Recommendation for 223 twist rate

[22vartarg]

Well this is what we ended up with. Bighorn Origin action, 223 Rem Shilen 26” 1:8 twist rate with a varmint contour, KRG Bravo stock And TriggerTech trigger. The rifle is very easy to shoot and load for. I have worked up loads for Sierra 77’s, 69 MatchKings and 60 TMK.

 

[jelenko]

Groups are too bad.

 

[Hohn]

There’s frankly no reason to run a twist slower than 8 in a .22 caliber these days. Faster twist can be every bit as accurate with light bullets. I’ve seen 7 twists shoot knots with 50s. And a bullet that comes apart usually does so because the bore is damaging the bullet, or the bore is so long the lands have compromised the jacket.

It’s also worth mentioning that heavy bullets often have better, not worse, terminating performance at distance.

 

[Mark M.]

There’s frankly no reason to run a twist slower than 8 in a .22 caliber these days. Faster twist can be every bit as accurate with light bullets. I’ve seen 7 twists shoot knots with 50s. And a bullet that comes apart usually does so because the bore is damaging the bullet, or the bore is so long the lands have compromised the jacket.

It’s also worth mentioning that heavy bullets often have better, not worse, terminating performance at distance.

 

[Mark M.]

Unless your shooting a lighter bullet with a thin jacket

 

[RegionRat]

Down this page, you will see a color coded chart that uses the 224 bullet as an example.
It isn't a bad tutorial. YMMV

https://www.everydaymarksman.co/equipment/rifling-twist-rate/

 

[skeeljc]

I have a Remington 700 in .223 with a Krieger 26" SS Remington varmint coutour with a 1 in 12 twist. Krieger makes excellent cut rifled SS barrels. My Rremington/Krieger will shoot in the 2's with 52 grain FB target bullets (Berger or BIB) and it handles 60 grain bullets well too. 300 yard PD's with a 55 gr bullet are no problem.

If you want a long range .223 I would go with a 1 in 8 twist. It will shoot 60 grain bullets o.k but nothing like a 55 grain in a 1 in 12 twist. The 1 in 12 is the PD rifle.

 

[AckleymanII]

BEWARE-heavy target bullets do not expand on small varmints.

Throat the barrel for your intended bullet

 

[Downhill]

My old match rifle has a 8 twist. Fired 52g hpbt for shortline and 80's for 600. Never had an issue with the light bullets.

 

[PigButtons]

Well this is what we ended up with. Bighorn Origin action, 223 Rem Shilen 26” 1:8 twist rate with a varmint contour, KRG Bravo stock And TriggerTech trigger. The rifle is very easy to shoot and load for. I have worked up loads for Sierra 77’s, 69 MatchKings and 60 TMK.

Beautiful rifle and some great shooting. Looks like it'll get the job done.

 

[urbanrifleman]

This is a very typical practice target with my 1-8 223a Urbanrifleman prefit barrel with 52 Fowlers.

Shoots 69-70 grainers the same. Have not tested the 80s but I am told it loves them.

 

[Hohn]

Unless your shooting a lighter bullet with a thin jacket

Shooting 50s just fine in my 7tw. 3400+. Is a vmax thin enough jacket?

 

[BobbyJ]

Note: 3300 fps in an 8 twist barrel is 297,000 rpm on the bullet.
The max recommended by Hornady for their 75 grain HPBT is 280,000; the max recommended for Sierra for their 77 gr HPBT is 260,000.
I've shot nice groups with both bullets over the recommended max, but also have had some bullet not make it to the target.

Here's data from someone else https://www.shootersforum.com/threads/f-y-i-varmint-bullet-rpm-limits.78073/

One thing to consider is a 223 is never going to push a 75gr bullet that fast. Think more like 2600-2800 max
as long as he stays under 2888.8 fps he will not over spin it.

2888.8fps x 12/8 x 60 = 260,000 rpm

 

[ta6ppc]

I have a 1:7 and shoot 50-88 gr bullets with a high degree of accuracy and the 7 twist with a 50 gr thin jacket bullet on a varmit is explosively entertaining. Don’t be afraid of a 7 twist just be smart how you load like I shoot 80’s about 2900 and they fly true and group well a long ass ways.
50’s I use N133 and am about mid way in the data..

 

[Scrumbag]

If you want the 1:8 twist rate, the 60gr VMax or Nosler Varmint ballistic tip might be good options for you as they have decent BC, come apart in small critters and not likely to be going so fast they spin themselves to bits...

 

[Rsadams]

1-8 twist will work just fine....

 

[swimster]

I have a Savage LRPV 26 inch 8 twist Criterion barrel. Chambered in 223 AI. It has never seen a bullet other than a 75g AMAX backed with RL-15. It has well over 2000 rds through it and still consistently takes out Prarie dogs in the 400yd range. Probably my favorite gun for PD'S. The Amax's do expand well even at that range.

 

[moorepower]

Shooting 50s just fine in my 7tw. 3400+. Is a vmax thin enough jacket?

I have never lost a 40 or 50 Vmax in a 1-7 twist barrel. I have went up to 3800+ with A2200 CIP loads with the 40 vmax.

 

[Mr.quick]

You'll need the 1:8 for the 80 grain bullets, but some of the lighter, thinner jacketed varmit bullets might not make it to their intended objective without disintegrating because of rotational forces. If you opt for a slightly lighter bullet, say in the 69-70 grain range a 1:9-1:10 might be the ticket. Most bullet manufacturers have recommended twist rates and trajectory charts for their bullets. Some even list rotational speed for these bullets at the velocities they'll be shot at.

I am building one my self and will shoot the 80 grn ELDM ,with the 1:8 twist . I wonder how far I can go with that