Optimal bullet weight for 1:10 twist 224 barrels

[BradY]

Since the 52/53gr bullets seem to work best in 1:14 twists, and 80gr bullets in 1:8 twists, plus the 55gr bullets in 6mm in the 14's and 105's in 8 twist 6mm barrels- Im trying to find the optimum bullet weight in 1:10 twist barrels in .224 diameter. 55gr bullets seem to blow up pretty quickly, 60gr bullets just dont seem accurate and the 69gr bullets seem more accurate than others. Anyone know what generally is the recommended weight in that twist?

 

[cmillard]

what do you mean when you say that the 55 grainers are blowing up--because of too much twist or blowing up on varmint. if it is because of too much twist, what bullets are you using--ive shot 52 match hollow points out of a 9" twist with excellant results. 60 grainers and bellow should work great in a 10" twist--try some different powders, there is no reason you didnt get them to work.

 

[BradY]

Yes I mean they were very explosive on impact- and so should ballistic tips be- 55gr SMK's at 3800fps in a 1:10 twist. Ive skinned jackets on 50gr ballistic tips- wondering if the 52gr amax would hold up... nah im happy with these. Just worked up a new load this afternoon half with the sierras and a heck of alot of jump in a 22BRX. I will stick with them in the varmint barrel.

 

[MarkS]

BradY,

The 55 gr at 3800 f/s will be explosive on impact, but the problem would be blowing up I flight and not making it to the target. 69 gr bullets would be great, 70 to 73 gr should be good also.

Mark Schronce

 

[BradY]

I havent had any blow up mid flight so far- but yes they wont be far off. I will leave them as they are for this load. Have a good load for 69gr HPBT bullets but they punch through most of the things I shoot at. Its a shame nobody makes a 65gr ballistic tip in .224 cal The 10 twist wont stabilise the 75gr amax i dont think so I will leave it shootin the 55's flat and ive got a 7 twist on the way for 90gr berger VLD's

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

Here's a 65 grn Sierra that'll do the job:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=199027

 

[moorepower]

What are you shooting at?

 

[BradY]

What ever I fancy... foxes, cats, rabbits all the way through to small pigs and goats. Never had a problem with the ballistic tips before or now, just wondering what is the optimal weight for a 10 twist. Also have a great load with 69gr Nosler CC's but they zip through the foxes/cats/rabbits a bit too much.

 

[K.W.]

Here you are, please:

http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

Then "Twist Trate".

 

[Rick bonnell]

I havent had any blow up mid flight so far- but yes they wont be far off. I will leave them as they are for this load. Have a good load for 69gr HPBT bullets but they punch through most of the things I shoot at. Its a shame nobody makes a 65gr ballistic tip in .224 cal The 10 twist wont stabilise the 75gr amax i dont think so I will leave it shootin the 55's flat and ive got a 7 twist on the way for 90gr berger VLD's

Try to get ahold of the new eld-vt 62gr it's designed to be for a faster than other bullets of the same weight by other manufacturers if you didn't know it's a hornady, didn't mean anything by that. Lol

 

[Doom]

Interesting you have a 10 twist. There is a hole in the bullet world with most of the heavier 224 bullets being target. Sierra makes a 65 gn Game King that is designed for 22-250 velocities. It's an SBT design so the BC won't be as good as a Ballistic Tip. Might work for your purposes.

D—n Zombie Thread!

 

[Toms]

Since the 52/53gr bullets seem to work best in 1:14 twists, and 80gr bullets in 1:8 twists, plus the 55gr bullets in 6mm in the 14's and 105's in 8 twist 6mm barrels- Im trying to find the optimum bullet weight in 1:10 twist barrels in .224 diameter. 55gr bullets seem to blow up pretty quickly, 60gr bullets just dont seem accurate and the 69gr bullets seem more accurate than others. Anyone know what generally is the recommended weight in that twist?

I have a Dakota 223 10 twist barrel that loves 77 gr Sierra mk. The range I shoot at is 5400 ft elevation in Wyoming. I finished first place in a 600 yard match with 100 9X on f class target. It tied the range record. Everything I have reserched says 10 twist won't stablize 77 gr bullets. Just my experience. Tom.

