I saw some good stuff in the various posts here but I think it might be useful to collect opinions on the ideal twist rates in one post.

What I'd like to know is what twist rate would be recommended for the range of .22 cal bullets. I'll eventually get a 223 and will be interested in shooting bullets at the heavier (better BC) end of the spectrum.

So please have at it. If someone wants to take the time to make a column like the below, thanks all the more:

aa to bb grains: 1 in x twist
cc to dd grains: 1 in y twist
etc...

[ 01-07-2003, 05:49: Message edited by: sparksinner ]

I researched this when I was in the mood for a VLD shooting 223 that could manage conventional bullets. It can work but will be a bit of a compromise.

70/75g/80gr berger VLDs require 8 twist but as twists are +/- 0.5" it is safest to ask for 7.5" as if you get 8.5" you're in trouble.

It is possible to run 55gr ballistic tips through such a fast twist barrel at 223 velocities without the bullet coming apart. The issue will be with the throating as the ballistic tips will be miles from the lands if throated for the VLDs. It is not really possible to throat for the BTs as the seating depth for the VLDs may be such that the ogive is in the neck.

All second hand from 'smiths.

If you want to shoot heavier than a 55gr bullet you had better have more twist than 1in14 like most hunting rifles.There is a fomula for twist vs weight. Check around. You will find it.

Once a King always a King, but once a night is enough

Twist rate isn't bullet dependent. Generally speaking, it is speed/length dependent.
The best way to approach this is by deciding which bullet weight(s) you will be using. You indicated heavier bullets in a .223 so that's a good place to start.

Heavier bullets would be anything over 55 grains. Excepting custom made bullets, that means 60, 69 or 80s for the most part.
Rifle makers offer different twist rates in their .223 rifles. Savage, Tikka, Sako and Win use a 1 in 9, Rem 1 in 12. Any of these rifles will stabilise a 60 gr. bullet given the correct load. The Rem twist of 1 in 12 is about the limit. Heavier bullets than 60 gr. won't usually shoot well.
The 1 in 9 twists will handle 69gr. bullets. Anything heavier would require a 1 in 7 or 1 in 8 twist barrel.

WRT driving bullets so fast that they will come apart, well, this is a bullet construction issue. An important reason to read the bullet manufacturer's literature about the bullet you would like to try.
Very thinly jacketed bullets cannot be driven as fast as one of the same weight & diameter but with a thicker jacket. Manufacturer's will usually publish velocity limits. This is important with the lighter ones more so than the heavyweights.

The method for determining bullet twist is called the Greenhill Formula. This is incorporated into many computer ballistics programs as well as places on the net. You can also do it the old fashioned way using a pencil and paper.

To conclude, if you are going to get a .223 and fire bullets weighing 60+ grains, your odds of success are better with a 1 in 9 twist.

Safe Shooting!
Steve Redgwell
303british.com

If you are wanting to shoot the heavier bullet in the 223 don't go any slower than 1 in 9. I have a 1in 9 twist that shoots the 75 AMax @ 2915 avg. fps, the 69 Sierra MatchKing @ 3084 avg. fps, any of the 60 gr. bullets @ 3100 fps and change superbly. It will not shoot the 77 or the gr.MatchKings. But then the 75 AMax has a better B.C. than either one of the Sierra's. I have shot the 75 gr. AMax to 800 yards with excellent results. My wife used this load in a 500 yard F Class match using a 300 yard NRA High Power target center and finished 5th beating quite a few guys shooting 300 Mags, various 6.5's and 308's. It also shoots the 50 gr. BlitzKing well under .5 MOA. If I had it to do over I would still use the 1 in 9 twist. JMHO and observations for what ever it is worth.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight......RiverRat

This is exactly what i was looking for. Thanks to all of you. I've always wanted to a Savage because they have some interesting lefty options and this input above settles it. The 1 in 9 twist seems most versatile.