Posted this in the reloading section, but maybe this is the proper forum for my question.

I'm thinking of getting a barrel for my 223 for shooting only lighter bullets, say 53 grains and less, mostly will be for 50 and less. A recent discussion on another board suggested a 14 twist would be the desired twist for match bullets in the 52-53 grain range. I'm wanting to shoot 40 to 53 grain only as I already have a 9 twist barrel for anything heavier I might want to shoot. I've got a 22-250 with a 14 twist that likes nothing heavier than a 52, so why would a smaller cartridge prefer a slower twist like the 14? Seems the 12 twist would add just a bit of a safety margin in the event the twist might be a bug-a-boo with the slower velocities of the 223. Which would you choose and why? Thanks for your input.

Well with a one in 12 or one in 14 twist at 223 velocities.. there isn't ANY bullet that you can get enough velocity to vaporized....

SPSXs and Sierra Blitzs can be vaporized at 223 velocities with a one in 9 twist.. but not a one in 12 or 14...

So you have a wide open world in front of you as far as bullet weights go...

myself, I am fond of 50 grain TNTs and 40 grain Sierra Hollow Points...

I'm not too worried about bullets flying apart, rather I'm wondering where the line of stability will be. If the 14 twist, according to the other discussion on BRC, has a history of being able to spin a 52-53 grain bullet at 222 velocities very accurately, and I'm wanting to boost those velocities just a bit with the 223, then it stands to reason that the 14 should be OK for the weight range I'm looking at. I'm also guessing the 52-53 grain match bullets they are referring to are flat base rather than a boat tail like the Sierra MK 52 grain. I've got a slew of them on hand and would hate to find they don't stabilize in the 14 and should have gone to a 12.
I've also got a bunch of 40-45 grain bullets, like what you'd fire out of the Hornet, and I think many Hornets had a 16 twist for these short, light bullets.
Maybe these details explain better why I'm torn on the twist issue and looking for the experience of others.

If in doubt, go with the slightly faster twist. But you are worrying about something you can't control. The barrel you get may or may not shoot the bullets you want to shoot accurately or as well as it shoots other bullets. You will just have to try.

LWD

I've been using the .223 (for hunting small critters anyways) since '68. First rifle for it i had was a Savage .24 that I rechambered the .222 barrel to .224. It has (I still have it) a 14' twist. I then got a M700V with 12" twist and when Remington came out with the M788 in .222 I rechambered several of them to .223. I consider the 14" twist to be ideal for the cartridge when bullets of 55 gr or under are used. I used thousands of 55 SX and Hornady's 45 gr Hornet bullets over the years to dispatch many a rock chuck, coyote, squirrels, crows and other sundry vermin. The 9" twist are way to fast as most negate the use of the light weight SX, Blitz and Hornet bullets. These are evey bit as effective and accurate as the poly tipped bullets today. The older bullets cost about half as much also.

Larry Gibson

Thank you, gents, for your observations and experiences. The Hornet bullets I have are 224 diameter, so no problem there. Some are the high velocity, some are intended for Hornet velocities and I plan to use those with Seafire's Blue Dot loads. I've taken stock of the bullets on hand, and while I have a goodly amount of the Sierra #1410 52 gr. SMK's, I have even more of other bullets that are flat base and less than 55 grains, so as of right now, I'm leaning toward the 14 twist. The process continues......

I know folks that shoot alot of 50 gr V-max out of 1-8 twist barrels, so can't see anything to worry about between 1-12 or 1-14. Personally I'd rather have a bit more stability than a bit less and would lean towards the 1-12.