The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Hi all
.223 for up to 600 yards
Twist recommendation?

Depends on the bullet weight. As an example Christel shoots with a 1:8

Would go for heavier 223

1/7 for 77grains +

My only experience is with an LSW at 600yds. That had a 1:7 twist with 62gr bullets and was okay, affected by wind quite a bit though.

Christel shoots 1:8 with 80 grain .224 SMK's. I am going to stick my neck out here and say I think it is very accurate.

For .223 the 90 grain Berger would be one of my choices and that would need 1:7 - I have a box I was going to try but the bloody things explode when pushed hard so I never bothered.....

69gn SMK's with a 1 in 9" twist Savage...... bangs V bulls at 600 with boring regularity.....

Brought my wife a Ruger M77 VT in 223, 1 in 9 twist - as she didnt like the recoil of the 308 (bless her!)
SMK 69 gn + Vit 140 or Varget and as Sim G said "bangs V bulls at 600 with boring regularity" as long as its not windy - so much for Rugers being inaccurate!
It will never be a competitive rifle but is a great plinker @ 600

Dr. Strangelove wrote:My only experience is with an LSW at 600yds. That had a 1:7 twist with 62gr bullets and was okay, affected by wind quite a bit though.

Wouldn't use an LSW to guage the accuracy potential of the .223 Rem

However, to run the heavier more wind bucking capable bullets you will need a faster twist than 1:9, generally 1:7 to 1:7.5 is what is recommended by the bullet manufacturers but be wary of the 80 grain plus bullets as they extend the COL quite a bit and will not always feed from a box magazine if that is what you have in mind.

John MH wrote:However, to run the heavier more wind bucking capable bullets you will need a faster twist than 1:9, generally 1:7 to 1:7.5 is what is recommended by the bullet manufacturers but be wary of the 80 grain plus bullets as they extend the COL quite a bit and will not always feed from a box magazine if that is what you have in mind.

APOLOGIES all - typing on I-phone with stubby finger not ideal and now I want to explain my thinking..

I believe in "Train Hard Fight Easy"
What I am looking for is a super accurate F-Class type .223.
My thinking is thus .... and it may be flawed so bear with me - I have never let my ignorance stop my bad ideas :-P

I have a world class F-Class 308 built my MIKMAK of Dolphin Guns and yes it is way to good for me - for now!
I will practice diligently but F-Class in the end is about Wind Reading.
The 308 in competition mode attempts to minimise wind reading!

Primary use or .223
To that end I want a lighter gun (ie .223) that is super accurate BUT in lighter winds will drift more
Thus up to 600 yards I will have a gun I can shot and see wind affect more readily and hopefully learn more

A secondary benefit is that the .223 is F-TR compliant and I have a gun that
1. Can be a backup to the 308
2. Take up some of the barrel wear that would have been on the 308 both in training an dup to 600 yards

Options
I am happy to look at a custom OR a decent off the shelf rifle
I have been exposed and had a very accurate Weatheryby .223 in South Africa

BUT what is viable and accurate in the UK market is a unknown to me

I do appreciate all the feedback