11" twist and the 308 Win

[cowboybart]

How heavy of a bullet will stabilize in an 11" twist 308 Win??

I'd like info on both hunting and target bullets

 

[Papa Charlie]

Here is the Berger Twist Rate Calculator. You can enter your twist rate in and try different bullets using the Berger or other make specs.

http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

 

[jr600yd]

I've got a Kreiger 1/12 on my FTR gun. Hammers with 190SMK's

 

[Dgd6mm]

I'm running a 1-11 .308 with 185 Berger Juggernaut for 1000 yard f class. It shoots very well, I'm what's holding it back....but I'm getting better.

 

[long40shot]

+1 for the 185 Berger

 

[Lone Hunter]

+1 for the 185 Berger

Don't know about the 185 Berger for hunting but I know that at 1000 the Juggernaut does very well. I haven't heard many people complain about Berger Hunting or Target bullets. But there are always a few that will.

 

[FilippoMo]

In my TRG 21 I could stabilize Hornady A-Max 208 but only tried at short range.
Filippo

 

[Toejoe12]

I shot all my FTR competitions last year with a Bartlien 11.25. Shot the 200 hybrid from 1000 and midrange with no issue

 

[cowboybart]

OK great! I was hoping it would stabilize 180gr hunting bullets and 173/178/185 gr target bullets. Sounds like I could even go heavier if I needed. I'm putting together a rifle for my mechanic, using an 11" twist Atkinson. He want s to try and go to 1000 yds.

 

[Toejoe12]

One last thing to point out. I have my own reamer which is 168 freebore. Keeps the bearing surface out of the pressure ring (donut) area

 

[M14AMU]

I won the Texas State Longrange Championship Match (Palma) in '94 shooting an Obermeyber 1-11" twist and using a 196 gr. VLD Delta Precision Bullet in .308 Winchester! Shot like a house on fire in TUFF wind!

 

[cmillard]

OK great! I was hoping it would stabilize 180gr hunting bullets and 173/178/185 gr target bullets. Sounds like I could even go heavier if I needed. I'm putting together a rifle for my mechanic, using an 11" twist Atkinson. He want s to try and go to 1000 yds.

Atkinson?? is that the same Atkinson (now h-s precision) that used to be used on the m40-a1 prior to Schneider supplying the barrels?

 

[Down South]

Won a ton of matches in FTR mid & long range with Berger 200s & JLK 210 VLDs using 31-32 inch 11 twist Bartlein barrels. According to the twist rate calculators it gives up a little BC compared to a faster twist but definitely didn't hurt accuracy. Also tied the national record at 600 yards & held the 1000 yard record for a while with 210 JLK using 11 twist.

 

[cowboybart]

Atkinson?? is that the same Atkinson (now h-s precision) that used to be used on the m40-a1 prior to Schneider supplying the barrels?

I don't know. I got the barrel from an old benchrest shooter that used a model 70 in 30-06. I shortened the breech and made it a 308 for a 98 Mauser. It was tight at .3065"/.2992"

 

[4xforfun]

I am shooting powder puff loads in my 300 WSM with the 200 Hybrid and a 1-12 twist at 1K. Awesome accuracy!!

Tod

 

[Prose]

What's the downside of having a twist that is too fast? I have a .308 with a 1/10 and shoot 150's out of it (hunting) and it shoots fantastic.

 

[msinc]

What's the downside of having a twist that is too fast? I have a .308 with a 1/10 and shoot 150's out of it (hunting) and it shoots fantastic.

Well, not always, but sometimes accuracy can suffer some. Also, the barrel could copper foul. In general you want to shoot the slowest twist that will still stabilize the bullet all the way to the target. All that said, I have always used a 1-in-10 twist for anything 30 caliber. If you were shooting really high velocity bullets and twisted them too fast they can "de-jacket" when they come out of the bore...like a 1-in-7 on a 220 Swift with varmint bullets. I see guys all the time talking about how good their 1-in-7 AR shoots 55 grain bullets....none of mine will.
Years ago I had a buddy stationed at the AMU in Benning. He took my M1A down there to get some national match work done on it for me. The Army "donated" a heavy Maremont barrel. I remember it was 1-in-11 3/4 twist. That was developed by the AMU and supposed to be the ideal twist rate for 190bthp bullets out to 600 yards. The story was that with the then standard 1-in-12 twist of the 7.62X51 those bullets would just start to tumble at 600. Guys on the range that had "target duty" said they could hear them flipping as they went over the berm. We used to shoot the 190's on a windy day. I don't know if all this story is true, but the rifle I had sure did shoot good.
It always amazes me when someone wants me to build them a rifle of some certain caliber....I ask, "what bullet do you intend to shoot in this thing?" and they always say, "oh, I don't know, haven't given that much thought." or my other favorite, "all of them I guess." The bullet you intend to use dictates what barrel/twist rate you are going to need.

 

[M14AMU]

I have a .308 Winchester and shoot Sierra 155 gr. Palma bullets. It's 1-10" twist....and apparently it's not too fast. Here's ten rounds fired from 900 yards:

308 Win/Remington M700 factory barrel/action by Sharps Man, on Flickr

 

[KevinThomas]

Virtually no such thing as too fast, assuming you're using good quality bullets. A 1x10" with Palma bullets is just giving you a higher Stability Factor.

 

[M14AMU]

Kevin

All the years I shot Palma....the entire time I was thinking we should have been shooting 1-10" ROT instead of 1-13 or 14"! Noooooooooo.....the 'gurus' said 1-13" or slower was the way to go!! BS!!