Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #1
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    Default Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    I have an AR with a 16" bull barrel with a 1:9 twist. What bullet weight should I choose to work up a load with for accuracy at 100 and 200 yards? Or maybe, what weight range seems to work best with this twist rate?

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    Bullet-to-twist has a few factors.. Bullet length, velocity, and diameter. Since we know the diameter, what velocity range do you plan/expect to be in?

    2600-2700fps
    2700-2800
    2800-2900
    2900-3000
    3000-3100
    3100-3200
    3200-3300
    3300-3400
    Last edited by knight0334; October 31st, 2008 at 07:41 AM.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    Quote Originally Posted by knight0334 View Post
    Bullet-to-twist has a few factors.. Bullet length, velocity, and diameter. Since we know the diameter, what velocity range do you plan/expect to be in?

    2600-2700fps
    2700-2800
    2800-2900
    2900-3000
    3000-3100
    3100-3200
    3200-3300
    3300-3400
    Couldn't tell ya. I've never reloaded for .223 before, and I'm not OCD enough to spend the money on a chrono. So ummm . . .I don't know?

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    A 1:9 twist will handle up to a 62gr bullet. You might get lucky and find that it also handles a heavier bullet, but not definite.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    Quote Originally Posted by BerksCountyDave View Post
    Couldn't tell ya. I've never reloaded for .223 before, and I'm not OCD enough to spend the money on a chrono. So ummm . . .I don't know?

    From my experience, what Steve posted above is accurate. ...about 62gr at its upper mid level to highest velocities.

    The faster you push a given bullet, the less twist rate you need. With the same bullet at lower speeds you need a faster rate. Longer bullets need more twist than shorter bullets.

    50-62gr is probably your operating window given typical velocities for those bullet weights. I personally would start with 55gr slugs.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    Are you shooting from a bench? Are you using iron sights or a scope? How accurate do you want your rifle to be? Can you shoot as well as your rifle can?

    It's been my experience that 55gn or 62 gn performs virtually the same at 100-200 yards.

    May I recommend a beginning formula for you? H335 24.5 gns, your brass (LC ideally), 55 gn fmjbt (any good quality heads).
    Last edited by Hawk; October 31st, 2008 at 09:08 AM.
    Toujours prêt

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    My 20" 1:9 HBAR likes anything up to 69gr SMK's over the right powder charge. I have had pretty good luck with H335 with that projectile. Just loaded up 100 over Varget over various charge weights and expect some good results. Ran a batch of Hornady 55gr FMJBT's over H335 and achieved maybe 1.5" -2" groups at 100 yards, but I think I can tighten that up by fooling around with the charge. All of which were loaded in LC brass with CCI primers. I am finding out very quickly that the often used reloading term "voodoo" really does come into play in finding the right load for you particular rifle.

    The Capn'

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    69gr SMK over Varget. Load it out to max mag length.

    Works in all my 1:9's.

    Lycanbeenherebeforethrope

    I taught Chuck Norris to bump-fire.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    I just wanted to throw this out there for the record, lol. Bullet weight isn't the only factor that affects correct twist rate. Others have hinted at a few other variables like velocity, bullet length, diameter, etc. I just thought that it was worth mentioning that twist rate can also be affected by other things like air density, which can be affected by altitude, temperature, etc). The twist rate "rule of thumb" that you see on most rifles is done at sea level. There are alot of shooters who shoot at higher elevations who find that sometimes a twist rate will stabilize a bullet that "it's not supposed to". This has to do with the fact that they may be shooting through air that is less dense than what it is at sea level. There are some people that have a pet load and go to a competition somewhere across the US that has a different elevation, only to find out that their rifle won't stabilize that bullet at that elevation, temp, etc. There are some shooters who can get away with shooting 190 grain Berger VLD out of a .308 that has a 1:12 twist, and usually they recommend at the very least a 1:11 twist for those bullets; most prefer a 1:10 for those bullets. It's all kind of a relative thing, so please keep that in mind. There is also such a thing as "over stabilizing" bullets.

    Trust lycan, he knows .

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Preferred bullet weight for 1:9 twist in .223?

    I haven't found a bullet over 60 grains that my 1:9 AR will shoot well, and it hasn't been for a lack of trying.

    The 60 grain V-MAX flies very nicely for me.

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