223 / 1:8 Good for Shooting Vamints?

[joel1316]

The Tikka T3 has caught my eye as it looks good, gets pretty good reviews and is within my budget. When I went to Tikka's site, I found that the barrel has a twist rate of 1:8?!?! Besides M4 type AR's, I don't think I've ever seen a bolt action rifle with a barrel twist of 1:8? 1:9 would be decent enough, but why an 1:8?
Now I'm curious, what are the benefits (if any) with using heavier bullets on coyote out to maybe 200 yards?

 

[USMC_2674]

I use 1:9 for varmint / coyote hunting.

1:9 is good for 52 - 69's... pretty decent selection inside of that range IMO.

 

[quatin]

What do you do with a coyote after you kill it?

 

[joel1316]

1:9 would be a better choice for a factory barrel twist, I can't see why Tikka would use 1:8....

I don't skin my coyotes....

 

[Art Eatman]

A 1 in 8 twist seems a little fast for the usual varmint bullets of around 50 to 55 grains.

What to do with a dead coyote? Cut off the tail, skin it out, and nail it to a porch post. Donate the rest to the buzzards; even a buzzard needs to eat. It's all about recycling.

Art

 

[SoCalShooter]

1:8 is great for match shooting but depending on the type of ammo you intend to use it may not be necessary to spend the extra money.

 

[redneck2]

Now I'm curious, what are the benefits (if any) with using heavier bullets on coyote out to maybe 200 yards?

Probably none...

but some guys probably want to shoot heavy bullets for longer range. If it handles 55's (which it should), then use it

 

[Gohon]

My Savage has a 1-9 and I'm shooting from 40 grain to 65 grain with excellent results. The 1 in 8 twist should be good for 50 to 75 grain and might even handle the 40 grain with decent accuracy. The advantage of the faster twist is more thump at longer ranges and better accuracy at said ranges. During deer season a hunter in my state must have a deer tag to be in the woods even if just hunting coyotes. For this reason I carry a few hand loads of Nosler 60 grain partitions just in case. Three seasons ago I dropped a buck at 90 yards with broad side shot with one of these rounds. He simply twirled 180 degrees when hit and dropped.

 

[North Texan]

My Browning as a 1:9, and I've had no trouble shooting 40gr. V-Max's.

 

[sscoyote]

Those Tikka's have a rep for being good shooters. The reason Tikka puts a faster twist barrel is that it gives u the option of shooting the heavier bullets if u want. Nice thing about the 68/69's is that beyond 300 or so the 223/heavies will outperform the 22-250 with many 55 gr. bullets.

My AR 223 AI/9twist has taken coyotes out close to the 500 yd. mark in part due to the effectiveness of the 69's at longer range.

 

[Jim Watson]

An 8" twist ought to handle up to 80 grain boattails, at least that is what Berger recommends for their 80 gr VLD.
As far as lighter bullets go, you will just have to shoot some and find out.
I have a 9" twist that is more accurate with 52s than heavier.

 

[Specialized]

My Browning as a 1:9, and I've had no trouble shooting 40gr. V-Max's.

Which Browning is that? Most of their .223's are 1:12, which is great for the smaller bullets but won't stabilize the bigger match bullets (68gr, for example).

 

[45crittergitter]

My T3 Lite will put bulk 55 gr JSPs into well under .5 MOA for 5 shots.

 

[joneb]

It seems that shorter barreled .223's (16-18") need a 1:8 twist to stablize longer bullets (62 grn) , as with the Tikka T3 with a barrel lenght of (I'm guessin 24") this faster twist will stablize longer bullets in the 75grn range. The drawback of the faster twist is heat with the higher velocity loads.

 

[hps1]

I was concerned about the 1-8 twist on my Bushmaster Predator until I took it to the range:

55 gr. handloads, Nos. BT, 5 shots .345"

It did not like Win. factory 40 gr. HP, however.

Regards,
hps

 

[USMC_2674]

Part of the problem with 55 grains in 1/8 twists isn't will it fire it accurately.

The lighter grains (the 1/8 is made for heavier bullets) will burn the barrel out faster.

 

[joel1316]

I want the Tikka T3 in 223 and by the looks of it, it seems to handle 55gr just fine. What is the optimal bullet weight though regarding barrel life?

 

[Karbon]

The heavier the better, from what I've seen.

 

[ocabj]

Lighter bullets won't burn the barrel out faster. If anything, heavier bullets will burn the barrel out faster because you're going to have more pressure and longer burn in the throat. Throat wear is the primary indicator of barrel wear and barrel life (besides accuracy).

There's no reason why a 1 in 8 or even 1 in 7 twist won't shoot a 55gr bullet accurately. Just don't try and push the velocities beyond max and accuracy should stay ok.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

6mm is better for varmints

maybe even a .458

 

[45crittergitter]

See Tikka groups here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=137538