You’re surprised that everything Ruger does is LCD? They are pretty much the food stamp program of the gun world.Stability calculators show that 1:9 will work just fine with 75/77gr HPBT bullets, regardless of what the interwebs tells you. Of course, stability does not necessarily reflect accuracy and vice versa...but bullets shouldn't keyhole assuming a factory button or CHF barrel is actually twisted to its spec.
I've personally had very good luck with the Hornady 75gr HPBT over Varget out of Savage 1:9 barrels, in fact one barrel was fairly consistent giving 5 shot, sub-half MOA groups at 200 yards.
I *really* wish Ruger made their new American Rifle Ranch 223 (twisted 1:8) using their AICS-pattern RPR 223 magazines, instead of AR-pattern magazines...with an AICS pattern mag one could run the 80gr SMK or 75gr ELD-M and actually take advantage of the twist rate. Instead, they went lowest common denominator and probably made more potential buyers happy...
You’re surprised that everything Ruger does is LCD? They are pretty much the food stamp program of the gun world.