.223 1 in 12 twist

[smokin54]

.223 with a 1 in 12 twist , How heavy of a bullet will it stabilize at around 2900-3000 fps ?

[Rick]

In general, it should stabilize 55 grain or lighter bullets. I think, though, that the rifling rate has more to do with how long the bullet is, rather than how much it weighs. Speer TNT HP's at 50 grains are longer than 55 gr Remington Powerlokt HPs for example. I think 45 or 50 grain bullets would be a good place to start.

[Frank]

Somkin54, yes the 1 in 12 twist works perfect with 55 grain bullets.

My semi custom re-barreled mini 14 is 1 in 12 twist. I have tried close to 2 dozen different flavors of 223 factory ammo through it. Actually my friends and I have ran many of these factory rounds through "4", mini 14's.

One of the other mini 14's also had been re-barreled with a 1 in 12 twist and the 2 others were 1 in 9 and all of them liked one particular round the best by far.

It was the factory PMC, black and greay box with the 55gr sierra hollow point boat tail, game king bullet.

None of these rounds were tried in a bolt action and would have no idea how that would compare with our semi autos?!?!

Good Luck
Frank

[smokin54]

I have a new encore that has somewhat of a long throat , As a result I am looking for a bullet a little longer than the speer tnt i normally load so i can get it close to the lands

[wildbirdhunter]

Berger has a 60and 64gr round that will work in a 1in12 barrel. I hope the throat is shorter the one on the your NEF. I know the 223-barrel on my encore has a lot shorter throat then my NEF. Did you have a trigger job done on it? If not let me know I ordered a three pack of the Bellm trigger springs looks like I’ll have a #5 and 6 spring left over. I just need to range test the #7 spring I installed but looks good at this point hammer rebounds to ½ cocked. Let me know if you want them I’ll mail them off on Monday I need to mail some stuff off to VA hunter for his 10/22.
WBH

[smokin54]

with my stainless encore I would have to have a COL of 2.300 to be .010 off the lands when using the 50 grain tnt bullets(not sure it will make it) , I bought these in bulk after I found they would shoot sub MOA from my 14 inch contender pistol (2.280 is .010 off the lands ).
Thanks for the offer of the springs ,I have installed the bellm #4 and my triggers is pretty crisp So I doubt I will do any trigger work , bellm has the instruction on how to do a trigger job on his sight ,I used it to install the springs and it was pretty easy. I havent actually fired the rifle yet But I will Sat. morning . I plan to make this my primary hunting rifle so I do not want to get the trigger pull to light .

[kmitch]

There is an article in the January 2003 issue of American Rifleman about selecting the correct rifling twist for a particular bullet.

Keith

[wildbirdhunter]

I have about the same COL on that round 2.370 and I’m .015 off the lands on my encore.
I think it’s just the way the round is made that makes it so long. I know the 50grain V-max has a shorter COL then it does.
How does the trigger feel after the new spring install you did?
I got to the rang love my new trigger with the #7 spring it’s about 1 LBS pull on it feels like my CZ trigger
WBH

[smokin54]

I hope you mean 2.270 for a COL for your encore .your right The shape of the bullet is it and makes the whole difference .
I made the first trip to range with my encore on Sat . after The rifle/me settled down some My best group at 100 yards was 4 shots touching and the 5th opened the group to just under 1 inch . I was using a COL of 2.250 and light charge of BLC-2 . I will start playing with the loading looking for the best combo ,I plan to try again Wed.
I would Est. my trigger pull at 2 1/2 pounds and just a hair of creep , I wish the contender was still availible it has a much better trigger than the encore but wont handle the high pressures that the encore will ,on the other hand The encore has a better grip feel . If they could combine the 2 that would really be something ,but no the G2 wont be availible in CA. and it is not going to be for high pressure anyway.

[smokin54]

another trip to the range , I checked my trigger pull with a scale and it came out at 1lb 14 oz , Went a little hotter on the charge of blc-2 powder and changed to the 50 grain vmax and cut goups to a consitent .75 and my best of the day was just under .5, next I want to try some match bullets just for the heck of it. Shooting with the benchrest crowds will either motivate you to your hightest level or frustrate the hell out of you, but when you consider the money they have invested in their equipment it all comes into perspective , These guys will pay alot of money to cut a few thousandths off their group . A freind of mine shot his best the other day at .110 five shot group and didnt win the match.

[wildbirdhunter]

Sounds like things are coming around on your 223 I may have to pick up some of that BL-C2. I spent the weekend doing stuff around the house and working on the brass for the 17rem barrel I got for my Encore. What fun that was sizing, trimming and neck turning 200 cases. I had it a the range the weekend before chrisms only to find out it’s a tight neck chamber. I’ll be back at the range this Friday for some load testing and out for some hunting Saturday if not with the 17 then the 223.
WBH

[smokin54]

neck turning 200 cases ? Now thats a chore . I am curoius to here the results with the 17.

[wildbirdhunter]

I'll be out friday morning testing the loads I worked up for it and will let you know how it shoots
WBH