OK, I'm totally confused.

[amlevin]

I recently purchased a Remington 700 SPS - Tactical in .223. Idea was that my wife might like it and come shoot some with me (and if she didn't I'd have another rifle for me 8)).

Naturally bullets are scarce. I do have a few thousand Montana Gold 55gr FMJ-BT's that are at best OK. Fine for making noise on steel but for making small groups, no way.

I've tried some 52gr SMK's but want something that isn't tossed around in the wind at 300 yards so I'm looking for something heavier. Found some 77 gr Nosler Custom Competitions and just bought them.

Here's the confusion. This rifle has a 1:9 Twist. It seems like half the "world" says they're too long/heavy for a 1:9 twist and a 1:7 or 1:8 is required.

So then I go to both JBM Ballistics' and Berger's stability calculators, enter the bullet and load parameters.

The bullet design length is .982" but the ones I checked measure closer to.995". Muzzle velocity for the analysis was 2750 fps which is a mid-point in the load range for CFE223 which I will be using.

JBM gives a "Stability factor" of 1.428 and Berger 1.44. According to JBM any stability factor over 1.3 and less than 2 is considered "Stable". Even the Berger "scale" shows that 1.4+ is in the stable range.

So now the confusion. The Miller Formula based calculators put this bullet in the "Stable Range".

Half the world says it isn't and the others say things like "I get great results".

Do I load them up and shoot them with a 50/50 chance of "keyholes" or do I trade them off before I waste them.

I'm looking for some "good luck" stories with this bullet in a 1:9, 20" bbl.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Those button cut factory bbl's may say 1-9 twist on it. But that may not be the case. I have seen that even though it says it is a nine twist, it may be a 8.5 to a 9.5 twist. I would gather to say that those that getting good results have a bbl that is a lil faster than a true nine twist. A friend of mine had a Savage 223, it was marked 1-9 twist, but afterr we measured the twist, we found that it was a 8.5 twist. This bbl loved the Hornady Amax and 24.0 grs of H4895 and would shoot very well @ 1K. This not the norm I would say, but there are folks that do get good results. I would measure the twist of the bbl first before beciding what bullets to try. If you don't know how to measure the twist let me know. I will be glad to discribe it to you.

Randy

 

[amlevin]

Those button cut factory bbl's may say 1-9 twist on it. But that may not be the case. I have seen that even though it says it is a nine twist, it may be a 8.5 to a 9.5 twist. I would gather to say that those that getting good results have a bbl that is a lil faster than a true nine twist. A friend of mine had a Savage 223, it was marked 1-9 twist, but afterr we measured the twist, we found that it was a 8.5 twist. This bbl loved the Hornady Amax and 24.0 grs of H4895 and would shoot very well @ 1K. This not the norm I would say, but there are folks that do get good results. I would measure the twist of the bbl first before beciding what bullets to try. If you don't know how to measure the twist let me know. I will be glad to discribe it to you.

Randy

My barrel is a Hammer Forged Remington. Will be measuring actual twist later but all my other Hammered barreled Remingtons have been pretty close to the number.

 

[bheadboy]

i found the 77smks good in one 9 twist and marginal in another. i think you need to try a run at the 77 or 69's as the 69s are great in anything below 10

Bob

 

[amlevin]

Those button cut factory bbl's may say 1-9 twist on it. But that may not be the case. I have seen that even though it says it is a nine twist, it may be a 8.5 to a 9.5 twist. I would gather to say that those that getting good results have a bbl that is a lil faster than a true nine twist. A friend of mine had a Savage 223, it was marked 1-9 twist, but afterr we measured the twist, we found that it was a 8.5 twist. This bbl loved the Hornady Amax and 24.0 grs of H4895 and would shoot very well @ 1K. This not the norm I would say, but there are folks that do get good results. I would measure the twist of the bbl first before beciding what bullets to try. If you don't know how to measure the twist let me know. I will be glad to discribe it to you.

Randy

My barrel is a Hammer Forged Remington. Will be measuring actual twist later but all my other Hammered barreled Remingtons have been pretty close to the number.

Updated info:

In measuring the twist of the barrel, it's right on the money 1:9. Checked it 5 times to make sure.

I guess I'll be trying some out later this week. I know that a lighter bullet would be nice but has anyone tried to buy a 69 gr Nosler or Sierra lately? Supply is so bad that the local Cabela's has just moved Bullet Boxes and other miscellaneous stuff onto the bullet shelves so the oddball stock they have left doesn't look so lonely.

Here's hoping--

 

[bheadboy]

i found the 69 smk's to shoot into .870 at 200 meters out of an xp with a 15 inch bbl. 9 twist

Bob

 

[FroggyOne2]

Do you have a buddy that has a few 75 Amaxes you can try. I have seen 24.0 grs of H4895 work real well in several different bbl configurations, from 7 twist to 9 twist. Just a thought, though it might not fix your plight right now.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

I tried the 77 ncc's in my 9 twist Rem 700 Tac. [20" bbl] and it shot'em good.


Kermit

 

[amlevin]

I tried the 77 ncc's in my 9 twist Rem 700 Tac. [20" bbl] and it shot'em good.


Kermit

Since we're talking the same rifle this is good to hear.

I'll find out today.

 

[amlevin]

Re: OK, I'm totally confused. Update

Well things certainly are promising. Yesterday I was able to actually shoot some of he 77 gr Nosler C/C's.

Wasn't really sure what to load them at so I just took a middle load for this bullet and CFE223.

23.5 gr of CFE223 gave me an average speed of 2480 fps and the primers barely had the edge radius altered. Nice "nickel sized" group at 100 yards but it appears that I have a lot more room for more powder.

Each and every hole was round and uniform with no sign of "heading sideways". Since the max I'll shoot this bullet at is 300 yards it seems like it will be just fine.

Maybe when I can actually buy some 69 gr bullets, or the 73 gr Berger's, I'll change but for now---------

 

[stacy]

Try H-4895 24.5grs 68gr hornady match my 1/9 twist savage shoots bug holes w/ this combo wsr primer or 205 fed.

 

[boltgunluvr]

amlevin...The 75-77gr pills may work for 1 in 9. I know the 69 SMK will rock. I use 53gr SMK in my 1 in 12 and its a tack driver.

 

[amlevin]

amlevin...The 75-77gr pills may work for 1 in 9. I know the 69 SMK will rock. I use 53gr SMK in my 1 in 12 and its a tack driver.

As everyone knows, there are "proper bullets" and then there are "the ones we can buy right now"

When I can buy more 69 gr bullets, or the 73 gr Bergers, I will just be stuck with using what I can find on the shelves.

It is nice to know however that the longer and heavier 77's do work pretty darn good.

Now I can shoot "something" while waiting for all the factory presses to catch up.