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Posted: 4/7/2010 9:52:06 AM EDT
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I know this question has been debated alot, and I was firmly in the 1X9 twist rate side for the majority of my AR's with a few 1X8 in some of the varmit rifles, however, lately I have been thinking more and more about going to the 1X7 for my new builds.
What twist rate do you prefer, and why? Thank you for your input. |
| I have two 20 inchers in 1/9, and one 20 incher in 1/12. 1/9 suits my needs perfectly fine as I have never shot anything heavier than 60 grains. For flexibility, I'd probably go with 1/7, though, as it's said to handle 55 grains just fine, while some 1/9 twist barrels are said to be picky about anything over 69 grains. |
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Going with the 18" CL 1:8 barrels w/rifle length gas system. Have one and just ordered another for shtf builds that most likely will have cans attached (if they ever get here). They will be able to shoot the widest range of bullets (that can be loaded in a mag) including the "heavy" 75-77's and the loss of fps going from the 20" to the 18" is negligible. Just what the doctor ordered...
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| I would prefer 1/8 but all are 1/7 with the exception of my new lightweight barrel, which will arrive on the big brown truck today, which is 1/9. I actually wanted this new one to be 1/9 because I have a bunch of cheap 55gr for plinking, my 1/7's don't shoot it as well, and my lightweight is for my girlfriend who won't notice much difference in accuracy nor will she shoot farther than 100yds. |
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The most common ammo shot in .223 falls in the 55-62 gr weight. This calls for a 1-9 barrel and is why so many firearm makers (outside Mil and LEO) provide those barrels as standard. The Internet commandos tell us 1-7 is the only way to go. They can think that if they want. Maybe for them it is. But...the real world numbers on ammo sales, etc. does not support that.
I have been shooting for 50 years, reloading for 41 years, and that means squat. I do own "a few" .223 firearms. They have 1-12, 1-8, and 1-9 twist rates. All shoot very well for their intended use. Each was picked for a particular purpose and its barrel is optimized for that purpose. In my reloading collections there are bullets from 40 gr up to 88 gr. Shot in the correct rifle they make small ragged holes at 100 yards. Shooting a high speed varmint load in a 1-7 rifle is NOT a good thing! Firing a 88 gr bullet in a 1-12 rifle just doesn't cut it either. If you read a bit you will find many precision shooters with heavier bullets (over 62 gr, up to around 88 gr) fine the 1-8 to be ideal. While those who work with the standard 55-62 find the 1-9 to be best. For my 40-55 gr loads its hard to beat the 1-12. When selecting a barrel one should think real world, not fantasize about shooting tracers and super heavy bullets. Perhaps that will be your load, I know some LEOs that use such heavy bullets. For THEM a 1-7 is the ticket. For the vast majority of AR shooters a 1-9 is the ticket. Its why rifles are shipped that way too. Some additional reading if you want to learn more about facts, not opinions Twists And...from folks who know a thing or two about precision shooting: .223 Technical data including twists and bullet weights |
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Quoted:
Most of what I shoot is 73-77gr, though I shoot 80s and occasionally 90s for kicks, so my rifles are 1/7 or 1/8. What kind of results do you get with 90s in a 1/8? Out of curiosity... never known anyone who's tried them. Had a wild hair about someday trying 90's loaded in a .221 case as a kind of "MARS magnum" cartridge that would be mag length in an AR. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Most of what I shoot is 73-77gr, though I shoot 80s and occasionally 90s for kicks, so my rifles are 1/7 or 1/8. What kind of results do you get with 90s in a 1/8? Out of curiosity... never known anyone who's tried them. Had a wild hair about someday trying 90's loaded in a .221 case as a kind of "MARS magnum" cartridge that would be mag length in an AR. I've never tried them in 1/8s, sorry, it did seem as if I was intimating that. I shoot them in 1/7s and they seem to stabilize out to 200. I don't think they'd be stable at 600. Haven't tried them yet, though...You mean 221 Fireball or 5.45x39? |
| 1:8 is fine for most rounds up to 80gn. However, some 1:8 barrels have problems with the longer 70gn solid copper bullets such as the Barnes TSX. My 1:8 barrels (one 18" and one 24" ) do not like that bullet. They do not tumble at 100 ys but the best I could get for accuracy was about 2.5 to 3 inch groups out of them. Others have had no problems with a 1:8 and that round. Guess it depends on your barrel. |
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