Why is it so hard to find a .223 in 10 or 12 twist?

[2ndtimer]

The 1 in 12” twist rate In .223 Rem. is probably optimal for shooting lightweight bullets. I have two such bolt guns, a Remington 700 SPS Varmint With 26” heavy barrel and a Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special with 22” heavy barrel. Both shoot 40 gr. bullets very well, with top velocities. My S&W M&P 15 original Sport with a 1 in 8” twist 16” barrel also shoots them surprisingly well. But what a difference in velocity! With Fiocchi factory 40 gr V-Max loads, the Remington pushes them right at 3,650 FPS. The 10” shorter, faster twist Smith only managed 3,167 FPS.
If you are serious about maximum performance on small varmints at less than 300 yards, you might try to locate a used older model. Might even get a good deal on one since many seem to be interested in lobbing 69 and 77 gr bullets longer distances and penciling through their target. I prefer the aerial display and the “no doubt” confirmed kill of the higher velocity more explosive performance of the light weight Ballistic Tips, V-Max, and Varmageddons. Also like the cheaper option of the Hornady 50 gr SX bullets at 3200 FPS or so. Their very thin jackets might not survive a 1 in 9” or faster twist, but provide excellent accuracy and performance in the slower twist barrels.

 

[Bwana John]

Look for a pushfeed post-64 but pre "Classic" Winchester Model 70 "lightweight" (not featherweight).

They are short action (308) not 223 lenght. I have a carbine length 20" barreled one, I believe it is 1:12, and it will put 20 rounds into 1.5 moa with any projectile 55 gr of less, it puts 5, 52gr into .75 moa.

Great accuracy, great handleing, it's only fault is it you work the bolt slowly the case dribbles out, but if the bolt is worked "with authority" it works perfectly.

 

[redneck2]

I’ve been on multiple prairie dog hunts. I can assure you that my most favorite rifle is my Varminter AR with a 1:9 Wilson air gauged, match grade barrel. Shoots my handloads with 50 grain Nosler BT’s into well below 1”. First round hits at 300+ were common.

The other guys that went on the first hunt were skeptical of my AR until they saw it in action. Every one of them had an AR on the second hunt. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t comprehend that is not a typical HD model.

24” barrel, has a 6.5-20x40 Leupold.

My second most favorite is my CZ 527 in .204.

I’d worry way more about barrel and ammo quality than 1:9 vs. 1/12

 

[303 hunter]

My zastava mini Mauser is a 1:10 or 1:12 twist. Shoots 50grn fairly well. 55grn opens the group up a great deal.

They were imported as interarms mini mark x, Charles Daly mini Mauser, Remington 799, century arms and now zastava itself. Maybe as the m85. And they were cheap.

I had a mini Mauser and it was 1/12 twist. It shot the 53 VMax very accurately.

 

[fouled bore]

The 1 in 12” twist rate In .223 Rem. is probably optimal for shooting lightweight bullets. I have two such bolt guns, a Remington 700 SPS Varmint With 26” heavy barrel and a Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special with 22” heavy barrel. Both shoot 40 gr. bullets very well, with top velocities. My S&W M&P 15 original Sport with a 1 in 8” twist 16” barrel also shoots them surprisingly well. But what a difference in velocity! With Fiocchi factory 40 gr V-Max loads, the Remington pushes them right at 3,650 FPS. The 10” shorter, faster twist Smith only managed 3,167 FPS.
If you are serious about maximum performance on small varmints at less than 300 yards, you might try to locate a used older model. Might even get a good deal on one since many seem to be interested in lobbing 69 and 77 gr bullets longer distances and penciling through their target. I prefer the aerial display and the “no doubt” confirmed kill of the higher velocity more explosive performance of the light weight Ballistic Tips, V-Max, and Varmageddons. Also like the cheaper option of the Hornady 50 gr SX bullets at 3200 FPS or so. Their very thin jackets might not survive a 1 in 9” or faster twist, but provide excellent accuracy and performance in the slower twist barrels.

I have always had the impression that the faster the twist rate the slower the bullet will travel. So to get max velocity you want the slowest twist rate that will stabilise the bullet. I have also believed that if a barrel is marked .223 Rem it would be limited to bullets 60 grains and lighter along with the slower twist rate the .223 Rem. was offered in. I guess that's not the case any more. I also like the display of the confirmed kill. . I also wasn't sure if the bullets were holding up to the velocity I was pushing them to in the 1/8 twist barrel.

