Question on twist rate

[Jim]

I just picked up a 1:12 barrel in .223 for my H&R. Reasonably (key word!), what's about the heaviest bullet/boolit I should be able to use with this twist and expect it to balance? I have a Lee Bator boolit mold and the boolits are dropping at 48 grains. If possible, I'd like to be able to shoot 55 gr. NATO FMJs also.

[oneokie]

55 grain. The M193 fmjbt bullets are marginally stable with the 12 twist. It does not take much to cause them to tumble.

[Love Life]

My Remington 700 classic has a 1:12. It has no problems with 55 gr FMJ pull downs. Now it did not do to well with the longer 55 gr hornady VMAX bullets. I know those are jacketed bullets, but I hope it helps.

Length seems to play into stability more than weight.

[koehn,jim]

I do not know if it applies but I have an older 25-06 that has a 1-12 twist rate and loves the 80 grain cast.

[canthit]

I shoot a EA brown 1:12 barrel on my Tc Encore and have used bullets from 45gr. - 69 gr. match bullets with no problems. I found 55 gr. - 62 gr. seems best but still got great groups with 69 gr. bullets @ 200 yds. I would suggest trying different bullets and seeing what works in your barrel. I have talked to different shooters and most thought 55 gr. was max. but trying different bullets I found I could go to 69 gr. and no problems

[Larry Gibson]

It was the 14" twist that gave the 55 FMJBT bullet minimal twist allowing it to tumble easily. The 12" twist fully stabilized that bullet. Also the twist needed to stabilize a bullet is based on the length of the bullet not the weight of the bullet. My 12" twist .223s (I currently have 4 of them) all stabilize the 225462s at 58 gr because they are not longer than the 55 gr FMJs. Your Bator bullets will stabilize just fine in the 12" twist (they actually do quite nicely in 14" twists). 55 gr FMJ M193 bullets will also do just fine as far as stabilization goes. Accuracy with the FMJs is a function of quality of make.......many times not too good with foreign milsurp bullets.

Larry Gibson

[Jim]

Thanks, fellas. I think I'm straight now.

[oneokie]

It was the 14" twist that gave the 55 FMJBT bullet minimal twist allowing it to tumble easily. The 12" twist fully stabilized that bullet. Also the twist needed to stabilize a bullet is based on the length of the bullet not the weight of the bullet. My 12" twist .223s (I currently have 4 of them) all stabilize the 225462s at 58 gr because they are not longer than the 55 gr FMJs. Your Bator bullets will stabilize just fine in the 12" twist (they actually do quite nicely in 14" twists). 55 gr FMJ M193 bullets will also do just fine as far as stabilization goes. Accuracy with the FMJs is a function of quality of make.......many times not too good with foreign milsurp bullets.

Larry Gibson

I learned something new here today.