223 max twist?

[Mtnwalker]

Is a 1:8 twist too fast for the 35-45 gr lead free or HP stuff out of a short barreled bolt gun? I'm wanting to pick up a compact backpack type gun in the 16-20" range and plan on trying the light stuff in an attempt to save pelts out to around 200 yds, however most of the short barrel guns i'm finding are a faster twist

[Karl Blanchard]

Built similar gun last year and went with a 9 twist and am very happy with how it shoots

[Yondering]

Is a 1:8 twist too fast for the 35-45 gr lead free or HP stuff out of a short barreled bolt gun? I'm wanting to pick up a compact backpack type gun in the 16-20" range and plan on trying the light stuff in an attempt to save pelts out to around 200 yds, however most of the short barrel guns i'm finding are a faster twist

I haven't used the 35 & 40 gr varmint bullets in mine very much, but regularly use 50gr soft point or tipped varmint bullets in my 1:8 16" 223. The 50gr load I prefer is one of the most accurate loads in that rifle, despite the twist being faster than that bullet needs. The Winchester white box 45gr HP load (the one with the funny crimped HP nose) shoots well in that rifle too, although I haven't used very many since I load my own.

In my experience, modern good quality bullets tolerate excess twist a lot better than what we used to have available "back in the day".

[b23]

223's, especially in a short barrel setup, don't launch bullets, even the light weight ones, at screaming fast speeds so even with a 8tw the launch rpm's will be plenty safe with regard to the bullets going puff before they make it to the target.  One of my AR's has a 7tw barrel and I've shot 40gr Nosler Ballistic Tips from it with no problems.

[huntnphool]

 Mine shoots the 40gr. Nosler Ballistic tips very well with a 1:9

[jasnt]

I’m running 1:7 and it hates light bullets

[Mtnwalker]

Built similar gun last year and went with a 9 twist and am very happy with how it shoots

Mine shoots the 40gr. Nosler Ballistic tips very well with a 1:9

I’m running 1:7 and it hates light bullets

So basically what i'm gathering is 1:8 could work could suck 

[Hilltop123]

Built similar gun last year and went with a 9 twist and am very happy with how it shoots

Mine shoots the 40gr. Nosler Ballistic tips very well with a 1:9

I’m running 1:7 and it hates light bullets

So basically what i'm gathering is 1:8 could work could suck 

Isn't this the case with most handloads. Rifle A, likes it. Rifle B, hates it. I'm aware bullet weight and rifling, play a big role, but one will never know the results, until you put lead to paper.  JMTCW

[thinkingman]

I shot 52gr hp really tight out of my 1/8 Wilde Rock River

[huntnphool]

Built similar gun last year and went with a 9 twist and am very happy with how it shoots

Mine shoots the 40gr. Nosler Ballistic tips very well with a 1:9

I’m running 1:7 and it hates light bullets

So basically what i'm gathering is 1:8 could work could suck 

 I have a 1:8 too, it does not shoot the lighter bullets well.

[AWS]

The fact that you a shooting very short bullets in a chamber that was designed to shoot a much longer bullet might be more of a problem that the twist.  I have a couple of 9 twist that just dote on 40's even pushed to 4000 fps.  If I slow them down even 33gr HP's  shoot well.  I do seat the bullets so there is very little being held in the case mouth, mine are bolt action that I use for pelt hunting.

A good choice is to decide what you want to shoot most.  If you are planning to do a lot of long range shooting with heavies get the 7/8 twist.  If you plan to hunt coyotes a 9-12/14 twist works very well.

[Yondering]

A good choice is to decide what you want to shoot most.  If you are planning to do a lot of long range shooting with heavies get the 7/8 twist.  If you plan to hunt coyotes a 9-12/14 twist works very well.

I'd change that statement a little, personally - if you want to do any long range shooting at all (doesn't matter if it's a lot or a little), you'll need a fast twist.

Personally I see very little reason to choose a slow twist 223 these days.

[Mtnwalker]

A good choice is to decide what you want to shoot most.  If you are planning to do a lot of long range shooting with heavies get the 7/8 twist.  If you plan to hunt coyotes a 9-12/14 twist works very well.

I'd change that statement a little, personally - if you want to do any long range shooting at all (doesn't matter if it's a lot or a little), you'll need a fast twist.

Personally I see very little reason to choose a slow twist 223 these days.

I want to shoot very light bullets at a max range of 200-300 yds.

[AWS]

A standard 1-12 or 1-14 will do just fine my favorite bullet in my 222 Rem, 5.6x50R Magnum and 22-250 is the 52gr Speer flat base hollow point, it works well in my 1-9 thru 1-14 barrels.

[NWShooter]

If we stick to the OP. The answer is no. A 1-8 twist will be fine for 35-45gr bullets and you will have the option of stabilizing heavier bullets if you so choose.

Key words being "Lead free" . Which are long for weight and usually stabilize better in a faster twist.