What are your recommendations for 223 twist rate and barrel length. Also would like to hear about barrel contours you�re using, the pros and cons.

I see 1-12 and 1-9 from the major manufacturers.
I would like to hear the consumers likes and dislikes between the two.

Thanks...

What do you plan to do with it? Heavier bullets need a faster twist. If you're going to stay with "standard" stuff (55 grs and less), a 1-12" will work fine. If you're planning on shooting 69's, better go with a 1-9". If you're going all the way up to the Sierra 80's, 1-8" is need. However, these tight/fast twists may not be the best for the lighter weight bullets, so you need to decide what you plan on doing with it before you can pick a twist.

As for barrel length, I always like the longest barrel I can get, within reason, unless I have a good reason to go shoter. Most of mine are between 26 and 28 inches. (These are in heavier contours). Even my sporter weight stuff nevers goes shorter than 24".

Give us a little more info... Are you planning on shooting varmints or targets? Heavy bullets or light? Long range or not? Carry rifle, or to be shot from bags? Etc, etc.

Cold bore is right on the money.
The only thing I would add is that 1-8 or even 1-7
will shoot light bullets very well. They just blow them up at max 223 velocities. If you reduce velocity on the thin skinned varmint bullets they will do fine.
Sierra 53 gr match bullets I have put thru a 1-8 at near max velocity never had a problem with accuracy,of course they were killing paper so I don't know about terminal ballistics.
Your mileage may vary.

[ 11-17-2003, 23:44: Message edited by: covey16 ]

I shoot 50gr VMAX through my 24" 1:9 about 95% of the time, they are very accurate and very explosive on small targets. These are loaded to max, and I've only seen one or two that seemed to come apart in the air, most likely a flaw in the jacket. I've just started playing with the 69gr Sierra Match King and have been very impressed with how well they shoot.

I have found that in the faster twist .224 barrels smooth barrels will not tear jackets apart even at pretty high MV.

Some barrels rip bullets part even at medium velocities. I have a friend with a Ruger Varminter and the barrel is rough !! TNT's don't work at all.
My own Shilen barrel can be loaded almost 300f/s higher with the same bullets without them coming apart.

Both guns are 22-250's with 1-9" twist with replacement barrels.

Cold Bore and Covey have it pegged. The only thing I can add is my experiences. I rebarreled a Ruger Mk 2 ( standard size) to a 223 with a 1 in 8 twist, 24 inch, heavy sporter barrel, made by PacNor and work done by John Noveske Locally here in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Shoots just about anything down the barrel excellent, except 77 grain Sierras and Noslers.
Who knows why?; as It loves 75 grain bullets and 80 grain bullets from both manufacturers.

The fast twist will handle the fragile bullets if the velocity is kept under 2600-2700 fps in my rifle. Shot some 50 grain HPs out of the barrel one time at 3500 fps ( Hot Load) on a cloudless day when the temp was 100 degrees and no humidity. You could watch the bullet vaporize about 12 inches out of the barrel.
Looked like your breathe on a cold day.

At least it was entertaining!

I was looking for General information. I have to apologize for such a broad question.
I wanted some performance data before settling in on a specific use and or bullet weight.


Lets go ahead and add some perimeters to this subject�

Goals: Walk around general-purpose rig, capable of at least 200 yards if I so desire.

Weight: I would like to have a light carry, but a lot depends on balance.
I can always lighten up a rig a little down the road.

Game: would be from the large yoter on down to bottle caps. I am thinking this rig may even get a little abused.

Wonder how many rounds it would take to make a standard contour point of impact change.

Thanks for the data so far..

Mauserkid-

For a walk-around carrying rifle, I'd probably go with about a #4 contour, 24 to 26 inches long, if you're building a gun. That will put you slightly heavier than a standard factory rig, but I like the way it seys up, and is still easily carried. If you're looking at a factory set-up, just go with a "standard" contour, not a varmint or ultralight profile.

