Twist rate change

[Lucky Shooter]

I normally shoot .224 bullets-----40 gr to 52 gr----using a 12" twist barrel. Shooting
will likely be limited to 221 FB, 222 R and 22 PPC.

What can I expect if I use this same range of bullets in a 10" twist barrel.

Opinions ??

Thanks.

A. Weldy

 

[CF Junkie]

It will depend on just how close to 1:10 that the twist of your barrel actually is.
I have a 1:12 that shoots 55 grains very accurately and a 1:14 twist that won't.
I have never tried bullets heavier than 55 grains in my 1:12, but probably should.

I was told that my 1:9 twist wouldn't shoot 77 gr bullets accurately.
It was shooting 73 gr bullets great and it was supposed to stabilize them and did.

Some one reported that their 1:9 shot 77s,so I tried Sierra 77 SMKs. They shot as accurately as the 73s.
I measured the twist of my 1:9 and it was 1:8.75 - apparently that was fast enough to stabilize a SMK 77 gr bullet.

I would suspect that a 1:10 might stabilize a 69 gr match bullet if it is close to or slightly faster than spec.
You'll only know if you try.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

It will depend on just how close to 1:10 that the twist of your barrel actually is.
I have a 1:12 that shoots 55 grains very accurately and a 1:14 twist that won't.
I have never tried bullets heavier than 55 grains in my 1:12, but probably should.

I was told that my 1:9 twist wouldn't shoot 77 gr bullets accurately.
It was shooting 73 gr bullets great and it was supposed to stabilize them and did.

Some one reported that their 1:9 shot 77s,so I tried Sierra 77 SMKs. They shot as accurately as the 73s.
I measured the twist of my 1:9 and it was 1:8.75 - apparently that was fast enough to stabilize a SMK 77 gr bullet.

I would suspect that a 1:10 might stabilize a 69 gr match bullet if it is close to or slightly faster than spec.
You'll only know if you try.

Thanks CF J,

I'll redo the question.

I'm not interested in shooting heavier bullets---just would like to get opinions on
shooting the 40's to 52's with the 10" twist.

A. Weldy

 

[Dink17hh]

Like CFJ says, ya wont know till ya try....and my 223 in 1:9, according to what you read, shouldn't stabilize heavy bullets but my most accurate group was with 80 grain Noslers

 

[LCazador]

I normally shoot .224 bullets-----40 gr to 52 gr----using a 12" twist barrel. Shooting
will likely be limited to 221 FB, 222 R and 22 PPC.

What can I expect if I use this same range of bullets in a 10" twist barrel.

Opinions ??

Thanks.

A. Weldy

You can expect little to no change in going to a 10 twist barrel. Todays tipped bullets are fairly long compared with hollow points and flat base bullets. You are stabilizing length not weight. Velocity has little to do with stabilizing bullets in my opinion. I shoot 50 and 53 grain in my 222 with 8 twist and it doesn't show any signs of over stabilizaton.

 

[Stephen]

Use the Berger twist rate calculator and input the correct info....anecdotal and what others use is only "info noted"

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Thanks CF J,

I'll redo the question.

I'm not interested in shooting heavier bullets---just would like to get opinions on
shooting the 40's to 52's with the 10" twist.

A. Weldy

I think at the speeds of the calibers you listed you'll be perfectly fine.

I did have some 40 grain V-Max blow up on me out of a 12 twist but it was in a 22-250 doing 4060 fps

 

[CF Junkie]

I've shot 35 through 53 gr bullets in both my 1:12 and 1:14 twist .22-250 and those weights were accurate in both.
I've also shot 40 through 53 gr bullets in my 1:9 and 1:7 grain .223. They shoot about the same in both.
The 1:10 twist shouldn't cause problems if you stay away from Pmax velocities.

Lighter bullets only have problems with over spin are really high velocities.
I've shot 40 gr Nosler BTs at 4200 fps out of my 1:14 .22-250 and they are like grenades on prairie dogs. They also destroy paint balls at 100 yards. Actually, at that velocity they blow the balls through our cardboard targets and leave the paint on the far side.
After only 5 shots, I got a chewing out from our team that maintains our target frames because they had to replace the cardboard.