 

[K22]

60 Vmax. A real hammer on small critters.

 

[jk80]

I've used 53 gr and 60 gr v max in 1/9 and 1/8 twist with excellent accuracy and almost no exits on coyotes. Those bullets are meant to be explosive. I don't think barrel twist is your problem. It expecting a bullet to do something they aren't designed to do.

 

[Doom]

I have a Dakota 223 10 twist barrel that loves 77 gr Sierra mk. The range I shoot at is 5400 ft elevation in Wyoming. I finished first place in a 600 yard match with 100 9X on f class target. It tied the range record. Everything I have reserched says 10 twist won't stablize 77 gr bullets. Just my experience. Tom.

Your bullet stabilizes because you are at 5400 feet and the atmospheric pressure is about 12.05 psia or 24.5" HgA!

 

[RegionRat]

FWIW

https://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

 

[hoz53]

Since the 52/53gr bullets seem to work best in 1:14 twists, and 80gr bullets in 1:8 twists, plus the 55gr bullets in 6mm in the 14's and 105's in 8 twist 6mm barrels- Im trying to find the optimum bullet weight in 1:10 twist barrels in .224 diameter. 55gr bullets seem to blow up pretty quickly, 60gr bullets just dont seem accurate and the 69gr bullets seem more accurate than others. Anyone know what generally is the recommended weight in that twist?

I have a 10 twist and i wish i had bought a faster twist. 10 twist in 224 is kind of a worthless twist to me. I tried SMK 69 grainers and that twist really wouldnt stabilize them for me. i have got some good groups but out of 60 to 65 grain bullets. for me i either want a 14 tw for the 5oto55 grain on down or a 7 or 8 twist for the rest. Im at 900’ above sea level in US.

 

[RegionRat]

I have a 10 twist and i wish i had bought a faster twist. 10 twist in 224 is kind of a worthless twist to me. I tried SMK 69 grainers and that twist really wouldnt stabilize them for me. i have got some good groups but out of 60 to 65 grain bullets. for me i either want a 14 tw for the 5oto55 grain on down or a 7 or 8 twist for the rest. Im at 900’ above sea level in US.

FWIW

At MV = 2950 fps, sea level.
A 224 SMK 69 shows an SG = 1.34 using the database in the AB Analytics code with a 10 twist.

A 60 gr Berger Varmint FB in the same SG = 1.64

However, take that same SMK 69 in 10 twist up to a DA of roughly 5000 feet, and the SG = 1.59

So you can see what causes all the debates and arguments on the web forums when one party claims their rig is stable and the next party says their rig is not.

If there is time in my life and the bullet exists in the AB Analytics code, I am happy to run the numbers.

 

[hoz53]

FWIW

At MV = 2950 fps, sea level.
A 224 SMK 69 shows an SG = 1.34 using the database in the AB Analytics code with a 10 twist.

A 60 gr Berger Varmint FB in the same SG = 1.64

However, take that same SMK 69 in 10 twist up to a DA of roughly 5000 feet, and the SG = 1.59

So you can see what causes all the debates and arguments on the web forums when one party claims their rig is stable and the next party says their rig is not.

If there is time in my life and the bullet exists in the AB Analytics code, I am happy to run the numbers.

thanks for the info and offer. I knew altitude makes a differance. i have a couple of the Litz books i use when they apply. have never had ABs ballistic solvers though. i was surprised last year when the 69 SMKs didnt group well in my R700 223 with 10 tw Douglas barrel. I realized after a few minutes it was prob a twist issue and looked the SMKs up and then shot some lighter weight bergers which grouped much better. to bad as i have a 500 box of the SMKs and one of the 77s. time 4 another barrel.

 

[Old Navy]

I have a Dakota 223 10 twist barrel that loves 77 gr Sierra mk. The range I shoot at is 5400 ft elevation in Wyoming. I finished first place in a 600 yard match with 100 9X on f class target. It tied the range record. Everything I have reserched says 10 twist won't stablize 77 gr bullets. Just my experience. Tom.

Have you measured the twist?