Wanfalt1
Active Member
I could shoot the 69 grain Sierra Matchkings out of the 14 twist, at 500 feet above sea level but that was out of a 22-250 Ackley. I shot them at an any rifle any sight match at 600 in Milan Il. My score was 185 for 20 shots. Not as good as I had hoped. I was slung into a Tupperware stock. Not sure what the issue was. It was making round holes on the target though. I totally agree that length increases the need for a faster twist but so does bearing surface. A 70 grain flat base with a long bearing surface would most likely work fine. I have used several ballistic programs and none of them were ever made to fit exactly. I have spent my entire life trying to figure out what works best. Having said that I don't quote anything I haven't tried. I have a 12 and 14 twist you are welcome to try. If you have a Remington 700. I will send you the barrels and loaded 53 amax.I don't have a 14 twist or I gladly would. It's not the bullet weight, but the length that matters. Your 55gr Sierra 1365 has a length of .724" which will be marginally stable at 500'asl out of your 14 twist. You lose some BC but it should fly just fine. You probably wouldn't think of running a 64gr Berger in a 14. It has a length of .815". A 50gr Barnes varmint grenade might sound good, but it has a length of .855". There's complaints everywhere of the Barnes making shotgun patterns. The 52gr amax is a fairly long bullet for it's weight and comes in at .8" The 53gr vmax is a very long bullet for it's weight at .836". A 12 twist gets you right on the edge of marginal stability with the 53. Throw in a little elevation and it'll fly, and even accurately, but with some BC loss.