Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints 1 in 12 twist 223 vs a 1 in 8 twist?

I have a Rem 700 LVSF with the factory barrel and they come in a 1 in 12 twist...have really been wondering if its worth the $$$ (and its alot up here to do a barrel swap, $650 for the barrel with install and then another $250 to true the action which I may as well do since its apart) to change it for a 1 in 8 twist for heavier bullets. Its just a coyote gun for me.

Any input, and I am hoping its that I should just shoot it and be happy...

Owning both, I'd stay with what you have....

there are several 60 grain bullets that will shoot well in a one in 12 twist and are pretty flat shooting to way out there...

for the money you speak of.... I'd spend it on a Savage, they have a one in 9 and that twist will shoot bullets up to 80 grain match just fine.. at least mine do..

Stay with what ya got. If it ain't broke, don't 'fix' it. When I ordered my custom bbl for my heavy bench only 223 - a Lilja 3 groove - I specified a 1 in 14 twist as all I wanted it to do was shoot 36gr Varmint Grenades or 40gr V-max's well. This, it does with aplomb. For shots out past 300 yards where a slightly heavier bullet might prove useful I have a 22-250AI and then my 257WBY. Let the 223 be what it is, it is a wonderful round for 95% of all varmint shooting without saddling it with heavy bullets.

A 223AI throwing 75's out to 1K is mighty impressive. But if you don't know you don't know.


On the subject, just burn up the tube and when it's time for a new one screw a 1-8" on it.

Spot on. I am presently working on burning up a LVSF Barrel myself...


Don't know what the next one will be....


Ingwe

Perfect, thanks guys. That's just what I will do then.

I'd keep the 1-12 twist rate till it dies. I have a Savage with 1-9 and I don't care for it. Mine will shoot a 69 gr bullet with uncanny accuracy. But I bought the gun to shoot 55 gr bullets at varmints. It doesn't shoot the 55 gr bullets all that well. I keep it only because it is so accurate but worthless for varmint hunting.

It is a Savage. My 1-8" shoots 50 and 55's just fine.

Can't figure how it's worthless, lots of other bullets out there, but carry on.

I would stay with what you have, especially if you shoot lighter bullets.

I am not sure what to use in for coyotes...I can have some long shots given i am hunting the open country in southern Alberta with it. If you all figure the 50gr will work, I will give it a try! The rifle shots really good with the factory barrel as it sits.

50 or 55 Grain V-max or NBT.....


Ingwe

N-133 with Lapua or IMI cases will push the 50's at 3550 fps+ with a thick cup primer such as the 7 1/2, CCI450, or CCIBR-4.

N135 with the 55's will push the 3450+ with the same components.

I am speaking of 22" barrels, and accuracy is all bullets touching at 100 yards. I get another 100 fps out of longer barrels and tighter chamber.

Accuracy with the 50's is 1 1/2" at 400 yards, it is boring to shoot 2 3/4" MINI clay pigeons without missing with a 12-32 Scope.

If you don't save hides, the 55g Sierra Blitz(lead tip) will knock a softball size hole out of a large yote at 3450. The 50g Sierra Blitz(lead tip) really does some damage also.

If you want a little bit more penetration, the 50g Sierra Spt, 55g Sierra Spt (or HP) give great penetration. The 55g Hornady Sp(bulk Bullet) is EXTREMELY accurate and perhaps the toughest of all the ligter 55g Bullets and have worked great on culling does...certainly will give better penetration than the 60g V Max.

I had great luck with the 55g NOsler Ballistic tips on yotes shot out of a 22/250AI at 3850 out of one gun and 4050 out of another gun...they certainly would work well out of a 223.

I like a little tougher bullet for those quartering shots where the son of a gun is trying to run off. A quartering shot may have to penetrate 12"-14" to get to vitals. In this situation, the 55g Sierra Sp & BTHP along with the 55g Hornady are spectacular.

The Hot load with N-135 and the 55's is no slouch load in the field. In some 223's, I have seen the accuracy node at 3550...and that is out of a 223.

Good luck

I would opt for a 1/7 if it was up to me. And shoot the 80 Amax with copious amounts of vv-540 or the sierra 65 GameKings and even more 540. AI would be more of a good thing. One shot cow elk kill with the 65 GK this year

When I do eventually replace the barrel it will be an AI, that's not a question in my mind.

I ordered a Sako 85 Varmint Stainless Laminate with a 1 in 12" barrel,but I received a 1 in 8" twist barrel by mistake.The only bullet that shoots accurately,and still fits the magazine is the 50gr v-max.If I want to use heavier bullets,I need to seat them long,and use the gun as a single shot to obtain decent accuracy.I am using Lapua cases with N-133,and the accuracy is great at 3350fps,but if I increase the powder charge,I only get a few loadings until the primer pockets expand too much to hold a primer properly.The 1 in 8" twist does shoot the lighter bullets accurately,but it does so at the expense of velocity.When the 1 in 8" barrel is used up,I will be installing a 1 in 12" barrel.

Try some Benchmark powder behind a Nosler 50.0gr. bts. seated touching the lands. Had good luck with it on my Remington 700 SPS Varmint 26" with a 1 and 12" twist.

Yep..... especially the 55 if they will shoot well, but I have killed em out there pretty good with the 50's. Were I to build a long range coyote gun it would not be a 223 of any kind. Ooops, I DID.... It is a 22-250AI.

O.K. I'll say it, Just go shoot and be happy man and think about all those extra bucks in your pocket!!...........Hillbilly.