Who's using a 1in10 twist? What bullet weights work for you?

CritterDone

New member
I know this subject has been requested many times over the last few years,But I hav'nt seen much written on the merits of a 1in10" twist.My thoughts were to use lighter faster bullets for coyotes,bobcats&fox that would rival the 204's 40 and 45gr speeds for less Fur damage and a flatter trajectory.But it seems that lighter factory loaded ammo for the 223 has a very different purpose over the mid and heavyweight loads.Does any ammo manufacture make a 40 to 45gr load with soft points or a thicker jacket?Or what works for you in this twist rate?
Thanks in advance for your input,
CritterDone
 
Your gun should shoot up to a 55 or 60 grain bullet just fine.If i were useing it for coyotes,i would try to stay with a 45 grain or more.I think that the winchester USA comes in a 45 grain hollow point.Thease shells are verry reasonable to.Usually around 10.00 to 12.00 for 40 rounds.
 
found this it might help:
1x7
Technically too tight of a twist for any .224 bullet widely available, including the 80 grain. Manufactured originally to stabilize SS109 and/or tracer ammo, but further military testing has shown other twists to be superior. Some of the very heavy custom stuff (87 grain?) may work well, but why?
1x8
Great twist for 69-80 grain bullets. Sierra once informed me that the perfect twist for their 80gr was 1x8.2xxxxx (blah blah blah big long engineers explanation followed).
1x9
Good all around twist ratio. Best suited for 52-69 grain, but either end of the envelope will be questionable.
1x10
Practically the same as 1x9, but favors the lighter side a little more.
1x12
Great for the 40-52 grain bullets. Most often found on bolt action rifles as their primary use is varminting. All right for the 55 grain, but not the best.
1x14
If you want to under stabilize the .224 bullet, use this twist. Useless except for tumbling effect it causes upon bullet impact. IMHO, better to shoot straight with a good HP bullet as your chances to hit are better and damage will most likely be greater also.
 
i shoot an encore in that twist
and i cant get anything over 55gr to stabilize
black hill ammo makes a 40gr vmax that works good in mine
have fun todd
 
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I have been shooting the broach-cut Oly, 1:10 twist barrel for over 15 years. I shoot mostly 50 grain bullets with it but have tested it with bullets up to the 68 grain heavy match bullets from Black Hills. Any of the 1:10's that I have tried that load on have shot well. I also happen to have a 1:14 twist, broach-cut barrel. That does a great job as far as stability and accuracy with the Sierra 55 grain spitzer. I really loves the thin-skinned 45 and 50 grain bullets though. I have heard it said many times for people to get the 1:8 because you can still shoot the lighter bullets. Well, this is true, but only to a certain extent. My 1:14, and any of the others that I have built on that twist, shoot the light bullets better than my 1:10 and especially the 1:8. Yes, I have shot groups with 1:8 twist uppers and 50 grain bullets that most would say were good groups. But over hundreds of barrels you get to see more of the picture, and the slower twist does a better job of fine accuracy with light bullets.

As you hear all the time "your mileage may vary". That statement says allot. Just the other day there was a thread where someone was talking about 30 grain, .17 caliber Berger bullets. I made the statement that I had tried many times to shoot that bullet in a 1:10 twist barrel and all I ever got was key-holes. I talked to Walt Berger and he told me I needed a 9 twist. I switched to a 9 twist and they shot great. 2 minuets later, one of our members spoke up and said that he routinely shoots 30 grain Bergers from his 1:10 with good results, and I don't doubt him!

The gentleman that posted the question has one of my barrels. I'm certain it will do a good job on bullets to the mid 60 grain area, but I don't have enough experience with bullet selection for predator hunting to help him beyond that.
 
First I would like to thank All of you for responding.
I asked a similiar question on another thread while getting some log in problems here worked out and it was as if someone (me) finally asked a stupid question (no response in days).Thank You! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gifI have found a great site thanks to D-tech and Greyhawk /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif.Yes Mike builds My Uppers and Greyhawk is my hunting team-mate and together I've got great equipment thanks to D-tech and a very seasoned caller to help put My share of critters down.
But My dilemma is this:Greyhawk is a 204 guy and I'm a 223 guy and Greyhawks bullets fly just faster and flatter.Being the 223 guy I had D-tech build Me a SUM 1in10" and I've only got 20 varied distance break in rounds and 1 150yd bang---slap on a yote with a 40gr factory load that left no blood or fur to trim.Boiler room hit runner at dark30/even looked the next day--Nothing(It got there fast).Its not the gun its the load,break in rounds were tight.
sorry about the long explanation,BUt iM nEw At tHiS. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Have DTECH make you another upper in 204. Quit tryig to make your 223 someting it aint. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Or shoot heavier bullets and track less but sew more. Actually, you might be suprized how the heavier bullets perform. I'll be switching from 55gr v-max to 68gr HP's out of my 16" 8 twist.
 
crapshoot,
Thats sound advice also ,Greyhawk said the same thing about the 204 idea.But after talking to D-tech about My 2 gun budget and bullet speed loss on the type rifle (length/weight-tight shooter)I was looking for,I guess I kind of compromised.My seamstress complaints were about how all the pretty cats needed so much work with my old rig so I went searching.In a(My)perfect world I'd be totally happy with a 45 to 50gr Accubond or Scirocco factory load in the good o'l 223. designed for hunting predators at around 3800 to 3600 published FPS thank you.
 
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I've tried several lightweights in my Mini Mark X mauser (9 twist) and they have come apart in flight. Sometimes keyholing @ 100 yds, sometimes shrapnel wounds in paper @ 25 yds. It LOVES Rem 50 gr HP's though (3 shots - .75- @ 100 meters continuous)through it's lite barrel. If I were you, I'd try my all time favorite, the Speer 52 gr HP with the BIG HP, nothing fancy, but generally VERY accurate & deadly. Reasonably fur-friendly, to boot.
Mark
 
I know you want light and fast, but how far are you actually shooting, especially at night? Try stepping up to the 60 gr partitions. ou will probably get exits, but im guessing they probably wont be to bad unless your pushing bone out the back side. In that case, it won't matter what round you shoot. In most cases, hitting bone causes either large enternace wounds or large exits.
 
those two loads sound like good stuff.i'll have to try them thanks.on the shot ranges 25 to 200yds have been done,but most of the time its less than 90.i like shooting at rifle distances but the guy i usually hunt with likes to have them try and take the caller out of his mouth.its all good fun.but sometimes like we all know educated critters like to hang up out at the edge of gun/load range.bang**the 204 just went off again while i was figuring bullet drop comp.looks like i just need more range time on longer shots with heavier bullets.i've been using a 2-7 std duplex scope on my 223 and i just might have to upgrade to a bdc model /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
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Welcome to the board Critter.

40gr bullets are not good performers in the .223's on big critters. Have seen much of what you speak of in your post. If you have to use a 40, look at the 40gr BT but can't guar. results you want.
 
Thanks SteveM "PMM"
Ok, I've done some horse trading and upgraded to a 2-8 VX3 that has the boone&crockett reticle.Anybody using this reticle with .223? Gents, I'm heading for some range time with some of the loads you suggested,But I've got one more question regarding light bullets. I hav'nt seen any factory loads,nor have I reloaded any in Barnes Bullets. They list their 45gr XLC BT any where from 2982fps to 3622fps in their reloading book. Does anybody have experience with these bullets or the triple shock in .223? What kind of results did you have?
Thanks,
(stubborn)CritterDone
 


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