Re-barreling a .223 Rem need help with twist

[Bronco302]

The KISS principle comes into play with the kind of competition you describe. The fewer variables you introduce the fewer mistakes you can make (not an attack on your skill level). When shooting 3 gun I always ran 69 gr. SMK's for everything from paper at contact distance to the 400 yd. 9" plates, knew where they would hit no matter the distance and no way to mix up ammo.

Pick a good bullet, in my opinion something in the 70-80 gr. high BC group, have your rifle chambered for that round and go have some fun. A twist rate of 7-8 will handle this group just fine.

 

[ranger3]

The KISS principle comes into play with the kind of competition you describe. The fewer variables you introduce the fewer mistakes you can make (not an attack on your skill level). When shooting 3 gun I always ran 69 gr. SMK's for everything from paper at contact distance to the 400 yd. 9" plates, knew where they would hit no matter the distance and no way to mix up ammo.

Pick a good bullet, in my opinion something in the 70-80 gr. high BC group, have your rifle chambered for that round and go have some fun. A twist rate of 7-8 will handle this group just fine.

I have an 8 twist that I shoot everything from 53 VMAX to 80 Gr. AMAX It happens to shoot the 80's real well and so I can do groups of under .5 at 100k and it small groups at 300 yds. I would suggest this. My issue is that the more loads you have the more complex it gets. I'd go with 75's or 80's and not have to deal with 2 or 3 powders.

 

[snowpro440]

I like my Savage, 9 twist, Sierra 69gr, CCI 450, 25.2 Varget, Shoots really well , and its in the Sierra book.

 

[mac86951]

Hey guys, I am re-barreling my .223 Tikka next winter and need to get a barrel ordered. I would like help in selecting the barrel twist. This rifle will be used for shooting an informal league at 100, 200, 300 yds. It will be for score and not group, not sure what the format is called. Anyway I would like to shoot 52-55 gr at 100 and 69/70gr for 200 and 300yds. What I am thinking is a 1 in 9 twist in a varmint contour barrel. I would get the free bore set up so that the shorter bullets would seat half way down the neck and the longer ones deeper. There is roughly .20 difference between the base to ogive from the short to long. Is this a viable set up or should I be doing things different. This is my first re-barrel and I want to get it right. Thoughts?

So, first off the good news. Anything 1:9 or faster will shoot all those bullet ranges just fine.

If you ever think you might want heavier bullets, I'd recommend a 1:8, that's great up to and beyond 77gr, but is slow for 90gr bullets. I doubt you'll shoot 90gr since they need long seating and longer throat.

Chamber throat dimensions. All the bullets you're wanting to shoot can be seated to 2.260 COL without an issue. I'd recommend a standard 223 chamber which provides short distance to lands so you can dial in seating depth.

If you ever think you might shoot 5.56 ammo; this changes everything and my recommendation is don't go there. But if you do, get a wylde chamber and disregard throating recommendations.

Get a(several) reamer print(s) from your smith. There are so many out there, the terms used 5.56, Wylde, 223, etc... are all lost without the specifics to discuss.

Focus on the chamber, no-one will be able to show you the accuracy difference between a 1:8 and 1:9 on those bullet weight ranges. Accuracy variation is far more driven by chamber dimensions and overall barrel performance.

-Mac

 

[urbanrifleman]

He didn’t say he was shooting BR and a Wylde chamber does fine on target rifles. My match rifle runs a 7 twist with a wylde chamber and its very accurate. Have shot it out past 1100 yards with 75 elds.

OP you will not give up accuracy with heavies at 100 and you will have better BC for longer ranges.

The Wylde is a 60 freebore and is basically a copy of the old Army Match Reamer. Almost exactly.

 

[Wellington]

Hey thanks for everyone's thoughts, I appreciate it!

 

[Audetat]

My combat rifle is a 16" DPMS stock 1-9 and shoots half-minute groups with 52 SMK, 55 Horn and 75 Hornady match. All more than good enough to 300yds.

77SMK in my 1-7 Geissele service rifle XTC to 600yds.

 

[JEFFPPC]

8 twist

 

[SecondsCount]

1:8 is a good choice in my experience.