up to this load in your rifle. Federal brass is junk with soft case heads.
Lake City brass NOT made by federal is great brass but you will have to back off the load above and work up to it. Same with Winchester and Remington brass.
Sight your rifle in at 200 hold on top of their back to 325 or so. Remington 700's love a load in Lapua brass with cci 450 and 27g of Benchmark, this is not an AR load, nor a load for a fast twist. Velocity is 3480 fps with the 53-55g bullets seated to touch the lands, in 12T Remington 700's. If you start off with other kinds of brass, change out a primer, or can not touch the lands, do not expect stellar results. Remington sps stainless and chrome moly are very, very accurate rifles in the 223 with a 12T factory barrel.
While this load above is safe in several of my rifles, it may not be safe in yours, so work up to this load in your rifle. Federal brass is junk with soft case heads.
Lake City brass NOT made by federal is great brass but you will have to back off the load above and work up to it. Same with Winchester and Remington brass.
Have two Tikka 8t....first one shot 55's great with 21.5 grains of IMR 4198
second one will not shoot 55's near as well ( both with 55 grain hpfb bullets )
both shoot heavy bullets great
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Those are some nice groups! I’m very fond of Tikkas! I put custom barrels on three of mine. The smoothness of the actions is amazing for a factory gun, they have good triggers and a side bolt release. You pay extra for that in a Remington. I have a few that I’ve kept original because they shoot so well as they are. I also have a couple that got a custom stock, but nothing else.
Great shooting and welcome to the forum!
Thanks again love your stocks that you makeThose are some nice groups! I’m very fond of Tikkas! I put custom barrels on three of mine. The smoothness of the actions is amazing for a factory gun, they have good triggers and a side bolt release. You pay extra for that in a Remington. I have a few that I’ve kept original because they shoot so well as they are. I also have a couple that got a custom stock, but nothing else.
Great shooting and welcome to the forum!
They are all very niceThanks! Which one?
This one?
View attachment 1064109
This one?
View attachment 1064103
This one? (Lefty)View attachment 1064105
Or this one?
View attachment 1064107
All Tikkas! Did I mention I like them?
If you could cut the front off pic 3 and put it on pic 4, the figure of the wood would be outstanding,
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