223 questions

[SMITHTON]

A shooter has 1 in 9 twist 223 barrel. Will it stabilize 80 gr AMax. Will it stabilize the old 80 gr Noslers ( the different shape one , with the bigger base )?

[Cutanything]

Nope

[williada]

They will shoot very well with 69 grn Sierras at short range (3-6).

[KHGS]

Thats a no!! Amax bullets are best with a 7.5" twist, the other 80g bullets require an 8" twist.
Keith H.

[SMITHTON]

Ok, that should do, thank you all.

[RDavies]

He could try the Berger 75 VLDs. They work very well in my 9" 22BR. No 80gn pills worked well in this 9" barrel unless it was very hot weather.

[tom1]

Sorry to hijack this post but I have about 50 80 gn 223 Amax projectiles left. Are they still allowed to be used ?
Brad Probert

[lonerider43]

in fclass,any projectile up to 90gn is allowed

[tom1]

Sorry I should have said, are they still allowed for TR ?

[Frank Green]

If you have access to any down under.....the 70gr JLK VLD’s shoot well in a 9 twist barrel. That was my long range bullet when I shot service rifle AR15’s back in the late 80’s/early 90’s and my first service rifle was a 9 twist barrel. Back then there where no bullets heavier than a 70gr at the time. Around 1991 I think it was 75 and 80gr bullets started to be made.

I’ve got some 75gr. Hornady’s and 73gr Berger’s that I could do a twist rate calc and see if they should fly in a 9 twist. I can do that for you on Monday and post back.

[Barossa_222]

I also like JLK projectiles. That are very consistent and the 180LBT in 30cal is great. Will be sad when mine run out as there are near impossible to source now.

[Frank Green]

OK sorry it's not Monday (I kept forgetting to bring the bullets into work) but got some numbers on different bullets for twist rates....I did all the calc's at 2800fps....

Hornady 75gr BTHP #2279 = 1-8.512 twist

Berger 73gr LTB = 1-9.408 twist

JLK 70gr VLD (this is the original Jimmy Knox bullets that I have) = 1-8.736 twist

Hornady 75gr Amax bullet #22792 = 1-7.84 twist

I know the 70gr JLK bullets flew very good in my 1-9 twist out to 600 yards. Never shot them any further.
The Hornady 75gr Amax #22792 bullet is now discontinued. I never did a twist rate calc on it before. This is the first time and at 2800fps and getting a 1-7.84 twist might explain why I couldn't get them to shoot very good. My barrel was a 1-8 twist on a gas gun match AR and was 26” long and I know for a fact being I was only around 2700fps. that it most likely would've needed a 1-7.5 twist to shoot those. I've got a 1-7.5 twist barrel on a bolt gun right now (ok actually it’s the kids rifle)....think I'll have to give those a try again in his rifle.

Later, Frank

[Cliff Austen]

The 223 with a 80 grain projectile will hold its own against the 308 155's provided the wind reading right.
I have shot mine competitively at 1200 yards at Ungarie. I also took out second place in F Standard at the Sydney Queens some years ago to be beaten by one centre.
In July 2008 Bill Parker (deceased) won the Champions of Champions with his .223. Bill's score board can be seen in ATR 133 page 50. Bill was a career serviceman with 17 years as a tank captain. In asking Bill why the 223, he replied 'don't underestimate the rat's tail".
My 223 is in moth balls at the moment as I am concentrating on Ultra Long Range F Class.
Cheers Cliff