223 bolt action- should i get a 1:7 or 1:9 ?

[kevin]

ok, i found a good deal on a slightly used 223 remington rifle, i can get either a 1:7 (new gun) or 1:9 twist barrel (used)

which would you suggest? i am wanting to shoot prairie dogs with it out as far as i can (300-400 yards possible?)

i plan to get a super sniper 16x scope for it and i currently have 55 62 and 75 gr ammo for it.

what would be the advantages of one over the other? it is my understanding the 1:7 would be better for longer range

[Otis61]

The 1:7 would be better for heavier bullets. The 1:9 is a good happy medium for for the .223. 62gr is about the heaviest for the 1:9. Every rifle is a little different. These statement are meant in general. You might find that one particular 1:9 would shoot all the weights you mentioned just fine. For prairie dogs I would get the 1:9. For deer I would get the 1:7 for heavier bullets.

[drine]

I agree with OTIS. I'm actually toying with the idea of the bull barrel in 6.8. We don't have varmits around here that a .22 won't dispatch and no long ranges to speak of. The 6.8 would be for deer at longer ranges such as power lines, etc.

[okie shooter]

For velocity, and varmits, I would look at the slower 1-9, Just IMHO. If you are gonna shoot heaver, I would look for different caliber myself.

[kevin]

why would you recommend the 1:9 ?

how far do you realisticly see shooting with a 1:9 with normal factory ammo?

i would only be using this for turkeys in the fall (legal in Oklahoma) and for small things like prairie dogs, bobcats, maybe a coyote at 200yds or less but i would like to take out prairie dogs at whatever max range i can with a 223 caliber

[Otis61]

With a good high quality barrel you could probably get out to 400-500yrds with some success. But don't think that your gonna do that with a factory stck rifle. At those ranges wind is gonna be your biggest problem. At those ranges with the small bullet it doesn't take much to through it off.

[Anthropy]

I believe that you want 1:7 for heavier bullets as previously stated. If you head over to ar15.com, I am sure you will find a bunch of info on it.

[97th Signalman]

The 1:9 is OK for 55 & 62 grain bullets. Over that, the 1:7 is recommended. There is no universal twist for all .223 bullets. If you were to try lightly constructed 40 or 45 gr varmint bullets in the 1:7 they would disintgrate from the violent spin imparted by such a fast twist. The 75 gr bullets probably won't be stabalized by the 1:9 twist.

[kevin]

maybe i need to consider a different caliber? i am wanting something low recoil and good out to a maximum of 600 yards and realisticly 3-400 max, ive got enough 308 306 and the like calibers

[RogueHK]

Do you have a Savage rifle yet? I know you don't want a 308 but a Savage 308 can do dogs out to 1000 if you know what your doing

[97th Signalman]

7mm-08, .243, .270, .25-06, 6.5x55. These are some alternate calibers that come to mind for long range if you don't want another .308 .

[kevin]

i mostly want the lower recoil because on my 308 and '06 i come way off the target because of the recoil after the shot, and it takes me a while to get back on target- this is partly due to the standard contour (light weight)barrel

if i have a heavy long barrel i dont have this problem as much, i was wondering about the 243 but remembering the 270 has about the same recoil as a 308?

[Otis61]

The .243 does have quite a bit less recoil than the .308. But I still come off target with recoil.

If your only going to 300-400yrds then I think you should stay with the .223. If you want to go 600yrds then your better off getting something else. I.ve got two target/varmint/sniper rifles. .308, and a .243. The .243 will shoot circles around my .308. But although I haven't shot them past 500yrds, I don't think I would try to shoot my .243 farther than 600-700yrds. Even at 500 just a little wind will through it off. Where as that same wind would not affect the .308 the same.

[okie shooter]

My thought with the heavier bullets would be to step up to a .243 or the like, plenty of powder room in the case, but still only a 6mm projectile. Plenty of variety of loadings with bullets in lots of weights, just starting above the .223.

I think if you want lighter the slower twists in 223 ar going to be needed other wise accuracy from the faster twists are gonna wreck havoc when going from 70 gr to 40 gr and such.

I personally like the .243 for going after deer sized game, never missed a deer with the rifle I have, and it seems to stay on target, but with a bolt I am not looking for quick second shots.

Thats why I thought about the 1-9 twist for being able to push the lighter bullets out at higher speeds, if you get much heaver, the speed wont be there in that caliber, thus the need to move up to 6mm. This is all IMHO.

[kevin]

ok, i see where you are coming from now, the only thing with the 1:9 is that i was worried about wind blowing the bullets all over the place shooting lighter bullets

ill have to think about this for a while before i decide on the caliber

[Otis61]

Just shoot early in the morning. You'll be fine.:thumbup:

[kevin]

i cant make up my mind!!!!

the 1:9 will probably shoot flatter too with the lighter bullets meaning i might shoot more accurately with it anyways

but the 1:7 will buck the wind a little better and shoot better at longer range

ammo for the 223 is also cheaper and more common than the 243

[Otis61]

In the end there is no all-around cartrige. Or bullet. Different calibers, different rifles for different things, and situations. If it were me I'd get the 1:9 .223 for now. Then later get something else in .243, or another caliber.

[okie shooter]

Ironically Oklahoma allows anything .223 and above for deer. Kansas said .224 and above centerfire in rifles for deer when I was deer hunting(I believe Texas allows any center fire rifle or pistol, no min). For economy and varments I would look at a 17 cal of some sort maybe to get range, or the 22-250's or such. The one thing about pushing out high velocity is the fact that you have barrel erosion from what I have read as you are useally pushing far more powder, hotter for sure.

I think what Otis61 says above, there is no all around caliber, they all have strengths and weaknesses in their range of loading selections. I have never seemed to back down from buying additional calibers, if I had I wouldnt have the number of firearms I do, but not being a tin hat member single caliber interchangeablity aint my thing.

Heck for dogs, I have even thought that a 22mag or 17 might be good out a ways, then step up to .223 or 22-250.