3 groove or 5 groove for a .308?

[biglonnie204]

my billed up of a .308. I'm going for a 28" 1 in 10 twist but what about the groove? 5 has a good past for the .308 and the 3 is sum what new so, 3 or 5? or is it directly related to the maker of the barrel?

 

[JDJones]

All my barrels from now on will be 5 groove with the 5R style rifling. I have had great success with these. Although I have had great success with 4 groove Kreigers and 6 good Harts also.

 

[rem_kujawa]

I dont think it will matter,the 3 groove could have less of a chance of fouling.I dont know Im just speculating.

 

[FireMedic]

My 30", 12 twist, 3 groove does pretty good for an old savage chambered in .308 win...

 

[Forum Boss]

Great shooting FireMedic! :thumb:

Who made your three-groove barrel? Pac-Nor? Lilja?

How do you like that target page? It was designed so you could line up your reticle on the black lines, and the Grey dot provides a second, higher reference point if you want to test a 200-yard zero.

 

[FireMedic]

The specs on the barrel is:

30" Pac-Nor 3 groove
12" twist
SS Super Match
11 degree crown
.308 obemeyer chamber
straight contour

Barrel has been shooting awesome........I love the targets too!!!

I've been using them for load development....The 42x Nightforce helps alot with splitting the diamond:thumb:

 

[memilanuk]

Theoretically, the three lands in a three-groove barrel would likely be a bit bigger and beefier... and resist erosion a little better. Usually something I've seen as a selling point for hot .22/6mm/6.5mm cartridges more so than a .308 Win. No reason it wouldn't work that way for a .308, although they tend to be less hard on throats in the first place so it may not be that big of a deal. As Firemedic's targets show, they certain do shoot.

Five groove seem to be pretty popular in the .308, in the form of the Obermeyer 5R, Broughton 5C and Rock 5R barrels. Same idea, odd number of grooves, often w/ a little easing of the angle on at least one edge,i.e. 'canted land' of the rifling to make things easier on the bullet. I've got a 31" Broughton 5C that shoots quite well, and cleans up pretty easy, and a 25" Rock 5R that is similarly easy to shoot and easy to clean.

Good luck,

Monte

 

[Rustystud]

Each manufacture has his own best option. Back in the days of the springfield 03A3 the first barels were 2 groove and shot very well. Today I believe Dan Lilja makes a fine 3 groove barrel. Jack Kreiger makes a fine 4 groove barrel. Tim North makes a fine 5 grove barrel. I know of barrels made in 3-8 grove configurations. Makers and buyers choice.

Rustystud

 

[tightneck]

As Nat said, it doesn't really matter.