fast twist .223

[triceratops3]

I'm in the process of building a new bolt action .223 for long range.

Well im just upgrading my current savage .223 and all I need is a barrel for now.

I would like to just get a criterion barrel since they're relatively cheap and I'm very satisfied with my current one in 6.5 creedmoor and had a few questions.

I was looking at either a 7 twist or 8 twist. I have tons of 77 and 80 gr noslers and would maybe want to try 90's? I think the 8 would be enough for the 77s and 80s but not the 90s. so Im thinking i should go with a 7? what do you guys think?

Also, I wanted to know about the wydle chamber? I saw one thread about .223 wydle. What do you guys think about the wydle chamber? or should I just get the standard chamber?

and finally I was wondering what the heaviest .223 bullets you guys can seat to mag length in an AICS mag?

this rifle will mostly be used to 600 yards but I want to try and stretch it out to 1000 just for the fun of it.

thanks.

 

[ACC]

Re: fast twist .223

I would stick to the regular chamber in a bolt gun and go with a 1 in 7 twist for 90's. Also discuss with manufacturer how much leade they recommend for 90's.

 

[MitchK]

Re: fast twist .223

You don't need the Wylde chamber unless you're shooting a gas gun

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: fast twist .223

I went with a 7.7 twist Wylde and absolutely love it! If you want to shoot 77+ grain bullets then Id go with a 7 twist. The aics mags will let you load them pretty long, but I dont have a number for you right now.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: fast twist .223

My recommendation, 8-twist. Personally, I consider these to be 'The Cadillacs' of Savage replacement barrels. I bought a pair of the .260 28" in 2003 and they are still going strong.

Unless you are planning to shoot mostly NATO-Spec 5.56 surplus ammo, the SAAMI .223 chamber should be all you need.

Greg

 

[groundhogbuster]

Re: fast twist .223

I run the Wylde 8 twist, Krieger 7.7 twist, 7 twist, and my 8 twist shoots 80's great. (Yes it's a gas gun) but my 8 twist not only shoots the 80's best, but my pet loads are 50gr vmax, and 60 gr vmax, for 300 or less, and at 100yds it consistently shoots in the .3's&.4's

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: fast twist .223

Jim @ NSS has Criterion 26" varmint contour 1:8 223 Wylde prefits in stock; I've got a 22" light varmint contour 1:7 223AI on order with him that hopefully I'll see next month. It will be on a Savage 110 long action using AICS 10rd mags in CDI DBM that will be shot up to the max distance I can shoot on family land - 650yds.

I plan to run the 80gr A-Max in my barrel and went with 1:7 for two reasons: more stabilization factor in cold temperatures with the A-Max and ability to run 90gr Bergers should I want to.

Jim told me when I ordered my tube that Criterion's 223 barrels have 0.025" freebore, the 223AI 0.061", and the Wylde 0.078".

The AI's 0.061" freebore should have a 75gr A-Max touching the lands at 2.504" OAL and the Wylde chamber 2.521"; AICS 223 magazines allow 2.55" OALs.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Re: fast twist .223

Go 223AI and don't look back.

 

[triceratops3]

Re: fast twist .223

i thought about the AI but don't know if I want to deal with it. But I can shoot regular .223 loads in it then have the AI brass? Correct?

And it also seems as though I'd pretty much beable to load anything to the lands in the AICS mags as long as the throat isn't super long?

 

[Ed Baker]

Re: fast twist .223

I shoot a 7.7 Krieger that is 26 inches long in the Medium Palma Profile. 80 grain pointed Berger VLD's that measure 2.5 OAL and they fit easily into the AI 223 magazines. Varget powder and my elevation to 1000 yards is 28.5 MOA. Hope this helps.

Ed

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Re: fast twist .223

What do you mean by dealing with the 223AI? it's not any different than loading for any other round. You fireform with 223 ammo to get your brass and then you load with 223AI dies. When you take it out to long range you will be happy you have the extra ass the AI provides. Best part is you still have great barrel life.

 

[triceratops3]

Re: fast twist .223

Yeah, I guess all I would need to do is buy dies. Would I need just a sizer or a seater too?

