Barrel Rifling

[M&P Chris]

I am planning an ar15 build. What twist barrel should i get? 1:7, 1:8, 1:9? It will be .223. I usually shoot 55gr FMJBT with my other ar's. This gun that I am building is going to be a long range shooter and maybe a varmit gun. Thanks....

[Toxicodendron11]

FWIW, I have a 20" Colt HBar, 1:7 twist and all that I shoot out of it is 75 and 77 grn JHPBT. Sure you can shoot other weights out of it but to realize the 1:7's full
potential you gotta shoot a heavier bullet. IMHO

[Lycanthrope]

FWIW, I have a 20" Colt HBar, 1:7 twist and all that I shoot out of it is 75 and 77 grn JHPBT. Sure you can shoot other weights out of it but to realize the 1:7's full
potential you gotta shoot a heavier bullet. IMHO

+1.

1:7 is nice to shoot long, but it will favor heavy bullets. It will also typically shoot 55gr bullets worse than a comparable quality 1:9 (at least my guns do).

How far do you want to shoot and what bullet?

Lycanmaybewecannarrowitdownthrope

[Franchi20/28]

This gun that I am building is going to be a long range shooter and maybe a varmit gun. Thanks....

You're going two different directions with that statement.

If you want a long range target rifle you'll be looking at a fast twist, 1-6.5" to 1-8", for heavy (68 to 90 grain) bullets.

If you want a varminter you'll want a slow twist, 1-12" or 1-14", for light (40 to 55 grain) bullets

[Tim Ault]

My previous AR15(DPMS NM) was a 1:8 and shot everything from 52-80 gr bullets just fine.


Tim

[mojo]

I am planning an ar15 build. What twist barrel should i get? 1:7, 1:8, 1:9? It will be .223. I usually shoot 55gr FMJBT with my other ar's. This gun that I am building is going to be a long range shooter and maybe a varmit gun. Thanks....

As others have said ... 1:7 is better for longer range but you need to shoot heavier/longer bullets. If you plan on shooting 55gr I would lean toward 1:9 maybe 1:8.

What do you consider long range?