.223 1-12 twist question??? please Help

[helz_mcfugly]

I have a new rem 700 sps Varmint and know the 1-12 twist is better set for 50 grain and less bullets. I have some 40 grain v-max and when I OAL size the chamber with those it come to be 2.290 and that doesnt leave much for the brass to grab the bullet with. with a 55 grain FMJBT its about the same, 2.285 and they are long enough it gets a good grab on the bullet. also I have some 55 grain v-max that also mic out to 2.290 and they are about like the 40 grains as they dont have much of the bullet down inside the brass to grab onto. so my question it this. should I allow a little free jump from the bullet to the land, or should I get a different bullet? If I should get a different bullet what do you recommend thats below 50 grains? or just any recommendations. This is my first bolt action that Ive started reloading for so any help would be great.

I have always reloaded pistol and the only rifle Ive loaded for was .223 for AR's with 1-9 twist and a 5.56 chamber so Ive always made all my loads OAL 2.255 - 2.260. just to give you an idea of what experience I have reloading.

 

[NCsmitty]

I would recommend trying the 55gr V-Max at the 2.260 and see what kind of groups happen. As long as the case grips the bullet, move them out a little at a time to see if it makes a difference. A little jump should be ok.
I think the 1in12 will be fine. You might consider using some flat based bullets, as they might work better in your rifle. Some of the 52 and 53gr FBHP will amaze you sometimes. Flat base bullets sometimes work better in the slower twists than the boattail versions because of the bullet length. The FMJBT bullets will generally not give you the accuracy of the HPBT or V-Max bullets, but you can try them.

What powder are you using?

NCsmitty

 

[helz_mcfugly]

well I took it to the range yesterday and shot it for the first time with 100 55 grain v-max with 24 grains of benchmark and the OAL was 2.255
here is a link to my shoot from yesterday. I wouldnt say it did bad but I know it will do better. Im looking to find the load that gets me 1/4" groups on average at 100 yards.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=418554&page=2

 

[NCsmitty]

I think you did quite well really. Obviously it's still in a break in mode and should only get better. Maybe play with seating the bullet out a little more. The Benchmark load seems like a good one.
Good shooting!

NCsmitty

 

[jcwit]

I have a Remington 700 VLS with the 1 in 12" barrel, also in .223 cal. My best accurate load is 22 and 1/2 grains of Accurate 2230, with a Sierra Match King 53 grain FBHP, w/Federal Benchrest Primers. I use an overall length of 2.293. My best 5 shot group so far is .330 overall. Thats at 100 yds.

Granted each rifle is different but this just gives a little extra data.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

ill have to give those match kings a go with some benchmark or H322 being thats all I have right now. thanks

 

[Clark]

1 in 16" twist is right on the edge and can barely stabilize 50 gr but not 52 gr.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

mines a 1-12 twist. which rifle has a 1-16 twist?
Im really thinking about getting a new barrel. flooted, stainless, 1-8 twist. but thats a long ways off if at all.

 

[rcmodel]

and know the 1-12 twist is better set for 50 grain and less bullets.

Actually it is perfect for 55 grain bullets, as witness the early M-16 with 1/12 & 55 grain FMJ.

In actuality, it might well handle up to 63 grain semi-pointed quite well.

May be limited to 55 grain plastic-tip boat-tails because they are longer for weight.

I have an old Colt AR that is pretty much a "one-holer" with either 55 grain V-Max or Nosler Ballistic-Tips. Have never tried any 60 grain V-Max or B-T in it though.

rc

 

[helz_mcfugly]

Im about to load up some 40 grain v-max but they arent going to be long enough to set on the land of the chamber so im going to make them 2.275. when I used the OAL mic it says to make them 2.295. In Sierra's reload data book it says to load the 40 grain at 2.175 OAL for a .223 bolt action???????WHY? maybe I should try it. thats a heck of a jump from the bullet to the land.

Im also going to load some cheap hornady 55 grain FMJBT that ARE long enough to set against the land and they will be 2.285 per the OAL mic. just doing those to help break in the barrel but who knows they may be pretty accurate. you know ill post pics of my yield at the range.

 

[smokey262]

Jump them and see what happens. It won't hurt anything, and in fact might help

 

[helz_mcfugly]

im going to load some and see how long I can get them where the brass grabs them tight enough

 

[helz_mcfugly]

ok I jsut loaded 50, 40 grain v-max at 2.285 (they are holding tight in the cases) with 24.1 grains of H322

 

[627PCFan]

I shoot 60 grain Nosler Partions with a 1-14 and they are plenty stable. Dont worry about the twist with what you got-

 

[dagger dog]

helz,
I went looking for that perfect length bullet in .224 cal for.223 REM, the one that will set out long enough to ride about 0.006"-0.010"
of the lands. I have 4 bullets sitting here on the desk as I type this, they are

50gr. Barnes Varmint Grenade HPFB
@0.855" in length,

50gr Nosler Ballistic tip BT @0.80"

36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade HPFB
@ 0.795"

40gr Hornady V-Max BTBT @ 0.780"

The V-max ogive sets back toward the base on this bullet, and makes it harder to set out and keep enough bullet in the case for good bearing surface, which rule of thumb is 0.224 inch in the case.

The 36 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade HPFB is longer than the 40 gr V-Max and the ogive sets farther foward on the bullet which give more of a chance of seating out farther , and still keeping that one bullet diameter in the case.

The 50 gr Nosler BTBT being just 0.005" longer than the 36 gr Barnes and the ogive is set towards the front of the bullet.

The Barnes 50 gr is to long for the twist rate in your rifle and Barnes recommends 1-10 as minimum.

But the Nosler with it foward setting ogive and longer length than the V-Max bullets might work for you.

That 36 gr Varmint Grenade which is longer than the 40 gr V-max with its foward setting ogive might be the ticket.

I used to sweat the problem of not being able to get that magical
0.006"-0.010" off the lands.

But I have found out that it doesn't always give the best accuracy when that distance is achieved. This has been proven to me in two rifles I own one in .308 Win. cal. which shot its best grouping with a much shorter bullet that wasn't any where near the lands, same thing goes with a single shot .22 Hornet that had length limitations due to the fixed ejector. It shoots the same size groups with a 35 gr Vmax as it does with a 40 gr V-Max.

Go figure!

 

[smokey262]

Don't forget the rule of thumb where the bullet should be seated one diameter in the case. Not a rule that cannot be broken of course, but an old rule nonetheless

 

[LTR shooter]

In Sierra's reload data book it says to load the 40 grain at 2.175 OAL for a .223 bolt action???????WHY?

Sierras OAL length recommendation is listed as such so their load will chamber in ANY commercially available .223 rifle with a SAMMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) spec chamber.

Most reloaders seeking top accuracy will find what OAL works best for that particular rifle. As example my 700LTR takes the 69 Sierra seated out much farther than my Savage 12BVSS.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

thank you, thats some great info. I think I will order a couple hundred 36 gr Varmint grenade and give them a shot, to bad they dont have them at my local reload shop. I can pickup some 50gr BTBT Nosler at the local reload shop so ill grab a hundred of those wednesday. looks like Ill have quite a few loads to test this weakend, should be fun.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

yea I was swaying twards disregarding that OAL in the reload data book. I had a hunch that was the case. Thanks