223 and the Barnes 70 gr

[nekshot]

I found a box of Barnes 223 70 gr on sale at Bass Pro and could not contain myself, I had to try one out. I don't have 223 dies yet but I do have 222mag so it will do. With varget powder pushing 2800 fps I stuck one in a fresh batch of wet phone books. At 70 yards went in a little over 8 inches, others that I tested get 9 to 10 inches. But I was impressed because the bullet opened up to its normal 4 pedals, almost a 45 cal diameter and chugged a whole 8 inches with only 70 gr of weight ripping and tearing as it went. I know these will bust big deer using normal common sense in bullet location. Now to save some money for a set of dies and we are good to go. I made walnut stock and hand grip, really looks neat but the extra weight totally changes the handling of the gun to a garand type weapon and thats too heavy for me so back to original spec handles.

[petroid]

What is your barrel twist? Do those need a 1:7 to stabilize?

[gtgeorge]

They would not stabilize in my 1:8 16" 5.56 AR....

[nekshot]

I have a 1 in 8 and they seemed to be flying true. I have a old(40 years old) box of speer 70 gr that I was shooting for fun and those groub nice and tight but about 3 inches to left and a little lower than 52 grainers.