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running a 1:9 twist for .223

loud_noise

Hi .223 shooters

I'm seriously considering picking up a .223 in a factory offering for the purposes of F-open/field shooting in shorter ranges and occasionally knocking small fluffy things. 1:9, med Varmint contour, 24" barrel.

I'm really interested in the experience people might have had in getting projectiles in the 68-75gn range to stabilize and group from .223 with a 1:9 twist and if you had found there were any particularly good projectile types for this twist rate.

Thanks in advance
 
I had a savage with a 9 TW 24". it would shoot 75 hornady HPBT and AMAX but nothing heavier if I pushed the $HIT out of them. Accuracy was marginal. Went to the 69g Seirra and it worked perfectly. I'm thinking the 70g Nosler RDF might be a good choice now days but I have no proof of that. It advertises the same BC as an 80g Sierra.
 
75 Hornady bthp, very capable of bugholes.

I'd be more worried about who the manufacturer is than the twist in this case.
 
I've owned a couple 9" twist. One of them would shoot the 75gr Amax the other would not. 69gr Scenars shot best from my 9" twists.
 
You might consider the 53 grain v-max as this bullet has a high BC. and can be pushed
at higher speeds than the heavies. Just something to throw out there to ponder. ;):)
 
The 53 gr. V-Max shoots very well out of my 9 twist (Savage M12FV) and makes short work of clays at 500 yds. using IMR3031
For bunny bopping, the 69TMK has a very good BC and will do 750 yds. easily and accurately out of a 9 twist. I use IMR8208XBR.
YMMV.
 
Had an sps tactical 20" with 9tw, it loved 69smk's and varget. The new TMK's seem to be a pretty good comprise for a "do-all" bullets for targets, critters and varmints.
 
loud_noise said:
Hi .223 shooters

I'm seriously considering picking up a .223 in a factory offering for the purposes of F-open/field shooting in shorter ranges and occasionally knocking small fluffy things. 1:9, med Varmint contour, 24" barrel........... snip.........
Click to expand...

You can certainly enter F-open matches with that gun, but you'll have the gun with the lowest capability on the firing line, even at local low-key matches. Being bottom of the food chain doesn't mean you can't have fun, but you won't have a chance of winning.

F-Class, they say, is "all about the wind", but a half decent rifle is important too. It's very rare for anyone to shoot a .223 in F-Open. The gun you're considering will be a serious handicap, especially in F-Open. Even in F/TR, where the .223 belongs, you will be outgunned everywhere you go.

On the other hand, you can have a lot of fun shooting the lighter bullets just for kicks. I had a .223 1:9 twist and it shot SMK 69 gr bullets like a laser. It was a great paper puncher at 100 yds and 200 yds. As a matter of fact, it was the gun I took to my first 600 yard F/TR match. I was able to lob the bullets down to the target, but it didn't take a genius to see that F/TR is no place for a 1:9 gun with a medium contour barrel shooting light weight bullets. It was the gun which got me into F-class shooting, but when I returned to the 600 yd firing line, it was with a more suitable .223 fitted with a longer 1:7 twist bull barrel.

But what you propose might be a great gun for shooting at God's little furry creatures or just having fun at the local range.
 
I've had fun with pds and the 68Starke out to 500 yards,now that I am running out I may try that 70 Nosler in my 700PSS,seems like a lot of great choices to pick from these days.
Matt
 
hey everyone,, thanks for for the advice. There is a lot of handy suggestions RE bullet types so thank you.

I am looking at a Howa, 22" with a 1:9 twist with the varmint barrel as an off the shelf fun gun. The reason I am thinking of going with this and not a Tikka (which i own in a .260 and absolutely adore) is the price differential. I could get the Howa for about 3-4 hundred dollars less. There is part of my brain that says I should just save and get the T3x Supervarmint in .223, 24" 1:8 etc and be done with it...but I was trying to keep this rifle sub $2k in price band. I shoot .308 and .260 predominantly for my comp work and was mainly interested in a .223 as low recoil, cheap to feed and possible hunting, fun type gun.

my thoughts seem to have been validated with suggestions that 60-70gn projectiles will work better, its also heartening to see 73gn bergers get mention as performers in the 1:9.

Thanks again for the advice, happy for any other suggestions
 
loud_noise said:
hey everyone,, thanks for for the advice. There is a lot of handy suggestions RE bullet types so thank you.

I am looking at a Howa, 22" with a 1:9 twist with the varmint barrel as an off the shelf fun gun. The reason I am thinking of going with this and not a Tikka (which i own in a .260 and absolutely adore) is the price differential. I could get the Howa for about 3-4 hundred dollars less. There is part of my brain that says I should just save and get the T3x Supervarmint in .223, 24" 1:8 etc and be done with it...but I was trying to keep this rifle sub $2k in price band. I shoot .308 and .260 predominantly for my comp work and was mainly interested in a .223 as low recoil, cheap to feed and possible hunting, fun type gun.

my thoughts seem to have been validated with suggestions that 60-70gn projectiles will work better, its also heartening to see 73gn bergers get mention as performers in the 1:9.

Thanks again for the advice, happy for any other suggestions
Click to expand...

I understand what your saying about saving money...but I'd rethink that and go with the Tikka.
 
my 9 twist CZ 527 shoots the 69 SMK,,75 Hornady BTHP very well,,but it thinks it is a Krieger bbled Bat with the 70 VLD,,the 75 AMax is a no go
 
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