Which bullet for accuracy at 100 yards using 1 in 12 twist barrel?

[afret]

With a 26" 1 in 12 twist .223 Shilen barrel for a Savage target action, would a 55 grain Berger FB or a 60 grain FB Berger have more potential for accuracy at 100 yards? Or would a 52 grain Berger FB be better?

 

[swadiver]

52 gr Berger all the way

 

[afret]

Is there a reason the lighter/shorter bullet would be more accurate? And is N133 the preferred powder or are there others worth trying?

 

[SeabeeKen]

Load them and try them. Thats the fun of handloading. enjoy

 

[Liven The Dream]

Is there a reason the lighter/shorter bullet would be more accurate? And is N133 the preferred powder or are there others worth trying?

2015 BR ,Varget, N-140,R-15 , H4895 ????

One never knows what your Barrel will Love !

 

[afret]

Thanks! You guys are right. I'll just have to try them out.

 

[Evan]

The 52-53gn match bullets are very very accurate, if you're trying to get smaller than 0.25MOA. Other bullets in the range of your 1:12 just don't do it quite as well typically when you're squeezing that last little bit. That said, if your standards are more in the 0.375 and up, all of your mentioned bullets and then some are entirely capable if the rifle likes them.

 

[K22]

50 to 55 are idea for this twist rate.

I have a bunch of 12" twist 223's, i.e. Weatherby Mark V, Browning X Bolt, Browning A Bolt, Rem 700(2 each), Rem 7 (2 each). They all shoot the 50 to 55's bullets exceptional well, i.e. Sierra, Hornady and Nosler.

Powders I've tried - all good - H335, Benchmark, Varget, H4895.

My go to load now a days is the 50 or 55 Nosler BT's, H4895, and Federal 205M primers. Most of my 12" twist 223's shoot in the 1/2 moa range with this combo, a few in the 1/4 moa. Even my 9" twist Vanguard likes this combo with the 55 Nosler BT's.

 

[1lessdog]

I was never a Sierra fan. I always shot Hornady or Nosler. I had a 6MM AI and a 22-6MM AI built in 1-13 1/2 and 1 - 14 and started shooting the 55 gr Blitzkings. They are by far the best shooting bullets I have ever shot.

I also have a 6MM BRX in 1 - 8 and tried the Berger Hybrid 105 gr and they shot pertty good. Then I went to the Sierra 107 gr Matchking and they will shot in the same hole at 100 yds all day long.

Sierra make a damn good bullets

 

[afret]

Great info and advice from everyone. Thanks! I'm going to order a few boxes of the 52 grain Bergers. I already have quite a bit of the 55 and 60 grain FB Bergers so I'll give them all a try when the Shilen barrel finally shows up. I'll probably order similar Sierra bullets too.

What I'm trying to do is to build a bolt action .223 that's easier to shoot well and more accurate than my AR-15.

 

[17VLD]

So far all the advice is very good,leaning towards a high end 52-53 match bullet from a custom maker.Since it’s a 12 twist,I would also try the 53 V-Max,you may be very surprised how accurate they are.Every gun is different and as others have said the fun is in trying different things.The 53 V-Max will definitely ruin a varmints dayCurious what your use for this rifle is,if you are only shooting at 100 yard targets perhaps a 14 twist might show better accuracy with most of the 52 class target bullets,would definitely try the 60FB Berger in your 12.
Matt

 

[afret]

Thanks. I guess I'll have to add the 53 V Max to the list. LOL This rifle will be for shooting paper at 100 yards. I've been playing around with the new barrel on my AR and it actually shoots pretty well. I'm hoping that it will be a bit easier to be more consistent shooting a bolt action vs a gas gun and also be more accurate.

 

[hogpatrol]

52 grain SMKs. Have worked in every .22 centerfire I've owned. Been shooting them since the '60s.

 

[Don-T]

12 twist is kinda iffy with the 53 gr Vmax. My Cooper 223AI with a 12 twist tossed them sideways at 100 yds. It was under 1/2" with 55 Vmax's though.

 

[jepp2]

My Cooper 223AI with a 12 twist

You sure that is a 12T? Mine are 14T.

 

[Wiley Mayo]

If you really want great accuracy on paper at 100 yards, don’t waste your money and time with any of the above mentioned bullets. They are fine for varmint hunting but not worth a darn for shooting great groups on paper. I have shot all sorts of 224 bullets in the last 51 years and the Bart’s custom 52 grain ultra flat base puts all of them to shame. What’s more, Bart’s bullets cost only a few dollars more than Berger’s. One thing I’ve learned in the 100 yard game is you get what you pay for. My 40X 220 Swift consistently shoots in the low ones and high zeroes with this bullet using benchrest primers. If you want real accuracy, Bart’s can’t be beat.

 

[Mike Montgomery]

I agree with Wiley Mayo. I recently shot the best groups of my life with Bart's Ultras in my 222 Rem.

 

[afret]

Where do you buy the Bart's bullets from?

 

[Oso]

Where do you buy the Bart's bullets from?

http://bartsbullets.weebly.com/

 

[afret]

http://bartsbullets.weebly.com/

Thank you!