Purpose: Long range/varmints
Rifle: Remington 700 ADL .223
Barrel: stock, cut to 18” and threaded. 1/12 twist.

Rifle shoots 40 grain vmax and 55 SGK extremely well. Looking for something (mostly for targets) that would be a bit better for recreational long-ish range. Let’s say 750 tops.

New barrel or rifle is not in the budget at this time.

I’d give the Berger VLD’s a try.

Shilen says for the 1:12, up to 63 gr bullets.

https://www.shilen.com/calibersAndTwists.html

Lilja pretty much agrees.

https://riflebarrels.com/calibers-and-twist-rates/

I've done well with a 1:12 and a hot loaded 69 gr Sierra Match King

750 yards is a long way out for such a bullet. I've done it, but it isn't my first choice.

If you rebarreled with a 1:8 twist, it would open up much more opportunities. And it would definitely shoot better than the Remington barrel.

I'll just most echo JG's sentiments...

I'd shoot the heaviest bullet that can be stable. So whatever said above appears right to me. However I too have a 1:8, which definitely opens a bunch of opportunities. We, my wife's 223 specifically, have loaded and shot a 70 Berger VLD and 70gr Nosler RDF bullets with great success out to 300 yards. I rarely shoot that rifle past that distance but I have before and it did well.

good luck.

I have a 1/10 twist that I shot the 69’s in pretty well but not sure they would work in 1/12.
That being said I ended up with the 60gr Sierra Tipped MK’s and they were better all around since I could push them faster and BC was close to 69MK. I have shot them a lot to 700 yds and they do fine.

The Sierra 65gr SPT shoots like a match bullet and kills game well, should be fine in your 1-12

I've got a .223AI with a 12 twist, and it favors the 60 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip. I shoot it regularly out to 500 yards but can't tell you what happens after that...

I was wondering about the 69’s but I kinda figured they’d be a bit much for the 1:12.



I may try those. I know I’m limited by twist rate, but this is mostly just for fun at this point. I’m sure I’ll get a better stock and barrel down the road but for now I’m going to play with what I’ve got.

I'm calculating the 68 and 69 grain BTHP are in the .8's for unstability in a 12" twist. Meaning, they will be fully unstable and tumbling. And even if they were somewhat stable, they would make a poor choice for a LR round at that stability factor. For the 12" twist, it's really not set up for LR shooting with your high BC bullets. I would stick to the 55 grain and call it good. It's the same problem you have with the 22-250, which runs 12" and 14" twist rates. You simply can't run the heavier, high BC bullets in it.

I’m good with that for the time being. I have a few hundred 62 grain FMJBT that I may also try.

I have a Remington 700 .223 with a 24” barrel. It shoots 55 grain and lighter bullets exceptionally well. 55 grain Sierra SPBT handloads shoot tight. I’ve worked up loads with the 65 grain sierra SPBT to try them in the 12 twist 700. Pushed as fast as I can with maximum charges of Varget or Blc2 it will shoot some barely MOA and some just over MOA groups at 100 yards. Out past 250 yards the groups opened way up. With other powders that don’t make as much velocity, the 65’s shoot 2 MOA or bigger groups in the 12 twist 700 I have. In your short barrel 12 twist I would stick to 55 grains and less. 750 is going to be stretching it with those light bullets. I use mine for predators. 400 yards is the farthest I’ve shot the 12 twist with light bullets. My son has killed a pile of does with that 700 and 55 grain Sierra SPBT and a maximum charge of H 4895. 52 grain V-Max shoot lights out in it as well, and they are explosive on coyotes. That 12 twist is at its best shooting 55 grain bullets or less, pushed fast. Perfect little varmint setup but it doesn’t get along particularly well with the 65’s. Good luck working it out Cowboy. That sounds like a fun setup.

Yep, a faster twist is needed with the 65 gr Sierra bullets. They are very accurate in my 9 twist bolt gun. The 63 gr Sierra SMP bullet, being short, might work, but you wouldn’t want it for serious long range. I wonder if the 60 gr Nosler BT would work, but I sort of doubt it. It’s longer, I think, than the 63 gr SMP.

Yep. And I get that I’m limited by twist at this point. And I’m fine with it and don’t expect it to be the best long range gun out there.

Wife and I just moved to her family’s farm and I’ve got pretty easy plans for a 1000 yard range. That’s what got me intrigued with the slower twist 223.

It is a shame you can’t shoot those 65 gr Sierras. It’s a good and very accurate bullet. Just wish I could buy more.

And as soon as I said I wish I could buy more, Midway told me they had them. I ordered more. It’s an excellent and accurate bullet. Best group I ever shot with my 223 bolt gun was that bullet and 2230 powder. It’s one I have thumb tacked to the corkboard in the workshop.