Yes wrote:G'day all,
Wanted to get opinions...
I'm in the market for a 223 that will be used 60% for hunting purposes (Roos) and 40% for target shooting.
I'm also planning on reloading my own ammunition and want to keep it simple - meaning the fewer the well worked up loads the better!
Given 55g projectiles are good (the best?) for Roos, and the 1:12 twist with throw the 55g the most reliably, I was leaning toward the 1:12 twist.
Catch is, I have property big enough to accommodate much longer-range shooting and I feel like I'm missing out if I limit myself to the 1:12 and lighter projectile.
So... In my shoes... What would you choose and why?
snag wrote:I specifically bought a 1:9 twist for my current .223 with a view to using 62gr + projectiles for longer ranges. Turns out that up to 200m it performs best with 55 grainers. I think that 55's are pretty much on the sweet spot for.223 regardless of twist.
PaddyT wrote:ive got a Tikka in 1 in 8 . Heaviest pill ive shot is the 64 grain Federal . These shoot really well as does Hornady TAP 60g and OSA 55 G-so i guess my experience matches Bladeracers.
in2anity wrote:snag wrote:I specifically bought a 1:9 twist for my current .223 with a view to using 62gr + projectiles for longer ranges. Turns out that up to 200m it performs best with 55 grainers. I think that 55's are pretty much on the sweet spot for.223 regardless of twist.
Nah not true. Technically the 1:9" is best with 65-75gr projectiles. Perfect for the 69smk; that's what I shoot through my 1:9". Snag I don't doubt your findings, but it's anecdotal. I reckon you just happened on a node with your barrel and the 55gr, which is good luck.
OP the cool kids don't like 1:12s, so there's bargains to be had out there. Just get it rebarreled down the track if you are having troubles with the 55grs. Painless job. Go for it, I say.
straightshooter wrote:I think someone may have been playing with their node a bit too often.
With a 9" twist and a MV of around 3000 fps a 62 grain SS109 projectile has a close to ideal gyroscopic stability factor of 1.55 which makes it an ideal general purpose twist for that projectile weight and shape. It will however become unstable when it enters into the transsonic velocity zone. That happens at somewhat beyond 600 meters. This also may be one of the reasons some militaries prefer a 7" twist for their 223 caliber.
I haven't done calculations for a 69 gn SMK but have for a Hornady 68 gn which has a GS of 1.35 and the SMK might be slightly lower but should still be adequately stable for shorter ranges. The Hornady 75 gn (the one with red plastic tip) is unstable in a 9" twist having a gyroscopic stability factor less than 1.
Bello wrote:Hi Yes
The Tikka is a nice rifle.
What brand scope are you thinking. Get the best you can afford, you will thank your self later for getting a decent scope.
You don't want a cheap scope that want hold zero after bouncing around on the bike.
For hunting the 3-9 x 40 will do fine.
I like a little more power so mine has a scope with a little more magnification. (Has nothing to do with the fact that I am half blind)
I like my lighter 223 rifle for walking around. The Tikka hunter should serve you well.
The 1/8 twist will allow you to use heavier pills if you want.
In my experiences, the 55gr V-max and 55gr blitz king do all I ask of them.
Am88 wrote:You said you wanted to keep it simple, buy a box of Sierra Super Roo's, load them and shoot them. When you see 200m in real life looking through a scope at a roo's head which is where you should be shooting them to keep with whatever regulations your referring to. you will probably try to get closer. 200m does not look far at a range when your looking at an A3 target.
I find when I spotlight them majority of my shots are between 50 and 120ish paces. 120 of my paces is 101 meters. That's flat open country.
PaddyT wrote:Original idea was to possibly shoot heavier pills-or at least have a couple in the pocket when im out on an armed bushwalk if i ran into a fallow or a pig, but the 64 grainers are cheap, shoot well and kill effectively inside my shot range-which in most places i take the 223 is inside 150 yards. if im hunting bigger stuff i take a bigger rifle
animalpest wrote:My roo rifle in .223 is Tikka. I shoot plain old Sierra 55 gr Roo Load which are cheap and plenty accurate enough for roos heads out to 200m which is the maximum distance allowed under the National Code.
A 3x-12x would be my choice of scope.
Yes wrote:PaddyT wrote:Original idea was to possibly shoot heavier pills-or at least have a couple in the pocket when im out on an armed bushwalk if i ran into a fallow or a pig, but the 64 grainers are cheap, shoot well and kill effectively inside my shot range-which in most places i take the 223 is inside 150 yards. if im hunting bigger stuff i take a bigger rifle
Yeah, I am thinking along the same lines, bigger projectile, take a different gun.
Maybe I muddied the waters with my desire to have a gun that is great for hunting and just about equally good for targeting. Like anything, one side of the equation will suffer. I think I should go with the best for the hunting side, as there are no consequences of missing my target paper by a couple of inches... same can't be said for shooting an animal.
Larry wrote:In reality you will never get a gun that is a master at both disciplines. of course a custom built target rifle could be used for hunting but it will not be a nice well suited rifle for the purpose of hunting. The scope needs to be much higher magnification. The rifle will much too heavy to be a carry around and the stock not the right shape for off hand shooting. It a topic that comes up over and over again there are rifles that will do both jobs like the Lithgows but they are not really a master of either. It tough but choosing the right tool for the job will give you much more satisfaction in the long run, Of course it will cost more buying two rifles but it in the long run it will be cheaper than having to go through a long process that will end up with the same outcome of two rifles. Work out what you want to do and set your priorities and work towards them doing the research and getting hands of experience before making a commitment. There will be plenty of people willing to show you the pros and cons along the way.
Yes wrote:Thanks for all the replies.
I think the 1:12 is likely the way to go... pair it up with a quality 3x9-40 scope and work up some reliable 55g loads and go shoot.
SCJ429 wrote:I have a 223 in a Tikka Varmint, with a 1:8 twist. It shoots 0.2 inch groups at 100 and under one inch at 300 using 50 grain Vmax. I have used it to bag a 80 kilo goat at 200 metres and foxes at 400 metres. When I rebarrel it I will opt for a 1:14 twist which will spin 50 and 55 grain pills hard enough for me.
in2anity wrote:Why rebarrel it different then?SCJ429 wrote:I have a 223 in a Tikka Varmint, with a 1:8 twist. It shoots 0.2 inch groups at 100 and under one inch at 300 using 50 grain Vmax. I have used it to bag a 80 kilo goat at 200 metres and foxes at 400 metres. When I rebarrel it I will opt for a 1:14 twist which will spin 50 and 55 grain pills hard enough for me.