50gr Z-Max/V-Max in 30" 1-7 twist

capreppy

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 18, 2011
384
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Princeton, TX
I have a new barrel on order, but it is 14 weeks or more out. My current barrel is a factory Savage 24" 1-9 twist varmint profile. This barrel loves the 50gr Z-Max over H322 lit by a Fed 205M.

The new barrel will be a CBI 30" 1-7 twist bull profile. I will probably shoot the Hornady 80gr A-Max, but for my local range (limit of 200), the V-Max is a cheaper practice round.

I realize every barrel is different (I don't really believe that entirely, but thought I would say it), but what is the likelihood that a 1-7 twist barrel will shoot the 50gr V-Max well. My bigger concern is the much faster twist.


edit: The reason I am curious is I want to rebarrel as soon as can, but have a huge stockpile of the 50gr V-Max and a lot of H322. I want to know if I need to shoot out this stockpile before I rebarrel.
 
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You could sell me the 50gr. Z-max! Then you wouldn't have that problem! No really, If the gun shoots, shoot it. I'm in the same boat but rebarreling a gun that shoots good is pretty low on my project list. Just my .02.


(Pm me if you want to sell the bullets)
 
@ insight3b: thank you
[MENTION=41337]fiveshotdot[/MENTION]: I want the faster twist to shoot the heavies. The 223 is my trainer. I also have 12# of H322 (got 2x 8# jugs for $150 last year) and it works really well with the lightweight 223 bullets.
 
You could wait until black Friday and pick up a REM 700 in 223 for $350. Sell the barrel $100 and stock for $50. And build another gun to shoot the heavys. Then you get the best of both worlds. They come with the xmark trigger. Not the best but a good start. I have one in 223 I converted to a bdl. And one on 308 thats going to be a 260.
 
You could wait until black Friday and pick up a REM 700 in 223 for $350. Sell the barrel $100 and stock for $50. And build another gun to shoot the heavys. Then you get the best of both worlds. They come with the xmark trigger. Not the best but a good start. I have one in 223 I converted to a bdl. And one on 308 thats going to be a 260.

The barrel is already on order. This rifle is a trainer for my 260. It costs 50% what it costs to shoot the 260 and over the next 6 months will mimic the 260 build wise (XLR chassis and a Vortex 6-24 PST MIL/MIL FFP). Plus this config could be used to do F-T/R if I wanted to.
 
I just switched from 10 twist to 8 and so for mine shoot better with the fast twist.
My 8 twist shoots the 52gr cheep Speer bullet (my gopher load) into a squeak over 1/4 minute out to 200yds.
I have some Btip and 50 Amax ready for testing in the next couple of weeks...will let you know if you like.
 
I just switched from 10 twist to 8 and so for mine shoot better with the fast twist.
My 8 twist shoots the 52gr cheep Speer bullet (my gopher load) into a squeak over 1/4 minute out to 200yds.
I have some Btip and 50 Amax ready for testing in the next couple of weeks...will let you know if you like.

Appreciate that. The info is definitely leading me to believe that this new barrel will be ok with the 50gr Z-Max / V-Max.
 
At the range last weekend, a friend with a varmint-style 1:7 twist AR proved me wrong...

I had been under the impression a 1:7 wouldn't/couldn't shoot 50gr bullets well.

Misconception cleared!

His rifle was STACKING the 50gr Vmax at 100 yards. Then he proceeded to stack them with 80 amaxs.
 
At the range last weekend, a friend with a varmint-style 1:7 twist AR proved me wrong...

I had been under the impression a 1:7 wouldn't/couldn't shoot 50gr bullets well.

Misconception cleared!

His rifle was STACKING the 50gr Vmax at 100 yards. Then he proceeded to stack them with 80 amaxs.

That is excellent news. I am also planning to shoot the 80gr AMAX's out of this rifle at distance. The V-Max/V-Max are just cheaper for the short distances.

The 50gr pills have shot 1/4 to 1/2 MOA consistently out of my 1/9 so definitely want to continue to use them.