1:7 or 1:9 twist

[Hoopty]

What about the heavier bullets in 1/9?

[esaabye]

What about the heavier bullets in 1/9?

As I understand it you need the higher twist rate for the 70+ to stabilize the round. Less stable = big group. Not sure if damage can be done to the barrell but Sierra actually puts a warning on the heavys, "For use in 1/7 and 1/8 only.

[hurley842002]

What about the heavier bullets in 1/9?

You can shoot the heavier bullets in a 1/9 barrel, but rather or not a particular 1/9 barrel will stabilize them is a hit or miss. Some 1/9 barrels will stabilize heavier bullets no problem, some will not. As far as damage, you won't do any damage to the barrel by shooting the heavier bullets. I had a 1/9 Bushmaster upper that shot 75gr Hornady's no problem, but i've since gone with a 1/7 BCM for a few different reasons.

[hip55]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=12&f=6&t=102

more-

http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AR15_part1.asp

[Colorado Osprey]

Some strange answers here.
Historically, the 223 was stabilized in a 1-12 or a 1-14 .
That is the reason that the M16 was originally made that way.

Bullet stabilization per twist is a function of length and velocity; not weight of the bullet.
That is the reason that you get varying answers as to what will work and what doesn't.
This is why some guns will stabilize a 62 grain bullet with a 1-9 and some won't.
The Military tracer 62 grain rounds are long for weight and needed a faster twist to stabilize than the FMJ training rounds like the M193. That was the primary reason the military went to the 1-7.

A 1-9 will stabilize all other 62 grain bullets that are not a tracer.

Bullet manufacturer's will state specific twists required for large for caliber bullets like the 75 grain and up bullets in .224 cal. Heed their advice and you will be just fine.

If high power long range using these large for caliber bullets you will want a 1-7 to 1-8 twist. Otherwise a 1-9 will work just fine.

The downside to using a twist too fast is loss in velocity and premature barrel wear.

There have been reports of using 1-7 or 1-8 and shooting light jacketed bullets like v-max and having them explode upon exit of the barrel from over spinning.

My point is determine what you plan to use the barrel for and it will guide you to the twist you need. There is a reason why most commercial 223/5.56 barrels are 1-9 twist even though the "chart" crowd has to have a 1-7 twist.

Here is a link for determining barrel twist for different bullets: (Greenhill Formula)
http://kwk.us/twist.html

To prove this point those 77 grain Match Kings that many consider a 1-7 required shoot in a 223 will shoot just fine from a 1-9 223WSSM at a velocity 800ft/sec faster. In fact the Greenhill Formula says that it will take just a 1-13 at that velocity to get it done. The lower velocity in the 223 is a contributing factory to the faster twist needed.
The is almost the exact opposite issue they are having with the 6.8SPC. They went to a slower twist to gain a little more velocity because the 6.8SPC shoots light for caliber bullets.

[trlcavscout]

All I have been shooting is 50 gr HP walmart stuff out of the Bushy (1/9) I had, the Colt and my now BCM both 1/7, I cant tell a difference? They all shoot about the same 100yd groups, probably the best that ammo will do.

[Bad Dog]

My AR has a 20" barrel with a 1/7 twist rate, if I am understanding all of the information posted mine was designed to shoot a heavier bullet.
My question is if I shoot a lighter bullet (55 Gr.) will that lead to poor accuracy or will it have no affect at all on accuracy?

[Colorado Osprey]

My AR has a 20" barrel with a 1/7 twist rate, if I am understanding all of the information posted mine was designed to shoot a heavier bullet.
My question is if I shoot a lighter bullet (55 Gr.) will that lead to poor accuracy or will it have no affect at all on accuracy?

Generally speaking there is no such thing as over stabilization so you can shoot light bullets just fine it will not effect accuracy.

Like I stated before.. the only possible problem shooting light jacketed varmint bullets; there is a possibility with a 1-7 that you could have a bullet come apart upon exiting the barrel. There have been no definitive studies to determine if the type of barrel rifling vs twist is more of the culprit to this phenomenon in the fast twist barrels.

Shoot away... light, heavy You'll be fine
BTW a 55grain bullet is not light, it is the most common bullet size in .224
Light bullets in .224 are 36-40 grains