1:9 .223

S

SJCbklyn

New member
I recently purchased a .223 bolt action with a 1:9 twist. Running some factory loads through a twist rate calculator it seems it's best suited for 60-70 gr bullets under 3000 fps

I'm ok with that but since I am new to the .223, does anyone run 55gr ammo going over 3000 fps with any accuracy through a 1:9 twist?
 
I am running 27 gr of varget with a sierra 55gr soft point at 3290fps that shoots under .5" @ 100yrds with a savage 1:9 26"bbl 12 BVSS.
 
I have a Ruger with that twist, and about the only bullet weight I don't shoot is 55 grain. I get great accuracy with 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips (pure murder on coyotes) and 65 grain Sierra Gamekings. I've shot up to 69 grain match bullets. Don't assume that lighter bullets won't work well in your rifle.
 
SJCbklyn said:
I recently purchased a .223 bolt action with a 1:9 twist. Running some factory loads through a twist rate calculator it seems it's best suited for 60-70 gr bullets under 3000 fps

I'm ok with that but since I am new to the .223, does anyone run 55gr ammo going over 3000 fps with any accuracy through a 1:9 twist?
Click to expand...
My 22" bbl 1:9" didn't shoot Hornady 55gr SP factory loads. Like 1.5-2" groups at 100. I didn't bother testing any other bullets in that range because I was really only interested in shooting 68-77gr bullets.

So far Sierra 69gr and the longer Hornady 68gr bullets have been the best performers.
 
"I'm ok with that but since I am new to the .223, does anyone run 55gr ammo going over 3000 fps with any accuracy through a 1:9 twist?"

We have several 1-9 twist AR's that shoot absolutely GREAT with 50-55 grain bullets. I've even tried some 40 grainers with good results.
 
My Kimber Longmaster Classic 1:9 twist won't shoot mid weight 50-62 grain .224 bullets worth a darn. 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips are one ragged hole all day long. 63 grain Sierra Semipoint one ragged hole all day long. 68 grain Nosler match same thing, one ragged hole.

You just have to figure out what you gun will and will not shoot.
 
I have a 1:9 Savage 12FV in .223 and with 55gr Vmax and 24.0gr of H335, it will shoot about 1/4" groups at 100 yards all day.
 
Both of my AR's is 1:8 but my bolt gun is 1:9.
My 55 gr Blitz King handloads through my bolt gun, the groups are so small they are almost nonexistent.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
 
My Remington R15 is 1:9 and gets a steady diet of 55 grain bullets, with a few 60 grain Nosler Partitions. I don't shoot for tiny groups any more but it will pile them into relatively small groups. I have always planned on trying up to 70 grains, but haven't seen a need to yet.
 
What velocity are you pushing the 55gr at?

Theoretically , the 55gr bullets blazing @ 3000+fps don't ideally stabilize in a 9 twist. Until I get my sorry butt to the range I have to go with theory.

I'm just curious at this point. I will try them in my gun anyway but it seems all the cheap plinking .223 ammo is 55gr burners.
 
you can under stabilize a bullet but it is very hard to over stabilize a bullet except in a fast twist light thin jacket exploding varmint bullets the jackets will shred off in flight. I have an old colt hbar 1x7 and it shot from 53 gr to 80 grain very good some into tiny groups with the iron sights like a bolt gun.
the old savage rifles from the 90's with 1x9 shot the 75 grain A Max into tiny groups but not a new 1x9 savage. the new one would shoot big groups. I switched to the shorter 75 gr hornady made for the tiny AR mag and it shot tiny groups. just because it says 1x9 twist it could be a little over or under the stated twist
 
While my 1:9 CZ 527 shoots accurately with bullet weights up to 63 grains, the most accurate results have come with # 1400 Sierra 52 grain SMKs, # 22408 Berger 52 grain FB, and # 1400 Sierra 53 grain FB SMKs. The flat base bullets are just a smidgen more accurate during 100 yard testing. Of the top 25 loads tested, 24 are with those three bullets. The other load is with 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips.
All 25 best load averages with 52 and 53 grain bullets are 0.256 and below at 100 yards.
By comparison, the best 63 grain load average is 0.358 at 100 yards.
 
Too fast a twist is much less of an issue than too slow. It may not be "Optimal" but you probably won't notice the difference.
 
I shoot 55 grain bullets more than any others as they cost the leaat. I get under half MOA with my bolt action. I get about inch and a half with my AR. I use H335. Powder for the most accuracy out of them. I should note the bullets I use are Hornady ZMad, or VMwx. Purchased in 500 count bulk.
 
Rimfire5 said:
While my 1:9 CZ 527 shoots accurately with bullet weights up to 63 grains, the most accurate results have come with # 1400 Sierra 52 grain SMKs, # 22408 Berger 52 grain FB, and # 1400 Sierra 53 grain FB SMKs. The flat base bullets are just a smidgen more accurate during 100 yard testing. Of the top 25 loads tested, 24 are with those three bullets. The other load is with 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips.
All 25 best load averages with 52 and 53 grain bullets are 0.256 and below at 100 yards.
By comparison, the best 63 grain load average is 0.358 at 100 yards.
Click to expand...
Another 527 varmint here 1:9 and great accuracy with 52smk.
 
My Savage 10fp would not shoot 50 or 55 gr worth anything. Only bullet that shot decent in it was the 69 gr Sierra.
 
My Remington 700 LTR with 1:9 shoots 45 gr. JHPs sub moa over 25 grs H-335.

60 gr. Nosler Partitions shoot just at moa with 24 grs. H-335. My favorite whitetail cartridge.
 
I have tried everything from 50gr vmax up to 69gr HPBT match with good accuracy in my 1:7 16" carbine. Seems the lighter weight 50s and 55s stabilize into small groups closer to the lower, starting loads and the heavier bullets are more mid-range charges. I'm not going to achieve the highest velocity using a 16" barrel, accuracy is the name of the game.
 
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