Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Henry single shot .223 bullet tumble?

Not something I’m familiar with, today a fellow on the ranch had the above rifle and some 40gr rounds. The target holes seem to show elongation horizontally to the left. Too hot of a bullet load? wrong twist for that load?
I’d appreciate any thoughts.
Edited to add the shots were at 100 yards.
Osky

Not a clue other than the bullets were shot out of a POS rifle.

Interesting now was it just straight paper or did htheybhave some kind of backing ? I know down here seem the humidity will get the paper kinda damp so when. You shoot it many times you don't get a perfect hole, looks more like a key hole , but if you look at the cardboard backer behind it it's a perfect hole. Cold possibly be your problem

I’ll check that Wolfie, generally the humidity in south central Montana is low.

Not my rifle Ingwe, just helping a rancher out.

Osky

What happens with a 50 or 55 grainer?

THIS...

check the crown

wrong twist for bullet weight used or if gun is old enough wrong caliber of bullet used, could be a .223 caliber. Some of the old hornets were made like that.

The Henrys are 1-9”. No reason those bullets should tumble or not stabilize; I’ve gotten good accuracy with other rifles with the same twist. Was the target possibly not square with the bullet path? How were the groups otherwise?

Group wise they were not bad. The other day on the range he tried out some heavier bullets, reported back that he was now very pleased and the groups were excellent. He is a very good shooter so I’ve no reason to doubt. The rifle is a really old gun and he topped it up with a like new vintage Leupold 4x. He has a place set up to carry it in his tractor.
It will serve him well.
Thanks for the ideas guys.

Osky

If it’s a “really old gun”, it ain’t a Henry. Probably an H&R. Henry’s have only been around for about 5 or 6 years.

How is there a 'wrong twist' for 40s?