 

[ms6852]

I was just looking around at entry level .223 bolt action rifles hoping to find one in 1/10 or 1/12 twist rate. I was thinking about a prairie dog gun that I would use shooting 40-55 grain varmint bullets. The slowest twist I found is 1/9. I know I could get a 22-250 with a 1/12 twist but I have so much .223 brass I would like to stay with .223 Rem. When I see a .223 gun with a 1/7-1/9 twist I think of it being a 556 chamber. Doesn't the 556 chamber have a longer throat than the .223 Rem chamber? If using a 40-55 grain bullet in a 556 chamber with it having to make the long jump to the lands along with the fast twist loose some accuracy?

You know savage has the varminter series rifles and with 1/14 twist rate. Depending on what you get it will cost but this one is not so bad price wise.
https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=19154
https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=19142

 

[horsey300]

I have always had the impression that the faster the twist rate the slower the bullet will travel. So to get max velocity you want the slowest twist rate that will stabilise the bullet. I have also believed that if a barrel is marked .223 Rem it would be limited to bullets 60 grains and lighter along with the slower twist rate the .223 Rem. was offered in. I guess that's not the case any more. I also like the display of the confirmed kill. . I also wasn't sure if the bullets were holding up to the velocity I was pushing them to in the 1/8 twist barrel.

Not knowing what you have for powder or coal, I'll throw out there that if you're trying to chase the lands, go back to your powder data for the rightest bullet in there and load to that coal.

 

[fouled bore]

You know savage has the varminter series rifles and with 1/14 twist rate. Depending on what you get it will cost but this one is not so bad price wise.
https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=19154
https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=19142

I was looking at those earlier, all I see is 1/9 twist for the .223 Rem. The .222 is 1/14.

 

[BigBL87]

I have always had the impression that the faster the twist rate the slower the bullet will travel. So to get max velocity you want the slowest twist rate that will stabilise the bullet. I have also believed that if a barrel is marked .223 Rem it would be limited to bullets 60 grains and lighter along with the slower twist rate the .223 Rem. was offered in. I guess that's not the case any more. I also like the display of the confirmed kill. . I also wasn't sure if the bullets were holding up to the velocity I was pushing them to in the 1/8 twist barrel.

You aren't completely wrong on twist rate I believe. To some extent a fast twist rate will reduce the velocity as I understand it, but not really by a consequential amount.

The faster twist rates have definitely expanded the capabilities of 223, I think some loads even get up to 90 grains now? Kinda crazy. But, the majority of ammo seems to be between 50-77 grains that I ever see, though there is some above and some below those numbers too. 55 and 62 seem to be the most popular weights.

 

[Buzznrose]

If you shoot an AR, a White Oak Armament upper may work out for you...

https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/shop/complete-uppers/varmint-uppers.html?barrel_twist=11

 

[fouled bore]

Not knowing what you have for powder or coal, I'll throw out there that if you're trying to chase the lands, go back to your powder data for the rightest bullet in there and load to that coal.

I probably have a lot of improvement to do in load development. I loaded these up with shooter's world tactical. That's all I could get at the time, March and April when everything was crazy. Not too pleased with the consistency of the shooter's world powder. I usually use H335. I am sure an extruded powder would be better but I was loading 2k and want to use my powder drop so I wanted to stay with a ball powder.

 

[redneck2]

My favorite is Varget, but it’s more difficult to drop accurately.

I switched to AA2230, which is a ball powder and meters well.

 

[Cemetery21]

Yes, I normally loaded 3,000+ per trip so drop charging ball powder made that possible. I was always careful to be aware of temperature (in)stability and never had pressure problems with ball powder.

Edit: yes! 2230, X-Terminator, 2460, and AA2200.

 

[fouled bore]

You believe those powders would be better than H335?
I'll look into those powders and see if they are available locally here.

 

[Cemetery21]

Probably no better. I just started using AA when it started being available. A local dealer stocked it all and I found excellent loads quickly. I was burning a lot of powder and it was a little cheaper in the beginning. Seems extremely consistent lot to lot, even though they have changed manufacturing plants over the years. I also shot AA #5 in .45 competition loads back then and #7 in 9mm.

