I'm looking for a 1/10-1/12 twist .223 bolt gun

S

SARuger

New member
Not a benchrest gun, I want something to hunt with, mostly groundhogs etc. My plans are to load light bullets, 40g-50g

Ruger has everything in 1/8 twist, Mossburg has the MVP in 1/9 twist, Savage has the 11/111 in 1/9 twist.

Tikka shows some promise with both a 1/8 and 1/12 twist listed on their website(terrible website I might add) but my distributor can only get the 1/8 twist.

From the Tikka T3 lite spec page;

SYNTHETIC 223REM / 8” - 12" / 6 4 RDS BLUED STEEL STANDARD TRIGGER RIGHT

SYNTHETIC 223REM / 8” - 12" / 6 4 RDS BLUED STEEL STANDARD TRIGGER
RIGHT

SYNTHETIC 223REM / 8” - 12" / 6 4 RDS BLUED STEEL STANDARD TRIGGER
RIGHT

SYNTHETIC 223REM / 8” - 12" / 6 4 RDS BLUED STEEL STANDARD TRIGGER
RIGHT

SYNTHETIC 223REM / 8” - 12" / 6 4 RDS BLUED STEEL SET TRIGGER (STECHER)
RIGHT

SYNTHETIC 223REM / 8” - 12" / 6 4 RDS BLUED STEEL STANDARD TRIGGER
RIGHT

SYNTHETIC 223REM / 8” - 12" / 6 4 RDS BLUED STEEL STANDARD TRIGGER
RIGHT

SYNTHETIC 223REM / 8” - 12" / 6 4 RDS BLUED STEEL SET TRIGGER (STECHER)
RIGHT

Any thoughts on the Tikka and/or any other suggestions.
 
I shoot 40 Nosler BT's in my 9" twist Ruger and get tiny groups. Why go for the slower twist?
Click to expand...

I could get by with a 9" twist. My 8" twist Ruger won't shoot anything good under 75g, but at 75g, its a tack driver.

I want something to handle the smaller pills with.
 
Savage model 25, twist is 1:9.
Thumhole laminated stock, "Lightweiht Varmiter"
Shoots 55 fmj and soft point great. Heavier bullets do not shoot as well in THIS rifle.

David

Sent from my SM-T900 using Tapatalk
 
"My 8" twist Ruger won't shoot anything good under 75g, but at 75g, its a tack driver."
We're using 3 different types of 50 grain factory loads in several 1-8 twist barrels with excellent accuracy-must be a quirk of your specific rifle.
The HOWA rifles(have both sporter and HB versions) shoot 40-55 grain factory ammo as good as you could ask for. 60 grainers not so well and 64-69 not worth the trouble.
I don't even bother with 75 grain bullets in .223. If I need what a 75 grain offers, I'll just use a .308.
 
Don't think I'd worry too much about the twist for a hunting rifle. Most current rifles are 1 in 9 etc because of the trend towards using 'em for deer. However, 1 in 9 will stabilize light bullets with no fuss.
 
Being that the OP is a reloader with a 1-8 twist rifle, I'll suggest those Nosler 40 gr BT's over H335. I tried other powders and other 40 gr bullets, but the magic combo was those two ingredients. Barrel 1 liked the powder charge right at max. Barrel 2 likes it about a grain off max. Unfortunately, I have reached that happy/unhappy place with the rifle, in that it shoots so darn well (and with 55 and 65 grain bullets) that I'm extremely happy with accuracy, but now really have no experimenting left to do with it, which is sort of sad.

If there was a new 223 to buy for myself, it would absolutely be a Tikka with a 1-8 twist (since 1-9 isn't an option), a 20 inch barrel, in the Lite Stainless version. I have that combo in a 260 and could not be more pleased.
 
I've been pleased with my new Browning X Bolt Medallion in 223. Shoots many brands of 55 grain 223 quite nicely.

.02.
 
When I bought my Tikka T3 Lite last August it was only available in 1:10. Was told that's what they were selling to the American market. Have your dealer check again more carefully. Not on the website.
 
Thank you, I had missed that as well.

Very good information and I like the chart, makes more sense.

What search string?

I would be interesting in the same information for 308 and 30-06
 
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Cz 527 is a 1:9 currently.
Nice little mini mauser, the single set triggers on the varmints are nice as well.
The older cz non varmints were a slower twist, if you can find one.
I think they changed a couple years ago.
The only thing about the cz I don't like is the ring options, but dip makes a 16 mm dovetail to picitinny base that solves that.
http://www.diproductsinc.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1133585&CAT=4268

A pre 2014 cz american might be what worth looking for. 1:12 twist.
http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-527-american-223-rem-5-rd-mag-1-rings-incl/
 
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I found a Tikka T3 Lite on Galleryofguns.com that says its a 1/10 twist.

Before I spend the money, I'm going to try a few ladder tests with some of the 50-60g bullets in my Ruger American, again. I went down this road but I did not try all of the powders, just a couple.

I stated in my original post that it only shoots 75g AMAX accurately. It will shoot the 75g into one ragged hole at 100yrds. I can get the 55g into a 1.5" group at 100yrds with the work I have done so far. Maybe with more testing I can make one rifle do all for me.

I did read the sticky about .223's and twist rates a few months ago and found it interesting that what the charts showed, didn't work out with my rifle. But to be honest, I didn't try every available bullet/powder/primer combo.
 
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I have a tikka lite 8" twist that shoots just about anything under a ". It likes 45 grain winchester white box varmint load. You can cover 5 shots with a dime at 100 yards.
 
mini mauser

The YZ Mini Mausers, imported by several different firms over the years might be an option. Interarms, Charles Daily, even Remington, handled the little rifles. I think now they can be found new searching under the Zastavia name.

They are old school wood stocked ( I think the Rems were laminate) and blue steel rifles. And I think they are slow twisted at 1-12", at least the old ones were.
 
Remington Model 7

I had a Remington Model 7 in 223. Kind of a short barrel, but accurate. 1-10 twist rate. Passed it on cause I wanted to shoot heavier bullets.

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
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