twist ratio

[jraney]

hey folks i have a question, i have a stevens 200 action in .223 i am going to re-barrel the new barrel is going to be 20" in length i would like to shoot a 45 to 55 gr bullet. according to my sierra book i should try to go with a 1:12 for best results but was wondering would a 10twist give me a wider range of weights to
mess around with. i want this gun short so it will be more maneuverable in my truck.

 

[fullersson]

http://www.bergerbullets.com/Quick%20Reference%20Sheets%2011-10-10.pdf

In my opinion not really. Once you get faster than the 1 in 12 you really need to look at the 1 in 7,8, or 9 to move up in bullet weight. Check out this link to Berger's quick reference bullet guide. Look at the .22 cal bullets in all the different categories and you will see (according to Berger at least) that once you decide to go faster than the 1 in 12 you'll need to go a good bit faster. Brian Brown.

 

[wlsnmike]

I have a cooper with a 1:14 twist it shoot's 5 shot groups less than .5 with 50 gn vmax's. I use accurate 2230 23 gns.

 

[jraney]

hey thanks for the replies. i can't believe i got any answers becuase of the way i worded the question.
can the twist affect velocity?

 

[fullersson]

Not so much. Excessive twist will magnify rifle torque, bullet imperfections, and in some extreme cases cause bullet failure. Brian Brown.

 

[MGYSGT]

If the gun shoots well, why not just have a smith cut off the barrel and recrown. Probably about $60 or so?

 

[jraney]

well becuase i really want a heavy barrel. i know that is not the best of reasons but it is the only 1 i have. i have always liked the look of a short rifle with a heavy barrel, and now i can get 1 so that is really it.

j

 

[Larryh128]

If you're going to a faster twist, go with a 1-8 or 1-9. A 10 twist won't stabalize a lot of 60+ gr bullets. I found out the hard way.

 

[spclark]

I'd opt for a 1:8. That works with just about everything up to the 80's in a .223. Any faster & you risk "grey clouds" down range with the lightweights. Slower & the heavier bullets may not stabilize particularly as air temp drops.

Twist doesn't measurably affect velocity much unless you shoot heavier than 80's which need 1:6.5 max. to work at all & 1:6 can be too fast.

 

[jraney]

would it be possible to get good velocity and accuracy with light weight bullets in a 9twist barrel?

 

[spclark]

How light? 1:9 ought to work with any .223 bullet up to maybe 52 - 55 grain. 60 - 68 might work too, but they're about as heavy as will work at all. Beyond that 1:8's a better choice. Slower twists will be touchy at lower temps as bullets get heavier.

 

[jraney]

well i loaded some 60's and they shot very well but i would also like to find a good load for the 52's.
i got kinda lucky i suppose becuase i just looked in my sierra book and picked a load and it shot very well @ 100yds, the 1 i picked for the 52's was not real good probly baseball size @ 100yds, so what do you all think?

 

[jscandale]

J,
Can I ask what the rifle is for? Varmints, plinking, or something else?
JS

 

[jraney]

basically the rifle is for deer and anything smaller, including paper. just to let you know what i am kinda looking for . the barrel i want to be no longer than 20" and i do not want to shoot anything over a 60gr bullet, if i can go smaller that would be great but the smallest legal for deer here in oklahoma is a 55gr. i have started reloading so i could always experiment, i am not real good yet but i enjoy the process. as far as distance on deer probly nothin farther than 150yds but for everything else really there is no stopping point. hope this helps.

j

 

[MGYSGT]

Nothing wrong with short fat barrels. I have one of those SPS Rems in .223 with a short fat barrel. It shoots 40's thru 69's out of it's 9 twist barrel just fine.

Tom

 

[jraney]

really, that would be great. that is the gun i wanted but could never seem to get it, so i figured i would biuld my stevens like that.

 

[p-man]

For determining the ideal twist for your barrel, use the tables from the following link. All you need to know if the length of your bullet and the approximate velocity - works for lead or copper-clad lead bullets but not all-copper bullets such as Barnes, etc.

http://www.stevespages.com/page8e.htm

 

[mikecr]

You can shoot ~55gr hunting bullets in 12tw in any conditions.
And given the shortness of barrel, accuracy would suffer with heavier bullets anyway(due to excess muzzle pressure with required slower powders still burning).

I don't see anything wrong with your choice here.

 

[cb1229]

The Stevens action is a strong action it is savage 10 and 110 action allot of people build off that action and get a good gun for a lower cost here is a place that can help sharp shooter supply in Delphos OH they have barrels triggers and stocks . On that note I would recommend a 8twist it will stabilize just about any thing you put in it 40-80 got and 8 on my ar and I shoot 77smk for military and 40 for ground hog good luck on your decision after your re barrel consider bedding and making sure its floated and you should have a very accurate gun