What's the heaviest .223 round I can run in a 1/12 twist ?

[MIL-DOT]

As I understand, a 55gr. (and under) is about ideal, but I seem to recall reading that 62 gr. would be (barely) within acceptable limits. This would be through a bolt gun with an 18.5" barrel. I have a bunch of 55 gr. FMJ ammo, but I'm looking around for something of higher quality/accuracy for a varmint hunting application. A local shop has this Remington Premier Core-Lokt 62gr in stock for not much more than AmmoToGo.....
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produ...nted-soft-point-ammo/cName/223-556-soft-point

As always, any useful advice or info is very much appreciated......

 

[MIL-DOT]

(post deleted by the OP, in the interest of avoiding further idiotic,unproductive posts : )

 

[Hunterdad]

I would say that a 55gr would be tops. But, all rifles are different. You may find that yours likes a certain 62gr bullet. Only way to find out is to go try it.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

All I remember is when I went and got some Hormady Tap ammo (home defense use) the dealer said the twist wasn't right and it wouldn't work. I bought it anyway and went to the range to test it. Out to 50 yards it looked fine. Try some heavier ammo and see how,it performs.

 

[Rail Driver]

My buddy swears by 70gr corelokt bullets in his 1:12 bolt gun (not sure the make - think it's a Tikka)

 

[Jim NE]

Leaves a post, and is offended when there's no response less than an hour later, assuming that others are intentionally disturbing him merely by viewing the thread.

Sheesh. Lighten up , dude. I'm getting my first .223 ever tomorrow, and I thought your post might contain a question that I need to ask the guy when I pick up my gun.

 

[carbine85]

I have an AR180 with a 1:12 twist and it does a lot better with the 55 grain bullets.

 

[ugaarguy]

Mil, it depends. Here in GA we're at low elevation in most of the state, and it stays warm here year round. I had a Colt SP1 with a 1:12 twist that would stabilize Remington 62 gr OTM. I've also seen 1:12 bbls that won't stabilize anything heavier than 55 gr. Increases in elevation and decreases in temp will further limit max bullet length for a particular twist. Variances in individual barrels must also be accounted for. The only way to know is to try the ammo in your rifle.

 

[Jeff White]

What bullet a certain twist rate will handle is decided by the length of the bullet, not the weight.

There is a company that makes a 60 grain varmint bullet that is short enough to work in most 1/12 twist barrels. The company name escapes me at the moment.

 

[MIL-DOT]

HA !! I figured that might stir up the nest,LOL .
Thanks for the replies,guys. Not to be a smart-@$$, but I already knew I could go test out the rounds, but that defeats the purpose of having a global brain-trust with a combined experience of centuries,at your fingertips. I'd rather consult others' experiences,than burn through various boxes of expensive ammo, if at all possible.
I know some definitive answers are here........somewhere .


edit: thanks ugaarguy and JeffWhite, that was interesting info.

 

[hentown]

I'd suggest to you that there's so much information available through the search feature and through Google, regarding bullet weights and barrel twists, that most of those viewers were just too bored to post a cogent response...I know I am. And, hey, I'm a fellow Georgian. Think about how non-plussed those super-intellectual "Ys" must feel about questions like this!

 

[aka108]

I have a Howa 1500 bolt rifle. Shoots 55 gr pretty well. 62 gr go all to hell in a handbasket. I think its twist is 1-12.

 

[joed]

Reality is you'll be limited to 55 gr. Is that a handicap? Not in my opinion, I'd sooner shoot that weight than something heavier.

You can shoot a 63 gr bullet but that one is semi pointed.

 

[rcmodel]

There is a company that makes a 60 grain varmint bullet that is short enough to work in most 1/12 twist barrels.

The Sierra 63 grain Semi-Pointed should work in a 1/12 twist .223.

They work great in a 1/14 twist 22-250 anyway!

rc

 

[Gordon]

The 70 grain speer semi point worked in my 24" 1-12" Remington 700 at 100 yards but I think it might yaw at 200 yards. It worked well in the 1-10" Mini-14. 64 Winchester Power Points showed no tipping in my 1-12" Remington at 100 yards. 60 Grain Nosler Partitions showed extremely slight tipping at 200 yards damn it!

