[feets]

I'm looking for a decent bullet weight to run in a 1 in 12" barrel.

*edit* this is a 1 in 12" barrel. oopsie!

This is a 15" Encore pistol in 22-250 that is rarely be taken beyond 200 yards. Muzzle velocity is still a wee bit above similar weight bullets in a 223 bolt gun.

I've run some 52 gr speer HPBT and just built some 40 gr Sierra varminters but have yet to fire those.
The 52s were okay but I'd like to build some decent loads without buying stock in bullet companies.
I'm usually loading for my 300 WM Sendero and Vaquero. Loading for baby calibers is new to me.

[NCsmitty]

Are you looking for hunting loads or for target only? Although primarily for target, the 52gr Hornady A-Max is capable of taking varmints and in my 22-250 rifle is quite accurate.
As you mentioned, you can spend a bunch of money trying different bullets. Your Encore, as a rule, will work with anything flat base 60gr and lower, boat tail bullets 55gr and lower.
I say pick a couple brand name bullets and try and work loads with them. There are a lot of different powders that work well too.
I have an Encore in 223 that loves Nosler 50gr BTip.
So many choices and so little time.

NCsmitty

[broylzGlock35]

forgive me if im wrong, but i thought heavier bullets needed slower twists. therefore a 1:9 would do well with anything below 60 grains but a 1:12 would need something like the 70 or 80 grain bullet range.

[Jimfern]

I just spoke with Sierra Bullets earlier this week about loading for my AR-15 with a 1/9 barrel and they said I could use everything from their 69 grain bullet down.

I have an older Sierra reloading guide and they show loadings for an AR-15 with a 1/12 twist with all of their bullets.

[NCsmitty]

broylzGlock35, yup you are wrong. Longer heavier bullets need the faster twists to stabilize.
Velocities from the shorter barrel 22-250 are close to rifle 223 and a 1in12 twist dictate lighter weight bullets. You can try heavier bullets, and you might get lucky, but you'll find the lighter bullets will be more accurate as a rule.

NCsmitty

[rcmodel]

Anything up to the 63 grain Sierra Semi-Pointed should shoot fine in your 1/12 barrel.

There might possibly be a problem with 60 grain plastic-tip bullets, as they are longer for weight then normal bullets. Can't say as I haven't tried them.

rc

[broylzGlock35]

thanks for the correction. i thought that way because the Army uses a 1:7 i believe for 55 or 62 grain bullets, but then again they are designed to tumble in that situation.

[rcmodel]

No, they are not designed to tumble anymore.
But they were at one time.

The early M-16 used in Vietnam used a 55 grain bullet in a 1/12 barrel. They tumbled like the dickens, and provided far greater wounding/killing power then the current issue M16-A2 & M4 with the 1/7 barrel and 62 grain bullet.

During the cold war, the expected battle front would be in Europe, against Soviet troops. They were developing body armor, and battle tactics employing riding up to within 200 yards of the fight in armored personal carriers, and jumping out with AK's blazing.

The U.S. decided it needed a heavier bullet, (62 grain) with a steel penetrator to defeat Soviet body armor inside 200 yards.
But the 1/12 M-16's would not stabilize it, and it tumbled instead of penetrating.

At the same time, other NATO countries were playing with very heavy bullet loadings, and settled on 1/7 twist as what was needed for them.

In order to comply with NATO specs, we went to 1/7 also.

That fast twist over-stabilizes the 62 grain bullet, and accounts for the present reports of poor stopping power at much over 200 yard range. They are so stable (too stable) to tumble and only shoot .22 pin-holes through the enemy at longer range or reduced velocity (M-4 14.4" barrel) now.

That they do fragment & tumble at close range velocity is more by accident then design.
If the planners of the cold war back then had there way, they wouldn't.

rc