Bullet Weight 223 Ar with 1/7 twist

Depends. The ones that I own all shoot 62 grain or heavier the best. They tend to shoot 55's with a 3-4 inch spread at a 100 yards. 62's brings that down to an inch and 69's go below 3/4" at a hundred yards.
There are those that apparently shoot lighter bullets well, but with a 1 in 7 I haven't had that happen. Mine all seem to shoot better than the milspec grouping of 5 inches, but that's not saying much. So, heavier bullets it is.
I have a 1 in 8 twist that loves the lighter bullets.
 
My 7 twist 22 ARC loves 53 v-max, but I have a 7 twist 223 that does not. Yet that same 223 shoots the 50 v-max very well. 🤷‍♂️
As long as you're somewhere between having enough twist to stabilize the bullet, and having too much twist blowing bullets up, there isn't going to be a definitive answer.
Your barrel likes what it likes.
 
Should shoot any weight you wish. You can’t over stabilize as they say. The RPM doesn’t change significantly from one to the other. Vaporizing a bullet probably has more to do with the jacket thickness I would guess.
 
johral said:
You can’t over stabilize as they say.
Click to expand...
That statement is from Berger's Ballistician, Bryan Litz whom also works presently for Applied ballistics. Which is misquoted way more than one would think. Bryan Litz's statement is basically is you can't over spin a quality bullet .
I will purposely avoid the rabbit hole of what is a "quality" bullet. But will say his basis of his statement is a Perfect bullet, which none of us buys, nor can we obtain yet technology is just not there yet.

Reality as in actual hands on experience with the 1-12 and the 1-7 twist, to answer the OP's question, if using cup and core bullets, 62gr. (heavier / longer is better). If monolithic, depending on the length it maybe a 55gr. The reason for the this is the density or rather weight of the lead itself, a monolithic bullet needs more mass to equal the weight hence usually the bullet is longer which requires the faster twist.
Actual real world experience is yes at short ranges (under 200yards) the 55gr may produce some really good groups, but enter a shot needed beyond that it fails miserably. What basically happens is precession takes over. Causing erratic dispersion (large group sizes) at effective longer ranges.
Now many will jump on here stating their 1-7's will produce great groups yet NEVER shoot them at 300, 400 yards and beyond.

So if ones desires to prove their point I would suggest going to the range and shoot a 5 to 10 shot group at 400 yards and report back with a target. And no cherry picking of targets.

Since the interception of the M16A2 with it's 1-7 twist, the military of the US has even written NOT to use the 55gr loading in the A2 and newer because of this. It is fine for use in the M16 and the A1. I've seen shooters whom regularly qualify as Expert either fail to qualify or barely make standard (Marksman). Change to the correct ammo and they will qualify as normal.
 
Last edited:
wilson combat says:

Twist Rate Information​


  • .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO

    1-7: Match or hunting bullets in the 68gr – 80gr range

    1-8: Match or hunting bullets in the 50gr – 77gr range (best all around choice)

    1-9: Match or hunting bullets in the 45gr – 69gr range
 
Thanks to everyone for the replies
I have some 77gr at the house that I am looking to load for this rifle and when I shot it with factory ammo the 55 gr rounds i had did not shoot well at all. But the 62 did.
So my thinking was the 1/7 liked the heavier bullets.
ill get some stuff loaded up and give it a try and see what it likes.
 
Well... it depends. Barnes varmit grenades have a max rpm, 3,900 fps & a 1:8 barrel is way over that number. Slow the speed down, its back to a viable option. I would try to keep rpms below 350k for most bullets, 329k for a 30 gr varmit grenade, but consult your manufacturer. Mv x 720 Ă· by twist = rpm. So, with a 1:7, and a 30gr v.g., stay slower than 3,200 fps
 
The Barnes 55 gr MPG bullets are lead free and are basically 55 gr Varmint Grenade bullets. It says 1-9" twist or faster on the box. You maybe able to shoot a lighter lead free bullet faster than the heavier lead bullets because they are so much longer than the same weight lead bullets. Many years ago I called Barnes and asked them about the Varmint Grenade and MPG bullets and I was told they are made the same way. So the Varmint Grenade and MPG bullets are basically the same bullet just different weights.

I had a 22-250 and put a 1-8" twist barrel on it to stabilize the much longer lead free Barnes 55 gr MPG bullets and it worked very good on coyotes.

Bullet length.

Barnes 50 gr Varmint Grenade .858 inches.
Barnes 55 gr MPG .935 inches.
Sierra 65 gr Game King .852 inches.

If the Barnes 50 gr Varmint Grenades or 55 gr MPG bullets will shoot good in your rifle they may shoot faster and flatter than the much slower and heavier lead bullets do.
 
If you like 55's Usually Hornady v-max or Nosler BT work well in a 7 T because of the long length.
You have to try em. Pretty much the way it goes. Make sure you try them in the coldest weather you hunt in. Velocity matters.
60 V-max usually shoots in a 7T & works on dogs. 65gr Sierra BTHP is a good one. I hear the 68Hornagy BTHP works good on coyotes.
 
I have a 1:8 twist that shoots 40 gr ballistic tips and 40 gr Varmagedons well. It also shoots 70 gr bergers well. For coyotes, the 40 gr bullets loose energy/velocity fast. I’ve killed coyotes stone dead at 300+ yards with them but I don’t prefer light bullets from a 223 at 200+ yards. If I think I’m going to be shooting 200+ yards I prefer my 22-250 or a 6mm, especially if it is windy.
 
I reload the 55 gr Vmax for my bolt 223 which is a 1 in 9 I believe and it shoots them amazing. When I got my AR, I ordered some 60 and 62 to try because of the 1 in 7 twist. I should have read that the 62 gr ELD-VT bullets will not work in an AR mag. Tried the 55s I had loaded and they shot damn good. Lesson learned, try what you have first instead of wasting money.
 
Kinda depends on what your plans are, like for coyotes or paper, and have on the shelf to play with. I have all kinds of 40, 50, 52,53,55, and 62 grain bullets, so I could put a hurting on barrel life if I wanted to test every option.

If the cupboard is bare, & coyotes on the menu, I'd look at the 53 V-max 1st, they shoot decent out of my stock Ruger 8" twist, & is my go to in that rifle. Each barrel is an individual, so unfortunately, it can be a big roll of the dice.

If your goals are low, there's plenty that can work...ha ha...
 
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