 

[MIL-DOT]

Thanks, guys. I've been doing some Googling ( always a bigger headache than you'd expect it to be) and I got largely conflicting answers, but at least some good info.
I'm hearing that the 62 gr. Federal Fusion works well for some in a 1:12, but several guys said that I should consider going LIGHTER, like 40-53gr. Shooting a shorter,semi-pointed bullet also came up.
Anyway, I may just play it safe, and get some higher end, bonded ammo in 55gr. and mostly just use the 55 gr. Lake City stuff I already have a stash of.
Anyway, thanks again........

 

[o Unforgiven o]

40 views,(so far) and not a single response,and that's to an incredibly simple question about what may be the most popular rifle round in the country ??
This happens virtually every time I ask a question here. DOZENS of people view the post, even though the title question was as perfectly clear and simple as imaginable, but then have nothing at all to say. And it can't be because the viewers are wondering the same thing, because they can clearly see that there are ZERO ANSWERS in the thread.:banghead:
I've observed this peculiararity,for years, and I just don't get it.

One thing many people don't get(like you), is that if someone puts a similar question into a search engine and clicks this page as a result it will count as a view. They are however unable to post if they are not members, and because there have not been any answers posted, will simply leave the page.

 

[mmay1]

My Savage Model 12BVSS in 223 Rem. has a 1:12 twist and consistently shoots 1"groups with 60 grain bullets. But it shoots tiny groups with my handloads using a 40-grain Hornady V-Max bullet. I have not tried heavier bullets than 60 grain or lighter than the 40 but have tried 50, 52 and 55 grain bullets, with better groups than the 60s but not quite as tight as the 40s. For varmints, the 40 grain V-Max bullets are devistating.

 

[mshootnit]

60 gr is fine in my 12 twist ruger bolt gun 22". Shot a coyote with one at 235 yd

 

[Fishbed77]

Leaves a post, and is offended when there's no response less than an hour later, assuming that others are intentionally disturbing him merely by viewing the thread

For real.

Maybe folks were looking at the thread trying to learn the answer
for themselves.

 

[bpl]

I have a .223 with 1/12 twist, but I have only shot 55gr and 40gr bullets through it. FWIW, I have shot smaller groups with the 55gr than the 40gr. I have done more shooting with the 55gr, however, so I have a larger sample with that weight. With regard to the 62gr, I think you'll have to try them and see.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Come to think of it, about two years ago I posted a photo of many different bullet weights through my mini-14. I can't easily pull it up at the moment but everything came in at or under 3 MOA with 10 shot groups Keep in mind this was for a self defense weapon and was to prove mini's aren't as bad (at least the 580 and later series) as folks make them out to be. 3 MOA is often about as good as I can shoot give or take a minute.

Post 44 on the link below has the photos. From Ruger site I have 1 in 9 twist. I don't know,if this is better or worse for heavier wt bullets.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=508282&page=2

 

[x_wrench]

in my Handi-rifle, i still get DECENT groups with 62 grain fmjbt's. but any heavier, and it is all done.

 

[stubbicatt]

I think it was a Sierra load manual I read 15 years ago that suggested 62 grains is heaviest that will stabilize in 12 twist. Good luck.

 

[MIL-DOT]

One thing many people don't get(like you), is that if someone puts a similar question into a search engine and clicks this page as a result it will count as a view. They are however unable to post if they are not members, and because there have not been any answers posted, will simply leave the page.

LOL, yeah, right, that MUST be what was happening, 60 people in an hour happened to be Googling 1:12 twist and got sent here. Go watch TV.

For real.

Maybe folks were looking at the thread trying to learn the answer
for themselves.

Are you completely illiterate? It's always a good idea to actually read all the posts in a thread ( not to mention, comprehend them) when posting a response in it. I clearly stated that there were "ZERO" responses, so tell me how reading nothing but a question allows anyone to "learn the answer"? :banghead:

Now, can we let it go, already ???

Another thanks to all that chimed in with productive responses.