Advice needed 222 rem 1-12 twist

[Adam 6mm build]

Hello fellow shooters just received my win model 70 back from my smith I had him rebarrel it with a xcalibur 1-12 twist barrel chamber in 222 rem now here is the problem it will not stabilize 50-52-53-grain bullets but will shoot 40 grain Nosler in one ragged hole at 100 yards I’ve tried 3differnt powders with the 50s any advice

 

[LCazador]

That's weird. My 1-12 does great with anything up to 55gr. in my Fireball rifle. It's a 700 action. Are you seeing bad groups with the heavier bullets or are they hitting the target with irregular holes? Bad groups are not always an indication of poor stabilization. What powder have you tried?

 

[mac86951]

Hello fellow shooters just received my win model 70 back from my smith I had him rebarrel it with a xcalibur 1-12 twist barrel chamber in 222 rem now here is the problem it will not stabilize 50-52-53-grain bullets but will shoot 40 grain Nosler in one ragged hole at 100 yards I’ve tried 3differnt powders with the 50s any advice

I may be completely in the wrong here, but I've found that my 222 likes flat base bullets and I've had good luck with boat tail bullets, but found they are way more load sensitive in my rifle. As to why this is the case; well I haven't a clue.

Ok on to decipher your posted question: what are you seeing that indicates the bullets aren't stabilized? Large groups, or key-holes (bullets going sideways thru target)

-Mac

 

[LCazador]

Flat base bullets are shorter and easier to stabilize if the twist rate is marginal. Boat tail bullets are longer and may require a faster twist. Stabilization is based on length. Velocity plays a small role in bullet stabilization.

 

[243winxb]

A Berger 55 gr or shorter flat base bullet should be ok. But the calculators think not.

Stability value should be in the range of 1.3 to 2.0 to ensure bullet stability.

Changing the velocity to,2850 fps doesnt reaally help.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

Have you considered the possibility that your twist rate might be
slower than advertised ?

A. Weldy

 

[BoydAllen]

If your twist is what you think that it is, your problem with 50-53 grain bullets is not stability. When I first built a 14" twist .222 I took a couple of bullets with me to the range to load. Some that I took, just to do a break in, so as not to waste the ones that I guessed would shoot the best were 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. They shot very well. They are long for their weight, with plastic tips and short BTs . I should mention that I took Hart's word for the twist, so it might be a little faster than labeled, but I do not think that it would be more than a fraction faster. What seating depth did you try, what powder, neck tension, and charge weight?

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Shot a 222 Tikka rebarelled with a 12 twist Douglas for years. This would stabilise, and shoot well with, 64g flat base. Just rebarelled with 8 twist Tikka barrel taken off a new 223. (another story)

I suggest that you have another smith take a look at the work. Theres no reason why your barrel will not shoot.

 

[Tommie]

Sounds more like a 1-16” twist.

 

[jk80]

My 1 in 12 222 shoots 50 to 55 gr. well. Best was 50 gr. Sx Hornady and 335 powder. Like Mac said, it seemed to prefer flat base bullets the best.

 

[grovey]

That's weird. My 1-12 does great with anything up to 55gr. in my Fireball rifle. It's a 700 action. Are you seeing bad groups with the heavier bullets or are they hitting the target with irregular holes? Bad groups are not always an indication of poor stabilization. What powder have you tried?

I thought the factory 700's in 221 fb were 14 twist like factory 700's in 222?

 

[grovey]

A 12 twist should stabilize every 55 except maybe the lead free copper bullets.

 

[Adam 6mm build]

I just went back to the range I loaded 6 rounds of each 60 grn amax 55 grn serria hp 55 grn Nosler ballistics all charged with 4198 imr 1.5 to 2 inch groups ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE and then I loaded 6 40 grn Nosler ballistic tips with imr 4198 that shot a a 1 inch group IM LOST the action is not beded should I bed it could it be a bad barrel I don’t know I have a 6br and a 22br both xcaliber barrels both shoot absolutely amazing

 

[K22]

Check the twist of the rifle to verify that you indeed have a 12" twist.

I shot the 222 for many years, albeit a 14" twist Rem 700. IMR 4198 is the go to powder for the 222 w/ 50-52 grain bullets. Even with 55's you should be shooting sub 1" easily although mine preferred IMR 4895 for the 55 grain bullets. A 12" twist should shoot the 50-55's very well even though the original factory design was a 14" twist with 52 grain match bullets.

I don't think it's the bedding - why would the 40 grainers shoot well if it was bedding issue.

 

[6xcshooter]

my 222 1 in 12 twist shoots everything to and including 55gr bullets very well. yours could be a bad barrel or chamber or reloading techniques or who knows.

 

[LCazador]

I thought the factory 700's in 221 fb were 14 twist like factory 700's in 222?

Grovy you're assuming it's a factory barrel. It's not it's a Kreiger 1-12 on a 700 action. The 700 Fireball classics were 12 twists however.

 

[LCazador]

I just went back to the range I loaded 6 rounds of each 60 grn amax 55 grn serria hp 55 grn Nosler ballistics all charged with 4198 imr 1.5 to 2 inch groups ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE and then I loaded 6 40 grn Nosler ballistic tips with imr 4198 that shot a a 1 inch group IM LOST the action is not beded should I bed it could it be a bad barrel I don’t know I have a 6br and a 22br both xcaliber barrels both shoot absolutely amazing

There's your problem, IMR 4198. Try a spherical powder either 2200 or 2230. Get that velocity up there. Sixty grain Amax too long for 12 twist. Is that model 70 a pre 64 or post 64 and do you have it pillar bedded? That middle screw on the mod 70 is an accuracy robber.

 

[grovey]

Grovy you're assuming it's a factory barrel. It's not it's a Kreiger 1-12 on a 700 action. The 700 Fireball classics were 12 twists however.

Might be. Mine is a 700ls, and from what I've seen said it's supposed to be a 14 twist.

 

[243winxb]

Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail 55 grain #1390 bullet .

 

[Adam 6mm build]

It’s a post 64 in a McMillan I’m going to try and put a 20 thousand jump on the pill my smith has done hundreds of barrel and action jobs he is very puzzled as I am his work is top notch well back to work I’ll give it a go again next weekend thanks to everyone with input keep it coming we’ll get it shooting and I’ll will keep everyone informed on the progress