50/55 Gr Projectiles in a 1/7 Twist

[Semper Paratus]

Well guys I have a few K of 50 and 55 gr varmint bullets that I originally purchased for use in my .223 Win 70 Lightweight (12" twist). My groundhogging opportunities are greatly reduced, (fields have been left to grow up)and I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time trying to make them work in my 5.56 1/7 chrome lined 16" barrel. Bullets are as follows:
Nosler 50 gr Ballistic Tip
Speer 50 Grain TNT
Midway 50 Gr Dogtown Bullets
Midway 55 Grain Dogtown Bullets.

All shot well out of the Winnie with 250 yard shots causing devastating wound channels. Pushed as hard as I dared (Max Manual loads of 2230 after work up) they were flat enough to make solid hits to 300, on ground hogs without holding off the critter as long as they were erect using a 2.5" high @100 yard zero.

If it is worth working on I will expend primers and powder to try to utilize my lagniappe for knocking around ammo for use on targets of opportunity such as yotes, groundhogs, fox etc.

Thanks for your input.

[TRIDENT82]

Most certainly not....some of the most accurate shooting .223/5.56 bullets are in the 50-60gr. range.

Just to name a couple, the 55gr. Vmax, Hornady 52gr. BTHP, 53gr. Vmax in new Superformance load. Remington Accu tip 55gr., sierra 55 gr. BTHP.....I shoot all those with 1/7ths with excellent results.

[markm]

I agree. I think when you get into the 45 grain range, you might be pushing it.

I used to think the over spun bullet was internut horse shit, but I've read credible accounts of 45 grain and below bullets sucking in 1/7.

[TRIDENT82]

I honestly never would have put anything below 50gr. down any of my AR's Ive owned..all being 1/7ths...however the freaking 40gr. and 55gr. Hornady Vmax boxes look identical and when picking up a half case I somehow managed to grab 2 boxes of the 40 gr.

Long story short, I feed it to my Rock 16" 5R SS 1/7th and it charted this...believe it or not. Check out the funky cold bore shot and all on it. I still cannot believe it, and almost want to buy another box to see about replicating that.



That is one helluva small sample size...so the silly internet could still be right about overspun bullets

[chadbag]

I think it is more bullet construction more than weight. It just so happens that a lot of the lightweight bullets are farming bullets and have really thin jackets.

[5pins]

I have shot the Nosler 50gr BT in 1/7barrels with very good results. I have also shot bullets down to 45gr’s with no problems. The only issue I have had was with some Remington 50gr HP’s that would keyhole.

[Nightvisionary]

I have had very good results with a variety of 55 grain FMJ and 52 grain TNT through my 1/7 barrel. Hornady 55 grain FMJ handloads are actually some of the most accurate through my rifle.

[shootist~]

Originally Posted by chadbag

I think it is more bullet construction more than weight.....

I agree. My older Colt and even some BM CL barrels in 1x9 twist did better with less than premium 55s, (IMI M193), than my current 1x7 CL barrels. You really won't know until you give them a try in your barrel.

[Semper Paratus]

Thanks. I was concerned, having read too much internet hookum, that I would be shedding jackets etc in a 1/7 pushed moderately. I have a sat .223 load using AA2230 of 55 FMJBT I'll use that as a starting point for the 50s.

[GunnutAF]

I agree it's not a waste to shoot them out of that 1:7" twist- since your a reloader! I shoot 50 gr out of my 20" HBAR Colt and I found after tweeking the loads the light bullet actually shoot very well out of it! I'm currently use 50gr SEI's and easily get 1" groups at 100 yards when I do my part!