We got some Douglas XX tapered barrels for $50 at the gunshow yesterday. My brother wants to chamber .223 Remington in a 1 in 16" twist. What bullets would be stable? I see Berger thinks 15" is best for 45 gr and 14" for 50 gr, but I want to know what is the heaviest bullet that could be stable. TIA
The Sierra 50 gr SPT has always shot well in a 1-16" for me. That's a good bullet with no faults.
If you must have something "modern" then the 40 gr Nosler BT's are very good also.
My muzzle velocities are 3600/4000 fps.
They say it's the length and not the weight. I leave that up to you experts. However that Sierra 50 gr has done the job for a long time. So chamber up the barrels.
Hornady 45 gr. Hornet bullets stabilize in a 1/16" twist. It has been my experience that the Nosler 40 gr. Ballistic Tip is less stable than the Hornady 40 gr. VMAX bullet from a 1/16" twist. My "K" Hornet with a 1/16" twist normally stabilizes the Hornady 40 gr. down to about 10 deg.C, the Nosler stabilizes above 20 deg. C. from my gun. (I shoot at about 1000 feet above sea level and the muzzle velocity is about 2750 fps. Some relatively blunt nosed 50 gr. bullets may stabilze. Shooting at higher eleveations, higher temperatures and higher muzzle velocity all helps to stabilize bullets.
My old Buhmiller barrel is a "22" barrel chambered for the R2 Lovell. Someone rechambered it for the Improved Zipper along the way. The groove dia is about .2228" and it shoots .224" bullets just fine. It does melt the old Blitz bullets though.
Clark, some years back I had a Ruger #3 with a 16" twist IIRC. It would shoot Sierra 52 gr HPBT fine, but no more that that. Chambering was .22 Hornet. Generally speaking I think you're treading on thin ice above 50 gr with that twist.