28.5 MOA to 1k is pretty good. almost like my 6.5

 

[triceratops3]

Re: fast twist .223

oh, do AI's have trouble feeding? I think i've seen people say that a few times around here.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Re: fast twist .223

I never had trouble feeding mine and I haven't heard of any key else having feeding issues.

 

[triceratops3]

Re: fast twist .223

What do you guys think about which bullet to shoot? I would want to shoot between the 75's and 80's for the most part. Looking at the amax's and nosler's because of the price tag on them.

kinda leaning towards the 80gr nosler's. So I think I should probably get the 7twist just to be safe. and I could try some 90's if i ever get around to it..

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Re: fast twist .223

I'm a big fan of the Amax's. I've never had any issue getting them to shoot phenomenal and they have good BC's.

Unless you are shooting 90's there's no need for a 1:7. 1:9 will stabilize 75's and 1:8 will stabilize 80's and is ideal for 75-80gr. If you're planning on shooting 80's I hope you are going with the 223AI, that's a lot of weight for the 223. The added velocity of the AI helps a lot with 80's.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: fast twist .223

I too shoot 75 amaxs exclusively, excellent performance at a great price.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: fast twist .223

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: triceratops3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What do you guys think about which bullet to shoot?</div></div>

1. Price
2. Wind drift

'Shooter' app with Litz G7s sez the 80gr A-Max can run 200fps slower than the 75gr A-Max and still match it in drift; anything faster than that and it drifts less. Of course the 75gr is flatter, but I don't mind dialing an extra 0.2mil of elevation if it buys me even 0.1mil in the wind.

I also chose a 1:7 for my barrel because I wanted the ability to shoot 90gr Bergers (not that I'll ever spring for them) and for the extra stability factor near sea level when its cold.

 

[T2CH]

Re: fast twist .223

I'm looking into .223 my self. I've talked to several builders and most thought the WYLDE chamber was a good idea. specially since my 10 year old son loves to shoot with me.
I want the WYLDE because he can shoot 5.56 on the cheap. I did not have any smith say I would sacrifice accuracy.

 

[triceratops3]

Re: fast twist .223

I just did some comparisions on JBM and it looks like the Amaxs destroy everything else.

75's @ 3000fps
80's @ 2900fps

would these be pretty easy to obtain with the .223 ai?

 

[ggmanning]

Re: fast twist .223

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: triceratops3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just did some comparisions on JBM and it looks like the Amaxs destroy everything else.

75's @ 3000fps
80's @ 2900fps

would these be pretty easy to obtain with the .223 ai? </div></div>

I'm getting 2800+ from the 75's in my .223 with a 20" pipe so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[darrenk75b]

Re: fast twist .223

I've gotten 3050 from a couple 223ais with 75 AMAXs and 21" barrels

 

[RTH1800]

Re: fast twist .223

I use 8 twist in Les Baer rifles with 77SMK to 700 with great results in even the very cold sub zero weather.
RTH

 

[223ai]

Re: fast twist .223

look at berger 80.5 full bore or 82gr bthp. Great bullets. I point the 82gr BTHP with the Whidden system, and am sending them from a straight .223 (6.5 twist) at 2905. It hammers.

 

[eldiablo]

Re: fast twist .223

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JPipes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">look at berger 80.5 full bore or 82gr bthp. Great bullets. I point the 82gr BTHP with the Whidden system, and am sending them from a straight .223 (6.5 twist) at 2905. It hammers. </div></div>

What load are you using? I've got a 6.5 twist 223 that I am about to start load development on.

 

[223ai]

Re: fast twist .223

24.4 grains of 8208 xbr in a LC 09 case, lit by wolf SRM primers. AICS Mag fed into 26 or 27" Brux barrel on a TAC 30 action. 2.490" OAL, if I recall correctly.

I only went with 82gr over 80.5 because I caught a screaming deal on them from a friend, and bought approximately 1200 of them. They shoot so well, I see no reason to switch to the 80.5 fullbore.

I built the gun as a trainer of sorts, with the same barrel length and contour/trigger/stock/scope as my competition .260. Come to find out that I shoot the 223 just as well, if not better than my 260, and the drop/drift are similar to my 260....I'm going to run the 223 for the rest of the year as an experiment.