308 1in 13 twist

[treeman]

for those who shoot 308 alot what is the heaviest bullet I can expect to shoot accuratlly in a 1-13 twist? it will shoot 1-1/4to1-1/2" at 300 with 155 bergervld but I want to shoot heavier 168-175gr bullets. if it won't work I don't want to spend money on bullets that won't shoot good. thanks to all replies, treeman

 

[memilanuk]

It should shoot 168-175gn without any problems. I've heard of the occasional individual getting 185-190gn bullets to stabilize in a 13 tw, but most folks consider 175 as a practical maximum.

 

[Kenny474]

German Salazar did some work with a 1-13 twist 30-06 and heavy bullets. You may want to have a look at the article and see what his findings were. If I recall correctly, I think he was able to stabilize a much heavier bullet than you would have first thought. It's definitely worth a read if you're looking to move up to heavier bullets.

You may want to shoot him a PM as well. German is a very nice guy and really knows his stuff, he will probably be more than willing to take a few minutes and give you his thoughts.

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2010/06/ballistics-heavy-bullets-in-113-twist.html
http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2010/06/update-heavy-bullets-in-113-twist-30-06.html

Kenny

 

[nirish]

It will shoot 185 bullet out to 1000 yds

 

[Laurie]

treeman,

a 1-13" twist will stabilise all normal lead-core 168-175gn match bullets on the market from .308 Win out to all practical ranges.

It just manages the 185gn Berger BT Long-Range in summer temperatures, again out to 1,000yd at a full .308W MV. Several US Palma / Fullbore Rifle shooters use this bullet in matches that allow 'any bullet weight'.

I found that a 1-13.5" twist barrelled F/TR rifle built for the 155gn Lapua Scenar would give very good results with 168s, the 175gn, 180gn, and even the 190gn Sierra MK at shorter ranges in reasonable temperatures. It gave very small 100yd groups with the relatively long 185gn Berger BT Long-Range at 100yd in temperatures about 55 degrees F, but spread the hits around the black at 900yd a few weeks afterwards when winter started and the mercury was down around 40, so was probably marginally unstable under these conditions in that twist.

Laurie,
York, England

 

[1000yardstare]

Shot the Canadian Championships last August with an F Class buddy who was using a .308 Kreiger 13 twist barrel and 180 Bergers.

He won the Canadian F/TR.

 

[ShootDots]

I have a monified Remington with a Rock Creek 1 in 13 twist barrel in my .308. I just developed a load with it that shoots "fairly consistantly" at an inch or less at 300 yards. It is 41.5 grs of IMR 4064 using a Federal 210GM primer. It is topped off with a 168 SMK seated 10K off the lands. Believe me when I say "fairly consistantly" it means that when it doesn't do it, it is because of: A.) primarily shooter error and B.) maybe a gust of wind came up at the wrong moment.... Other than that it shoots the 168 very, very well.

 

[markr]

I have a monified Remington with a Rock Creek 1 in 13 twist barrel in my .308. I just developed a load with it that shoots "fairly consistantly" at an inch or less at 300 yards. It is 41.5 grs of IMR 4064 using a Federal 210GM primer. It is topped off with a 168 SMK seated 10K off the lands. Believe me when I say "fairly consistantly" it means that when it doesn't do it, it is because of: A.) primarily shooter error and B.) maybe a gust of wind came up at the wrong moment.... Other than that it shoots the 168 very, very well.

There's that 4064 powder again....the new powders should be sooooooo much better...

 

[gemsbok]

Although it is old, the Greenhill formula gives a fair indication of twist and bullet weight. See it at
http://kwk.us/twist.html
I have used a 1 in 13 twist and the max bullets I could use and still retain fair accuracy was 168gr. The accuracy when going from 155gr to 168gr was not good enough for competition but was OK for hunting up to 250yrds.

 

[260Ravage]

yup.... that 4064 powder!!! As I always have stated,,,,if it don't shoot 42 grains of 4064 w/ 168s,,,,,,, "throw the barrel away!"

 

[navyrad8r]

260Ravage,
not to hijack the man's thread...but is that what you are loading in the .260 with too? i am just starting to work up a 4064 recipe for my .260 it is an 31.75" 8 tw barrel some LC brass and horandy match brass (down from .308) i was figuring starting much lower....35~37gr (37max in one book) to push ~140vld/142smk's and the occasional 123Amax/Lapua.
Cheers,
Doc

 

[260Ravage]

NAVY-- I use only H4350 in my .260. I experimented with other powders, but H4350 is handsdown best in mine. It loves 139 lapuas

 

[navyrad8r]

i used 42gr of IMR4350 (couldn't get h4350) to push 123 amaxs at the 600. it owrked well just was not impressed. got alot of 4064 around and the LC brass's lower case volume was causing that 42 gr to be slightly compressed. i think the 4064 might be a better idea in LC brass.
cheers,
Doc

 

[jonbearman]

Just out of curiosity if you wanted to shoot heavier bullets in the first place then why 1 in 13 twist and not 1 in 10? I realize you want velocity with the slower twist but doesnt it contradict what you are trying to do? Just my thoughts,I am sure that someone will set me straight.

 

[Steve Blair]

I have a monified Remington...

I have several of those monified Remingtons, too. I have never seen a better way to describe an accurized rifle.

 

[1000yardstare]

jonbearman..............in the case of my buddy doing well in F/TR with 180s out of a 13 twist, he started with 155 Scenars and wasn`t happy with his scores. He heard that the Brits were moving to heavier bullets out of the .308 at Bisley. He tried 180s in the same 13 twist barrel and started to win some matches.

So I guess you would say it was more a matter of serendipity rather than any planned strategy for him to be using 180s in a 13 twist.

Bill

 

[deadlyswift]

Your 13 twist will not be a problem with the 168s or 175s. I would Worry more about my throat length. You really want get much more out of the 168s, 175s Than you are getting out of the 155s at 300yrd. Not until you pass 600 will you see a significant difference. Just in my opinon and that don't mean much, once you get past 600yrds forget the 168s. Shoot the 175 or even better the 185 match LR BT Bergers. If you can push the 185s fast enough they will stablize in a 13twist. If your like me and you just have to see for yourself. Try the 175 Berger Long Range BT target. Your 13 twist will stablize them just fine.

 

[GerryM]

1/13 twist. It should handle the 168 and 155 palma with out any trouble.
The 150 sierra match king is a winner and the newer 174 should be OK.
Everyone forgot about good old H4895. I shoot that in a 14 twist for short range with both the 168 and the 150 Sierra. My 1/12 twist love both of those 168 and 150 gr sierras also.