Question about solid copper bullets in .224 diameter

[Grey Morel]

I have been told that solid copper bullets have different rate of twist requirements because the dimensions are different from lead core bullets of the same weight.

With this in mind, will a 1-14" twist of a 22-250 stabilize a 45gr solid spitzer? Specifically I'm looking at these Barnes Solids.

 

[rcmodel]

They should be fine.

No 45 grain copper bullet will be as long a a 63 grain semi-pointed jacketed bullet, and a 1/14 twist 22-250 shots them just fine.

See Barnes load data & twist requirements for the 22-250 here:
http://www.barnesbullets.com/images/22-250RemingtonWeb.pdf

rc

 

[Grey Morel]

I have also been told that velocity plays a role in what twist is needed to stabilize, IE, the faster the velocity the lower the minimum twist.

The 22-250 in question has only a 20" barrel, and Banes load data (thanks for posting that!) uses a 24". Will this have any effect?

 

[rcmodel]

No.

It would with heavier bullets that would be marginally stable to begin with.

But the 45 grain is not one of them.

rc

 

[Grey Morel]

OK, thank you for your help!

 

[Brillo]

Yes, the ability to stabilize a bullet is a function of both the twist rate and the muzzle velocity. Therefore a longer barrel, all else equal, will stabilize a longer bullet than a shorter barrel because the muzzle velocity should be greater. It is often the case though that if you are near the max muzzle velocity you will need to select the proper bullet length for a given twist rate. In general, a solid copper bullet should more easily stabilize in a slower twist barrel than a jacketed bullet of the same length because the jacketed bullet will weigh more and have a slower muzzle velocity with a given powder load.