.223 bullet weight for a 26", 1 in 9 barrel

[Doc S]

I've picked up a few boxes of factory ammo in 55, 62, 69 and 77 grain bullets (the heavier ammo is Sierra MatchKing). What should I expect to shoot the best groups? I have no intention to reload, so I'll be sticking with factory ammo. Any thoughts will help - I'll have it on the rNge for the first time tomorrow.

[earl39]

No real way to know without shooting some groups at the distance you plan to use them at. If it is a true 9 twist it should stabilize all of the loads you listed.
If the 55's and 62's are FMJ expect them to shoot the worst.

[WV1951]

Ditto above. Never will know until you shoot. Might like 69's or it might like 50's. Probably won't like 75's. Most 1:9 won't handle them.
Cheap stuff usually gives bad results. There are a few exceptions.

[jpx2rk]

You may get consistent results with factory ammo but then again you may not. My 12FV (1/9 twist) likes the 40-50gr bullets so far, but have not tested the 69's. It did not particular care for the 62's, so. I'm just starting to do some load development now. GL

[hardnosestreetcop]

My savage model 12 with a 1-9 twist loves the 50, 52 & 55 grainers, still testing the Sierra 69's. All the information that ive obtained states that the 75 Gr bullet weight is the limit for the 1-9 twist, for the 77 grainers the 1-7 twist is better.

[rjtfroggy]

If you are reloading try the 60gr. Sierra's with close to max. load and about 2.222 COAL you may just get a surprise.

[kkeene]

For short range (200 yds), mine like the 50 gr v-max's.

[Idaho-45]

I've had good luck in a Remington 1-9 twist with 53 grain Hornady V-Max (My favorite ground squirrel load) & 69 grain Nosler Custom Comps. I'm not so sure in a 1-9 ,about much heavier(longer bullets) than the 69's. Some people have had luck with 77's. Good Luck! Idaho-45

[noname]

just my 2 cents worth here. My 9 twist will not shoot anything below 69 grains.I tried the 50-55 etc and anything past 100 yards were not worth a darn.Now the 69 sierras were minute of angle out to 300 yards..I have a new 7 twist barrel now,but haven't done much testing with that one yet..Let us know how you made out with them..

[Digduggy]

So, I took my Sav12 to Los Angeles and had to get factory ammo. All I could find was 77gr SMKs at first but had the opportunity to go to Bass Pro and found some Hornady 53gr. Went to a 430 yd range and they both grouped 1/2" or less at 100yds, then at 430 the only thing I changed was the holdover. Still grouped pretty tight!

I would have never expected that with all the talk about 1:9 twist and optimum weights. The side note is this gun is hard to do load development, it just want to shoot whatever I feed it!


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[bigedp51]

My AR15 A2 HBAR with a 1 in 9 twist and my .223 Savage/Stevens 200 with a 1 in 9 twist and a 26 inch barrel likes Sierra 69 grain bullets with Varget.
I was lucky I worked up the load for my A2 HBAR and my bolt action liked it even better.

As a side note competition shooters using the AR15 rifle use the Sierra 52 and 53 matchking bullets in their 1 in 7 and 1 in 8 twist barrels as their "short line loads" for 100 to 200 yards.

Read the link below for some very good info.


223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide
The popular .223 Rem and Ackley version for Sport, Defense, and Hunting
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/

NOTE, Sierra 77 grain on end of box states "7"-8" twist barrels only.

[mondront]

My 12FV loves 69SMK's and does almost as well with the 50zmax. I shot a few groups with 53 grain vmax that showed great promise, but since the 69's and 50's are doing so well I'm saving my 53's for the wife's rifle. It really loves 53's over LT-32. It is also 1/9 but only 22 inches.

[Rucker61]

I'm shooting a 24" 1:9 .223 with both 53 VMAX and 75 AMAX. Both group nicely, but I'm at 5000 feet.