Will a 26", 1:12 twist, .308 get me out to 1000yds

[coreydelong]

Just wondering if a 1:12 twist would fit the bill for 1000yd plinking. I can pick up a new Remington 700 VSF with a 26" HEAVY varmint fluted barrel and a jeweled action with a X Mark Pro trigger. $779 for plinking. I just don't like the cheesy synthetic stock, but can worry about that later.

I know the 1:12 probably limits me to 155g Scenars and 168g (which will not fly at 1000yds). I'd like the option to run 175 SMK's and some heavier 185-190g bulllets that a 1:12 will probably not support.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-varmint-sf.aspx

 

[cmillard]

the marine corps uses a 25" 1-12" twist out to 1000 yards and beyond shooting 175s. so yes, it is doable. i would try the 185 bergers (vld or hybrid) because once you hit that transonic zone, the bullet becomes unpredictable. the 185 should extend that to about the 1050-1100 yard zone

 

[Keith Glasscock]

185 hybrid doesn't work (in my opinion - SL, cold day) with a 12 twist. The 185 LRBT will though.

I'd give the 185 LRBT a try. It should work wonderfully out of a 26" tube.

To answer your question, yes, 26" works fine. I shot a couple of 1000 yard F-TR matches last year with that barrel length. It shot well enough to place, and even win one match. Now if I could learn to read the wind...

 

[kwtolman]

I shoot 168gr Berger Hybrids with great success out to 1000 yds. I am using a 10 twist barrel but the 12 twist will certainly stabilize this bullet.

 

[coreydelong]

Thanks for the input all. I'm in FL, so cold days are pretty rare.

I knew the 26" barrel would be fine- it was just the 1:12 twist that I don't want limiting me to lighter bullets. I may sell the barrel as a take-off and get a custom 1:10 or 1:11 for the heavier bullets. I could probably get $250 for the takeoff and put it towards a custom barrel.

 

[XTR]

You can stabilize 175SMKs all the way with a 1:12. Look at the Berger site, they recommend a 1:11 for 185 Hybrids, but a 1:12 for the 185 LRBT and the 190s. Don't sweat the twist rate as long as you don't try to shoot Hybrids.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

The 155 and 168 hybrids are truly game changers. For example, the 168 has the same g7 BC as a 190 SMK, but it can be launched at around 2800 fps (2750+) with a 26" barrel. The effect is amazing. The need for a 30" barrel to reach out and touch 1k is certainly diminished.

That is not to say that 30" barrels have lost their advantage, just that rifles that were truly marginal a couple of years ago can go out and comfortably play.

I would give the 12 twist a try. There is no reason not to.

 

[Win94ae]

A Calculator for Barrel Twist Rate
...
free program to calculate custom ballistics tables
for your rifle and load.

You'll need the bullet length to calculate.

I ran some numbers with a 190gr, 1 5/16" long bullet; and it will stabilize while remaining supersonic right about 1000 yards.

 

[dreever]

I would recommend the new Berger 175 grain Tactical OTM bullet it was designed with that usage in mind. I shoot it in my .308 with a 24 inch barrel @ 2620 fps. Yes it cost more than the Sierra 175 Match King but the results are the difference between night and day.

Danny

 

[BOBC]

When I shot the long National Match Course many years ago with my Mod. 70 Win 308 match rifle with a 12 twist and 25" Win. factory barrel, it got me to 1000 yds. However, I had to use a 180gr bullet with a long BT which was very similar to the 172 gr full metal jacketed GI match bullet. But it had a HP like the old Sierra 180 MK.
However, Sierra discontinued that bullet a long time ago and now makes the 175 gr.

 

[TonyR]

I have a 1:12 26 inch Broughton 5C that will shoot the Berger 185 LRBT at 2600 fps very comfortably with excellent vertical. It will stay supersonic to 1000 at that speed but a longer barrel can get that bullet up over 2700 fps and reduces wind drift considerably. But a 26 inch barrel 1:12 barrel can definitely get you to 1000 with the right bullet. I believe that the Berger 185 LRBT has one of the highest BCs of any bullet that will consistently stablize in a 1:12 twist.

 

[coreydelong]

Just for an update-

I have went 1000yds twice with this particular .308 I just put together. Bone stock 26" Varmint barrelled 700 bedded to a B&C Medalist fully adjustable stock. I got the rifle on sale new locally for $579 and the stock for $405 new from Stocky's. I started with a 20MOA base, but ran out of elevation on my NXS 12-42x56mm with the 185g Bergers and ended up putting a NF 40MOA base on in it's place. That works fine with plenty of adjustment left at 1000yds. With the 20MOA base I had to hold over 2 MOA at 1000yds with the 185g Bergers.

The 185g LRBT's at 2625fps with IMR-4064 had no issues out to 1000yds. This past week I also tried some 155g Scenars at 2830fps with Varget and had just as good of luck.

A pretty cheap 1000yd combo that I'm very happy with to save the barrel life on my 6.5x284 when I just want to plink or have fun at a club match.

 

[Leaddog]

Corey- I'm curious as to how you ran out of elevation with a 20 minute base?

I shoot the 185 LRBT's, use a NXS 12-42, (and a March 10-60), and shoot a velocity about 10% slower than you. With a 100 yard zero, and a 20 MOA base, I have 5 minutes of adjustment below and 40 up from that zero with the NF. Never needed more than 36-37 minutes of elevation at 1000 through both of my F/TR rifles or either scope.

 

[mr45man]

Yes to what Charlie said!
I dont get it either?
John H.

Corey- I'm curious as to how you ran out of elevation with a 20 minute base?

I shoot the 185 LRBT's, use a NXS 12-42, (and a March 10-60), and shoot a velocity about 10% slower than you. With a 100 yard zero, and a 20 MOA base, I have 5 minutes of adjustment below and 40 up from that zero with the NF. Never needed more than 36-37 minutes of elevation at 1000 through both of my F/TR rifles or either scope.

 

[XTR]

Corey- I'm curious as to how you ran out of elevation with a 20 minute base?

I shoot the 185 LRBT's, use a NXS 12-42, (and a March 10-60), and shoot a velocity about 10% slower than you. With a 100 yard zero, and a 20 MOA base, I have 5 minutes of adjustment below and 40 up from that zero with the NF. Never needed more than 36-37 minutes of elevation at 1000 through both of my F/TR rifles or either scope.

It depends on where NF centered the erector. My 8-32BR needed a 30MOA base to get to 1000. When I mounted it it on a 20MOA rail zeroed 18MOA off the bottom at 100. It takes 31 to 36 depending on the load to get to 1000 and it only has 45 total adjustment, so it ran out before it got to 1000. Now with a 30MOA rail I can zero at 100 yds 8MOA off of the bottom, and have room to get to 1000.

 

[AR15DCM]

Check out the American Ballistics 7.62. It's sort of like the 175SMK but they moved the ogive out further and its supposed to be stable out to 1300.

 

[jbpmidas]

How much is their ammo? Their website doesn't give prices.

 

[AR15DCM]

A 200 Round case is ( or was) $248 when I last bought it.

Their ammo is Gov't contract stuff for different agencies and military snipers.