1 in 7 or 1 in 9 twist for AR's

[BearTitan]

I am sure that some of you guys shoot one and some the other rate of twist. Please post what type of shooting you do, ammo you use, and results you get from your barrel.

Thanks in advance for the good info!

[RocketFoot]

BT...asking AR questions? HMMMM?

LOL...I don't know all the particulars, but I always thought 1:7 was for long range shooting and 1:9 for close range/combat type applications. I also heard that 1:7 barrels don't last as long. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Seneca Arms Co. Inc.]

If you never plan on shooting bullets that are heavier than 69 grain, either 1-7 or 1-9 will do fine. If however you plan on shooting heavier bullets like 75,77,80 grain, you will need a 1-8 or 1-7 twist to stabalize them.

[roland]

I shoot wolf ammo, 55 and 62. I have a 1 in 7 match upper that shoots the 62 gr very well, better than the 55. I have 2 16" 1 in 9 that I shoot the 55 gr very well. I don't have a lead sled or a rifle vise to say what the groups actually are (since I now know your definition of a group is) but the trend is the lighter bullet shoots better in the slower twist rate, in this case 1 in 9. My match rifle and the green a2 are very good for shooting CMP. My A3, I think is excelent at the IPSC matches.

[BearTitan]

So if I plan to shoot factory 55 or 50 grain bullets, the 1 in 9 is the way to go?

[Aran]

50 or 55-grain whateverIcanfindcheap for me, and I use a 1:9. Also useful because I'm waiting on my .22LR drop in conversion, which a 1:7 is no good for, from everything I've been told.

[roland]

So if I plan to shoot factory 55 or 50 grain bullets, the 1 in 9 is the way to go?

yep. yessir, yeppity do da.

[TonyF]

Please post what type of shooting you do,

All my shooting is oriented toward self defense.

1:7 twist.

ETA: 5.56 chambers (because Hawk mentioned it).

ammo you use,

Typically any name brand of generic 55 gr FMJ for practice and 75 gr TAP for HD.

and results you get from your barrel.

Never felt the need to quantify them regarding accuracy because it doesn't matter.

[Hawk]

SHHHH! Don't mention .223 vs 5.56. It will complicate things even more


Hawk,

[TonyF]

LOL...I don't know all the particulars, but I always thought 1:7 was for long range shooting and 1:9 for close range/combat type applications.

No. It's all about stabilizing bullets with regard to their weight.

I also heard that 1:7 barrels don't last as long. Correct me if I am wrong.

No. The abbreviated lifespan of the 1:7 barrels in the M4 is due to FA fire and the shorter gas system causing them to cycle more violently. Neither of which have any bearing on the semi-auto carbines we know and love.