 

[entropy]

I was just looking around at entry level .223 bolt action rifles hoping to find one in 1/10 or 1/12 twist rate. I was thinking about a prairie dog gun that I would use shooting 40-55 grain varmint bullets. The slowest twist I found is 1/9. I know I could get a 22-250 with a 1/12 twist but I have so much .223 brass I would like to stay with .223 Rem. When I see a .223 gun with a 1/7-1/9 twist I think of it being a 556 chamber. Doesn't the 556 chamber have a longer throat than the .223 Rem chamber? If using a 40-55 grain bullet in a 556 chamber with it having to make the long jump to the lands along with the fast twist loose some accuracy?

Savages are chambered in .223 Remington, and I will tell you from personal experience that to 200 yards, they stabilize 40 and 55 gr. bullets just fine with their 1:9.25" twist.

 

[Cemetery21]

There may be more powders that do well in 223 class than any other class of cartridges. I've only tried a half dozen in 45 years and none have disappointed. Started out with BL-C2 since I had used it in 222.

 

[horsey300]

I probably have a lot of improvement to do in load development. I loaded these up with shooter's world tactical. That's all I could get at the time, March and April when everything was crazy. Not too pleased with the consistency of the shooter's world powder. I usually use H335. I am sure an extruded powder would be better but I was loading 2k and want to use my powder drop so I wanted to stay with a ball powder.

Benchmark drops nicely from my Lee auto drum, as does h322 and cfe223, just a heads-up if you come across any.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Benchmark drops nicely from my Lee auto drum, as does h322 and cfe223, just a heads-up if you come across any.

Plus one on CFE223. It and a 40gr vmax are my favorite.
Benchmark would be. But it struggles in the velocity department for me.

 

[2ndtimer]

I have tried most of the powders for .223 and have settled on Ramshot TAC as my favorite for bullet weights from 40 gr. to 77 gr. My latest attempt to dethrone the king have been Benchmark and Reloder 10x, specifically for bullet weights from 40 to 55 gr. TAC is still the champ, for me. But to be honest, I have gotten decent results from almost everything from Accurate 2015 through IMR-4064 and a multitude of powders in between. The only powder I absolutely won’t use or recommend is 4198. My experience with it was almost as dismal as IMR-800x in revolver cartridges. Lousy metering, poor velocity, mediocre accuracy and didn’t even burn too clean. Not much in my experience to recommend 4198. Not even sure if it was H or IMR, but would not gamble on either one, especially with the myriad of very good to excellent powders offered.

 

[DocRock]

Order a Walking Varminter from Savage in 222 Rem. You'll be happy.

 

[someguy2800]

I have all but forgotten about 55 and less grain bullets in 223. I really like 75 grain in a 1/8 twist. It bucks the wind so much better.

 

[ms6852]

I was looking at those earlier, all I see is 1/9 twist for the .223 Rem. The .222 is 1/14.

My mistake I could have sworn I had clicked on .223 but it was a .222. You could turn your brass to 300 blackout and go with the 222.

 

[daniel craig]

It all comes down to demand. If there was a demand they would make more.

 

[David Hoback]

Couple others have mentioned it. The Savage’s 110... 1:9.25” twist will stabilize any of the lighter pills down to 40gr.

Other reason I like Savage..you can find a 10/110 rifle, in premium condition, stupidly cheap! Tear it down install any premium barrel you want. They are drop in. You want a 26” heavy barrel in .223 & 1:12” twist? Done! Greatest thing... you can do all this yourself. Easy to find someone with the know how...maybe even a tool or two to lend ya.

I picked up my last Model 10 Accutrigger for $170 from Gunbroker. Stripped it down to a bare action and did a complete ground up custom build, including a Shilen barrel in 260 Remington, 26” & 1:8” twist. Uses a host of PTG small parts...Recoil Lug, Barrel Nut, Machined Bolt Head. Did my own custom trigger job on the Accutrigger(cause I do that!) And stuck the newly barreled action into a modified MDT TAC21 Chassis.

It’s beyond more accurate than I’ve ever or could ever been.