Barrel twist in 223 Remington

G

Gsjcky

Member
I’m looking to order a custom barrel for my Encore, and I would like some advice.
I’ve got my 22-250 bolt gun up and running, and couldn’t be happier with the results. The encore will be a calling rifle used for specific situations. I’ll be using the 250 for calling the sage for coyotes, where range can be long at times. Encore will be for calling river bottoms and farm land, where coyotes will be the main target, but foxes are a real possibility.
Barrel will be a 24 inch 223 Remington, with a 1.75x6 scope. I’m thinking a 50-52 grain bullet that is fur friendly. Now my question..... barrel twist. I think a 1-12 twist will be best for this barrel, but I know fast twist barrels are an option. I can see going to a 45 grain bullet, as apposed to going to a 60 grain. Opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanx.
 
I think that you will be happy with the 1/12" twist. My CZ .223 has that twist and it shoots bullets 40-60 grain with fine accuracy. I have a few .224 bore guns that have the 1/14" and they work well up to 55 grain bullets. I always try to run the optimum twist for what bullet(s) I plan on using.
 
A 1:12 twist should be fine for 45, 50 and probably 55's. My buddies M700 shoots 40grn Vmax's in 1/3 inch. The same rifle will shoot 55grn Vmax's into an inch.........it is a 1:12 twist. I would shoot 40, 45 and 50grn if I had a 1:12 twist 223. A 40grn Vmax or Nosler ballistic tip out of a 24 inch barrel will blister a coyote.
 
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A 12tw will shoot up to the mid 50's without any trouble but if you ever had a hankering to shoot heavier bullets, obviously, a faster twist would be required.

Before I had my 223AI rebarreled it started life as a factory Rem LTR 223 with a 9tw and I shot lots of 40gr Nosler Ballistic Tips through it and they all shot very well. My 223AI now wears a Hart 9tw and pretty much all I've shot it in has been the 53gr Vmax.

If you're certain you'll never have any interest in shooting anything heavier than a mid 50 grain bullet, the 12tw will serve you well.
 
Thank you for the advice. I do believe I will go with the 1-12 twist. I truly believe 52 grain is the biggest bullet I would ever shoot out of this barrel.
 
I am in the same boat for a AR15 build. What twist to get for shooting mainly 40 gr VMax for gophers. I will probably try to shoot the odd coyote too with a 50 or 55 gr bullet. I too think the 12 twist but what confuses me is I see RRA for example makes all 8 twist for their Varmint barrels.
 
Originally Posted By: Handi204I would go with a 1-9 twist.

I agree with Handi204
I think you should consider the 1/9. Yes, it will shoot light bullets but you can go up to a 69 grain bullet as well. You might even be able to go up to 75 grains in the off chance you gun likes them. The 1/9 is pretty versatile and opens up some possibilities.

kwg
 
I shoot 223s with 8,9 & 12 twist with 40 to 55 grain bullets and all are very accurate. If I want to shoot heavier and faster bullets, then I take the 243 or 25-06.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI'd do a 9. Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

My 1/9" barrels did not shoot the 40 grain Vmax or Ballistic Tips nearly as well as they did the 50 grain and heavier. And for our local ground squirrels the 40 grain bullets are my preferred projectile. Especially the Vmax. Since I never shoot bullets heavier than 52 grain or so in my .223 and .223 AI rifles I am sticking with the 1/12" from now on.
 
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I like 1-12 best so far. But I'm not hooked on heavy for caliber bullets. That said I have a 1-9 and 1-8 they do ok with 55-60gn.I always wanted a 1-14 just to shoot 40s.
 
Originally Posted By: DennyrI always wanted a 1-14 just to shoot 40s.

One of the guys on this forum and someone that I have shot quite a few ground squirrels with over the years just recently bought him a new X-Caliber barrel in 1/12" just for shooting lighter bullets. He could not get the groups he wanted out of 40 grain bullets with his factory 1/9" twist so he went to the 1/12". Problem solved.

If all I was ever going to shoot were 40 grain bullets then all my .224 bore guns would have a 1/14 twist. That's what my .220 Swift, my .22/250, my AR-15 .223 Varminter and my .223 AI have. Works great.
 
This 223 will be a predator rifle. A prairie dog of opportunity could very well happen, but this is a calling rifle. Once I work up a good load for it, I will stick with it. 50 grain bullets seem like the best compromise for max PBR, and energy for stoping coyotes. The exception to this would be if I get serious about hunting Fox. I would likely load down to 22 Hornet velocity, and likely a smaller Bullet. If I feel the need for a heavier bullet, I will use a bolt action 22-250. That rifle is a 1-14 twist. I wish that barrel was a 1-9 for heavier bullets, but will stick to 55 grains in it.
 
I have three 223. One bolt and 2 AR. One is a 1:8 and two are 1:9. I've been able to shoot consistent 1/2 MOA with 2 of guns with 40gr Nosler Varmageddon and 70 gr Berger VLD. The other AR is only capable of 1 MOA 5 shot groups regardless of the bullet and powder I've tried in it.

I do find less accuracy with the lighter bullets when I load them hotter than 3400 fps so I'm loading the lighter bullets well below max. If I had a slower twist barrel, it might shoot the lighter bullets well at 3700 fps. I've shot dozens of coyotes with the 40 gr Nosler Varmageddon and I don't think one of them has noticed the bullet was 300 fps slower than it could have been.

If you don't plan on shooting bullets large than 55 gr, then I would say go with a slower twist barrel. If you can get a quality barrel at a good price and it is a faster twist, like 1:8, it will likely shoot the 40 gr bullets just fine. I saved $100 going with a faster twist barrel and have no regrets. It also leaves me the option to shoot heavier bullets if I ever decide to.

If you didn't see the other thread, Nosler website is having a great buy on 223 40 gr ballistic tip ammo right now. 400 rounds for $99. No tax or shipping charge on my order, so I bought quality varmint loads for less than $0.25 each. The nosler brass will also provide much better brass to load with than a majority of the 223 brass out there. It may get sold out before you have a chance to order any.
 
Just hope you don't ever have to start shooting lead free bullets. Having to shoot 35gr or 40 gr lead free bullets because you have a rifle with 1-12" or 1-14" twist really sucks.

I had a 1-8" twist barrel put on my 22-250 for coyote calling and a 1-10" twist put on my 223AI for shooting ground squirrels. I have a Tikka 223AI with a 1-8" twist that shoots the Nosler 40 gr lead free varmint bullets pretty good, it also handles the 50 gr to 62 gr lead free bullets.
 
I never considered having to go lead free. Colorado seems to want to follow California in its politics, so I probably should take that into consideration. Thank you.
 


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