Any ideas on a good bullet weight for a 1:12 twist in .223 Rem. I've been trying mostly 50 grainers with so-so results. Also, how does velocity come into play with twist rates. If I were to slow down the 50 grain bullets could I expect better accuracy?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

I have had the best accuracy in my Ruger #1 in .223 (1:12 twist) using 40 grain V-Max's.
Pete

Your 1-12 twist should be capable of producing good accuracy with anything from 40 grains to 60 gains and with about any reasonable velocity you choose to load them with.

Very few calibers have such competition for accurate bullets as the .224 cal and there's just no room for poor bullets in this caliber.

If you're not getting good groups with 50 gain bullets such as Nosler's BT or Hornady's V-Max or Speer's TNT then you have another issue....possibly scope mounts, scope, bedding, or maybe the nut that holds the keys!!!!

Check the bedding first.

I've been shooting and reloading for the .223 since '70. Mostly in 1-12" twists. I have tried most every bullet weight of 40 through 60 grains. I have found the 55 gr weight to give the best overall results for varmint shooting. I most often use the Hornady 55 SX or the Sierra 55 Blitz King. I push them with top end loads of H335 or AA2230. Accuracy is excellent. The new balistic tips have not shown me any improvement in accuracy or down range performance. They just cost more for the same performance. However, in 1-10 & faster twists the balistic tip bullets are pretty good performers, perhaps the choice there.

The exception is with gas guns having 1-12 twists; the soft points get beat up pretty bad in the magazines. I use 52/53 gr HPs for these rifles. I prefer the Speer or Sierra HPs.

Larry Gibson

My CZ came alive with Hornady SXSP in 50 grainers. Strangely, that rifle will also shoot 63grain sierras very well. 1:12 twist.

My Tikka Varmint (1:12" twist) shoots the 50 and 55 gr VMax down to 1/4" groups.

I tried 68 grs. They wouldn't even get on the paper.

For 62gr Whitebox ammo the group size is around 3".

I have the 60gr. VMax that I will try in a few weeks.

Can someone tell me if the 55gr bullets are good for 300 yards targets?

Danny

Preston,
I have an old Sako L461 223 with a 1:12 twist barrel. It shoots 55 gn Nosler B/T's very well. best so far is .360 and lots of groups in the .4's, it is a sporter weight barrel as well. I have tried several brands of 50 and 52 gn match type projectiles and I might as well load them in my shot gun as shoot them out of my rifle. But this is just in my rifle as I have seen plenty others that shoot the lighter one exceedingly well.
Pete

I had a Ruger VT (1:12) that was very accurate with the Vmax range from 40 to 60 grs.

My current 1:9 Rem 700 is great with the 50 to 69 gr bullets, but it doesn't seem to like the 40s.

We use a 55 grain bullett. I have gone up to a 60 grain bullet.

I have had good results with the Hornady 55 gr SX in several different 223's. Great on prairie dogs.

quote:

Originally posted by MADISON:
We use a 55 grain bullett. I have gone up to a 60 grain bullet.

Madison: How far can you shoot the 60 gr bullets accurately?

Danny

My Sendero has a 1:12 and I use Sierra's 65gr Game king. I have put it on paper out to 500 with 3" groups. For grins I going to try the 62gr TSX which is even longer to see how it does. I'm expecting key holes but we will see.

Perry

It is hard to say what the perfect bullet is for your gun. My 1/12 H&R did not like any 40 grainers that I tried and does not like boat tails. 50 grain Hornady Spire Points shoot real well as do the 53 grain HP Sierras. Every gun is different. Just experiment until you are satisfied.

I tried the 60gr VMax today at the range. It shot 1/2 MOA.

I will load some up for the 200 and 300 meters ranages this weekend.

Danny

My stainless Ruger 77 Mkll will shoot anything up to the 64gr Powerpoint pretty well. That being said, it's not a very accurate rifle compared to others mentioned in this thread. Groups range from an inch to an inch and a half at 100 yds. Occasionly I'll get a .75 for three shots.

I have a Ruger #1 in .223 with 1 turn in 12" twist.

It shoots 55 gr Vmax better than 33 gr Vmax or 60 gr TAP bullets.

Same for my 1 in 12" AR15 and my 1 in 9" AR15.

Hijack: will a 9" twist stabalize a 75grain A-max?

quote:

Originally posted by Nortman:
Hijack: will a 9" twist stabalize a 75grain A-max?

The answer is yes and it is also the Hornady recommendation.

Go here! Click on Technical Specifications & use.

quote:

Originally posted by Nortman:
Hijack: will a 9" twist stabalize a 75grain A-max?

I think the answer is "maybe"...some 1:9 twist barrels will, but I personally know of some that did not (bad keyholing). Dadgum fickle rifles...
In the NRA Highpower arena (223 Rem shooters), the 80gr MK and 75Amax were best served with at least a 1:8.
The Hornady 75hpbt would work in all 1:9 tubes I've been around.

I think the Midway link and "technical spec" is not necessarily Hornady's text.

quote:

Originally posted by Danny Boy:

Can someone tell me if the 55gr bullets are good for 300 yards targets?

Danny

If by "targets" you mean things like prairie dogs, definitely yes. My varmint hunting partner and I have both shot sod poodles at more than 500 yards with them on the north-central Montana grasslands.

Don't recall whether I ever hit one on the first shot at that range, but they are accurate enough from a 1-12" .22-250 that you can "walk" the bullets onto a prairie dog way out there, often within 2-3 shots if the wind isn't too bad. Of course it is a lot easier if you have a muzzle brake on the rig so you can see for yourself exactly where your shots land. (And some days you can shoot 6-8-10 shots at the same dog and never lay lead in him.)

Personally, I use little else but 55 gr. Ballistic Tips (seconds from the Nosler Pro Shop) in both my .22-250's. For my .223's I prefer 50 gr. Ballistic Tips, and have hit several dogs beyond 500 with that load too...but there becomes a point that one is operating more on luck than skill...especially when the afternoon winds and mirage come up. I prefer to keep the .223's down to a limit of around 350 yards, or just a bit more if both conditions and I are good that day.

Of course, if the 55's work in the .22-250 with a 12" twist, they should work in the .223 with the same twist, at least until (if ever) trajectory becomes a problem.