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1/3/2008 3:37:31 PM EDT
Forgive me if this has been asked allready; but I'm new to this site and am looking for some advive before I buy a different AR for long range (200-600 yd) shooting. I 'm going to buy a RRA Varmit with a 20 or 24 SS Match barrel. I read on this site that generally a 1:9 is good for 55-75 grains, and 1:8 is good for 77 grains and up. I do not reload and therefore buy factory Remington 55grain. Which should I buy 20, or 24; and in what twist. Do I even need to worry about it, since I am an above average shot, but not spectacular? Be kind if this is to much of a bonehead question.
Thanks
1/3/2008 4:32:54 PM EDT
[#1]
I would recommend the 24" with a 1:8.  That twist will still shoot the 55gr and if further down the road you start reloading or buy some 77gr stuff, you'll be glad you got the 1:8.  Just a note.....I wouldn't shoot less than 69gr ammo at 600.  Lighter stuff will likely get there, but it will really get beat-up in the wind.  Good luck and good shooting!
1/3/2008 4:56:03 PM EDT
[#2]
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Quoted:
I would recommend the 24" with a 1:8.  That twist will still shoot the 55gr and if further down the road you start reloading or buy some 77gr stuff, you'll be glad you got the 1:8.  Just a note.....I wouldn't shoot less than 69gr ammo at 600.  Lighter stuff will likely get there, but it will really get beat-up in the wind.  Good luck and good shooting!


+1  to this post.  Even if you get the 1/8 twist only buy 100 77gr SMK's to test. Your rifle might not shoot them as accurately as you would like.  My Bushy predator with a 20 in 1/8 HBAR Shoots 45gr up to the 77gr equally well.

Even if you got a custom barrel with a 1/7 twist you probably won't be able to go much larger than the 77gr, possibly 80gr .224 bullets -  but that's iffy with a mag fed AR platform.  There are some heavier .224 dia. bullets out there but much over 77gr SMK's and they start getting too long to chamber from your magazine without seriously compressing the load. IOW more for bolt action/bench guns.  IIRC the heaviest .224 bullets I've seen are around 90/92gr.

1/3/2008 5:07:53 PM EDT
[#3]
The 1:8 barrel would be best for the distances you mentioned. I shoot service rifle competition with the standing distances of 200 yd,setting 200 yd, rapid prone 300 yd and slow prone at 600yd. At 200 I use 69gr Blackhills and 77gr at 300 and 600. 80gr rounds are used by many who hand load at the 600yd line but this is a single load stage so the length of the loaded round is not affected by a magazine. My rifle is a Bushmaster DCM with a 1:8 barrel and is very accurate at 600yd considering the bull at 600 is 6" and the 10 ring is 12".
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