Keyholing problem

[Kurt S.]

I have a Savage 24F .223 over 12 gauge. Supposedly the twist rate on the rifle barrle is 1:14. At 50 yards M855 62 grain keyholes in a spectacular manner; it hits with a perfect little bullet profile. As a matter of fact, I've tried M193 55 grainers, 64 grain Winchester softpoints, and Wolf 62 grain JHPs- none of them keyhole but they are all over the target.

Any ideas? I am going to try 45 grain hollowpoints next.

 

[30Cal]

The bullets you're using are too heavy for the twist. A 1:14" will work with very light ones.

 

[ny32182]

You need 1:9 to shoot 62gr. 1:12 can shoot up to 55gr.

For 1:14, all you are probably going to be able to shoot is very light varmint bullets... try some 4X grain.

 

[rangerruck]

50 grains is max on that twist, the 45 grain winny varmints may be just the ticket, also blackhills makes , in their blue box, a 50 grain job.

 

[270Win]

I can get certain non-military 60- and 62-grainers to work reliably and accurately in my 1:12 twist Remington VLS. But 1:14 pushes the boundary too far, I think.

Worst keyholing I've come across is when I get TERRIBLE keyholing with the Aguila SSS 60-grain .22LR rounds out of almost every .22LR rifle I've tried.

 

[Selfdfenz]

45 grain hollowpoints

I've had excellent results with the oversized packages of Win White Box from W-M in my 1:12 barrel. They are so accurate I pretty much stopped reloading for 223. I can't beat'em.

Best

S-

 

[Kurt S.]

Thanks a bunch, y'all. I figured as much. When I read that the twist rate was 1:14 I had the sense that was the problem. BTW, I found the twist rate on Savage website.

Selfdefenz, those "oversize" Winchester white box 45 grain JHPs are relatively cheap at Academy here in Houston- I'll give 'em a try. I'm also going to give 55 grain FMJ and JHP's a try, although I am not holding out much hope.

 

[1911 guy]

"Oversize boxes"

I, too, use the big, overpacked boxes of 45gr JHP for varmints. I spent a year of Saturday afternoons working up a load that was more accurate in my varmint rifle. The difference was negligible. From a bipod at 100 yards, the factory stuff will do nickel sized groups from a 1:12 twist.

 

[Jim Watson]

A 14" twist was standard in .22 centerfires until the Army got to messing with things. It is adequate, even optimum, for 55 grain flatbase bullets.
The M193 and similar 55 gr FMJ boattails are marginal - the Army went to a 12" twist to stabilize them in cold, dense air - but more because of their design and cheap manufacture than their weight. I would not waste time and money on them in a sporting rifle. But you don't have to go to flyweight bullets just because your barrel has a 14" twist. Forget about the 62 gr surplus, though.