Which twist rate would you prefer for 223 and 22-250 and why?

How are you going to use it/them? Standard for the 22-250 has been 1:14 and for the 223 1:12. This will work for most bullets up to 60 gr. (more or less).

If you want to use longer bullets, use a tighter twist. I know some people who use a 1:7 twist in a 223 with VLD bullets.

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How are you going to use it/them?

Yes, that is the question you must answer.

If for varmint bullets (or any bullet up to about 60 grains), then 1:12" for .223 and 1:14" for the .22-250. The added velocity on the .22-250 about makes up for the slower twist.

But if for heavier bullets, then 1:8" That will cover up to 77 and some 80 grain bullets. 1:9" is marginal for the heavier bullets. Some will stabilize in 1:9" but others will not. Slightly lower velocity might result in an unstable bullet. So if you are serious about heavier bullets, go with 1:8"

1:9" is really an oddball twist rate. It's more than you need for varmint bullets and might vaporize lighter or softer one. But isn't really enough for the bigger ones. But Remington and Savage are making .223s with it.

LWD

Don't even know the twist rate on my Win mod 70 in .223 but it refuses to shoot cast bullets. Will shoot jacketed real good. My 222's and 22-250 will shoot both cast or jacketed.

LWD pretty well covered it, but would only add that several years ago few of us local long range match shooters built 22-250's w/ 8 twist and they delivered excellent results using bullet weights from 69-80gr. Could get velocity of over 3100 but accuracy went away and if kept at near the 3000 mark, excellent accuracy. Currently have one with 7 twist to see if it will handle the 90gr, but jury still out on it.
Again, the 80's do very well and may well be "the perfect union..." Only shoot paper with these guns, but would think the set up would be an excellent long range varmint rig??

Just an FYI-Savage's 22-250's come with a 1:12 twist.

I much prefer a faster twist. Savage .223s come with 1:9 but 1:8 would be even better for long-range work with the heavier bullets. Agree that a fast-twist .22-250 can do amazing things way out there.

My Tikka T3 in .223 has a 1-8" twist although I haven't shot any bullets heavier than 70 grains in it.
I have often wondered if a faster twist 22-250 would work well on heavier varmint bullets so this is good to hear.

I would use them for varmits, which would include coyotes more than any others.

I have a 10" twist (26", 3 groove, PacNor) 22.250 that I shoot 69 grain match bullets out to 1,000 yards. It will still shoot the 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenades at stupid velocities.

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Just an FYI-Savage's 22-250's come with a 1:12 twist.

Good point. A little faster twist is almost always better than a little slower twist.

LWD

Fjold,

I've always believed that the twists used as standard for years back were too slow. The 1-14" twist was to just stabilize bullets up to 55gr for benchrest shooting, used at 100 and 200 yds.

I started using 1-12" twists for my barrels for varmint hunting at much longer ranges. That twist worked well for everything from 40gr to 55gr bullets and better accuracy beyond 200yds.

Considering the 1-10" twist of Fjold's, I like it and may try it in the not too distant future. It would definitely improve the stability of the 69gr bullets in Wyoming and Colorado winds.

As others have stated, you need to know exactly what your intended purpose is before you decide, but when i build a gun for someone with a "general" purpose in mind, i like about a 1-10" twist. It will handle lighter bullets without over rotating them and still handle all but the heaviest bullets with good stabillity.

Have had 4 , 223 rifles in th past 3 years. The 788 had a 12" twist and would shoot 5/8" 5 shot groups w/ 55 gr fmjbt @ 200 yards. The 3 others had,have 9" twist and NONE will stabilize th 70 gr. TSXBT. Tho my current Savage Edge will put 3 oval holes in th target @ 100 yrds in a 3/4 th " group

I have no experience with 22-250, so everything here is geared toward .223Win.

Can you over twist/stabilize a bullet? I have always been of the opinion that you cannot, so buy the fastest twist rate you can find. Here is why.

I figure today's modern bullet manufacturing techniques are so good that you do not have to worry about inconsistent center of mass issues due to poor lead or casting. So you do not have to worry about excessive precession or centripetal forces acting on the bullet during flight further being exacerbated by faster twist rates.

Also, coupled with the fact that it is jacketed ammo you do not have to worry about the bullet disintegrating due to excessive twist rates.

Additionally, the faster the twist increases the yaw forces as the bullet penetrates flesh. This is where the .223 shines, because this yaw force causes the bullet to tumble and thus fragment in flesh.

By going to a slower twist rate you loose the ability to shoot longer (heavier) bullets. Why limit yourself?

So basically there is no draw back to too much twist rate. And from what I have read you do not have to worry about a drop in velocity with faster twist rates either. 1:7 is win/win for me.

I ordered a Tikka T3. It is one of the few bolt action offerings with a 1-8 twist.

A friend of mine knows a guy who has a Tikka in 243 and he saw the guy put 4 rounds (hand loads) virtually in the same hole. I have heard other people talk about their accuracy. I'll see how it works out.

The price is right and it can't be any worse than my 700 CDL.

You will love it. Let us know how she shoots.
Federal ammo with 69 grain Sierra match HPBT should tell you how it will do.

For me a 1 in 8" twist on a .223 is extremely versitle. 55gn bulets are as light as I go in this caliber and 69gn and 77gn are my usual choices.

Now if I lived near praire dog town my opinions might be completely different.

Terry