200 yards is not a problem with a 223, no matter how you set it up...

Coyotes on down, again no problem with any 223.

How many shots before it heats up? That depends on a lot of things... the barrel contour, the load you're using (heavy or light powder charge, type of powder, heavy or light bullet, etc), how fast you're shooting, the temp outside, any wind to help cool it, etc. In general though, with a good barrel, unless you really abuse it, you'll have a hard time shooting too many rounds to change things. Just be aware of heating it up to the point of shortening the barrel life...

From your conditions, it doesn't sound like you'll have much use for the top end bullet weights. So, you can go with about any rifle you find and like.

As for those saying light bullets shoot good through a fast twist, I totally agree. I shoot 53's through my 1-8" Service Rifle all the time and they shoot great. However, if you know that you are never going to have a need for heavy bullets, and you have a choice, I'd pick the slower twist. You can drive lighter bullets faster (a lot of times part of the reason for using a lighter bullet), with less pressure, than through a fast twist. There's no advantage to getting a 1-8" twist tube, and then driving nothing but 55 grain bullets down it.

The 223 is a wonderful little cartridge, you're going to love it!

I have a CZ 527 Varmint Laminate with a 1 in 9 twist it's favorite bullet to date is the 40 grain Blitz-King. So much for fast twist and light bullets( it was broken in right to take care of the rough bore issue) . It shoots em at about 3,750ish and 5 shot 100 yard groups are in the .2's to .4's. Try Benchmark powder, best .223 powder I've shot in almost 40 years of .223's---ShootSafe---montdoug

Ruger Stainless with Laminate or Synthetic. Maybe even consider their Ultra Lite in 223.

I have a Winchester Featherweight in 223, that I use as you described, except mine does not get beaten up. For that type of service, I grab the Ruger Stainless steel barrel ( 24 inch) with a Hogue Rubber Stock and 3 x 9 Leupold with a dot reticle.

The 223 was developed for a 20" barrel and a lot of powders do very well in a shorter barrel. Don't be afraid of a 22" sporter giving up anything to 24" or 26", just a tad louder. 20" and shorter get a lot louder fast and don't add significantly to ease of carry. They do help a lot if its a truck gun. Do a search on "Blue Dot 223" and check out some of the quiet loads for 223... they work fine at 200 yds and let you walk around without plugs.

My Mountain Research .223 came with a Krieger 24 inch barrel with a 1 in 14 twist. It shoots 50 and 52 grain bullets remarkably well. It does not digest 55's well at all.

If you want to walk around with it, the lighter the better. And while I can't say how much risk of barrel heating and point of impact "walking" you run with bottle cap shooting, I would say that you run absolutely none with coyote shooting (unless your coyotes are much gentler than the ones I'm used to and run in very large packs.)

As one poster noted, a 22" barrel is enough. My sporter .223 has a 23.5" barrel and I find it plenty handy and plenty long. Anything over 24" is a bit long for a "portable" rifle.

For bullets of 60 grains and less, even a 1/14 twist will likely do, but as others note, the fast twists don't seem to cause much problem with even very light bullets. Pick the bullet weight you intend to use, then match it. If that's normally, say, a 55, then 1/12 would be as good as any and better than most.

Have a CZ 527 Lux chambered for 223. 1 in 12 twist. Very accurate with 55 grain bullets, even the Wolfe or Barnaul steel case ammo. Light weight and nice lines. The "set" trigger is feature is a great extra. Only drawback is that it may be too pretty to be abused.

Thanks for all the great info,,,

I am looking in to making my Mini 14 the bottle cap gun.
If it works out, I would be able to bet a nicer medium sporter 223.
I hope the 204 Ruger works out; I am thinking this would fill my longer-range needs... Have to wait for more ballistics to surface before that decision is set in stone.

Keep the info up I truly appreciate the data.

TO Much fun...