Oldbloke wrote:Gwion wrote:Just had a quick look. Apparently some 90s shoot OK in some 1:7 barrels. Depends on what sort of velocities you can develop so barrel length is a factor. Apparently a 1:6.5 allows you to use a shorter barrel or not have to try to push the bullet as fast.
My barrel is 1:9 22". But I'm more thinking about whether there is a significant advantage in moving from 55gr to say 70gr to fill the gap for small pigs or goats or just stick with the 55gr. It might save carrying an additional rifle when I go away for an extended trip. I currently load 55gr and they are very popular and when I bought the 223 the reason was to get into fox whistling.
The 222 was used with success in NZ for Red deer! The heaviest projectile ADI lists for the 222 is 63gr
I would take ADI's bullet weights with a large grain of salt.
.222 is usually 14" twist so I'd be very surprised if 63gn bullets stabilise, although it's possible they might if you can push them fast enough. I generally used 40-52gn in my 788, but I vaguely recall trying some 53gn match bullets and some 55gn FMJ's many years ago.
ADI also lists the 50gn Berger in .204 Ruger with a 12" twist but I've never heard of anybody getting them to stabilise in a 12" barrel. So I wrote and asked ADI and they assured me their data is correct - I still don't believe it though. Berger lists a 10" twist as minimum for their _40gn_ bullet! They discontinued the 50gn pretty quickly but I have no idea why, and I've never found any for sale.
I've ordered some Berger 55gn .204's to do some experimenting with though. I don't expect them to work in my 12" barrel at all, but I want to shorten them in the lathe and see how short they need to be to stabilise in a 12" twist. I've also got some Hornady 45gn .204's coming to try as well. I'm actually hoping they're not too impressive as I've only ever found them once and probably won't be able to get any more.
As for carrying two rifles, that's why I develop at east two loads in every caliber, one for light work and one for closer/heavier stuff. Zero the long-range load but know your windage and elevation hold for the close range load.