i accidently bought 4 boxes of hornady .224 cal. 68 gr. bullets. will a 14 inch barrel with a 1:9 twist work with these, or will i need a longer barrell?

saline,

Unless you have a custom barrel, I think the factory twist is 1:14 in my 223 Remington Super 14 barrel. Mine shot beautiful keyholes at 25 yards with 60 or 62 grainers--don't remember the exact weight. If, indeed, you do have a 1:9 twist, you might get the 68'ers stabilized--It will be borderline. Good-luck...BCB

Factory TC 223 barrels are all 1:12 twist.

I have The Complete Reloading Manual for the Thompson/Center Contender in front of me and it indicates 1:14...Guess it's wrong? BCB

http://members.tripod.com/~cdk357/twist.html

I'm not saying your wrong but this is the list I have. TC may have changed the twist rate.

oooppss!!!! i said it wrong; my english teacher was right. i meant to ask would a 1:9 twist 14" barrell work with heavy bullets. should have also ask if a 1:9 twist can be bought. Sorry!!

The 1:9 twist are made for the longer heavier bullets.

I have a Factory 26" heavy barrel 223 that was cut down to 17.75" not sure of the twist-rate but, it shoots the 68gr HP'S it to a nice 1/2" group.