My 308 is 10 years old this month

[phillip61]

Thinking about getting a new barrel. Right now I'm running a 24" barrel with a 11.25 twist with the 168gr FGMM.

Is there a better twist rate for 308? The paperwork that came with my rifle said the 11.25 twist was developed for the 168gr.? Just wandering if there was a better twist rate/Bullet combo out there.

 

[phillip61]

Thinking about getting a new barrel. Right now I'm running a 24" barrel with a 11.25 twist with the 168gr FGMM.

Is there a better twist rate for 308? The paperwork that came with my rifle said the 11.25 twist was developed for the 168gr.? Just wandering if there was a better twist rate/Bullet combo out there.

I'm sorry, it has a 1:12 twist.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

1:12 is a great twist for any bullet optimum for what the 308 can push them (155-190). Out of the bunch though the 168's are about the worst ballistically as far as match bullets go. 155 Scenar and 185gr Berger's pretty much out perform all other bullets at 308 velocities. The 175 SMK, 178 BTHP, and 178 Amax also perform well if you can't afford $40 for a box of bullets.

 

[phillip61]

Yeah, I shoot the 168s because they are relatively cheap. I have never even tried another gr. bullet. But if the 1:12 is good for all of them then that is what I'll get.

Before I spend the rest of the day looking around on the internet is there a good place to buy other grain match 308 rounds besides the 168?

 

[2ndSecuresTheRest]

Palmetto State Armory has lots of 175 gr Sierra Match Kings

Semper Fi,

 

[Guy Montag]

Palmetto State Armory has lots of 175 gr Sierra Match Kings

Semper Fi,

"Temporarily out of Stock"

Where are you seeing them 2ndSecures?

 

[phillip61]

I read on this site that the 168s become unstable around 800yds. What 308 rd will shoot to 1000yds? I currently can only shoot to 600yds. But a friend of mine has a place where we are looking to see if we can reach 1000yds.

 

[Matno]

The 175 SMKs will go 1000.

 

[phillip61]

are they as accurate as the 168s at intermediate ranges?

 

[George63]

I pay 3.00 more for 500 175 SMK than the 168

11.25 twist would be hard to beat on a rebarrel

 

[coach4christ]

are they as accurate as the 168s at intermediate ranges?

They are from my rifle. 175's are good to go. If you reload the 155 scenars are much better. Oh I have an 11.25 twist.

 

[phillip61]

Is the 11.25 twist better than the 12.00? What is the advantage?

 

[Matno]

are they as accurate as the 168s at intermediate ranges?

Depends on the gun. Every barrel has loads it prefers, and the 175s could be more, or less accurate. I've seen guns that shoot flat based bullets best at short to medium ranges, but not at long range.

 

[JGorski]

From my limited experience 150/155s don't shoot well in my 10 twist, but they shoot very well in my 12 twist, 178s shoot well in my 10 twist not so good in my 12 twist.

 

[sako.308]

my factory r700 26" 1/12 shoots 175smk better than 168smk

 

[308Gunner]

I have a 1-10 and a 1-11.25 one is a Broughton and one is a Krieger both will shoot lights out with 155 thru 185s

 

[phillip61]

I guess let me tell ya'll what my intended use is. There are monthly 600yd matches at Camp Robinson Arkansas which is only about two hours from me. I have a 600yd range I can practice at. Since I am putting on a new barrel I want the one that will shoot 168s the best at 600yds.

The same place also shoots 1000yds the following day, so I was kinda wanting to kill two birds with one stone. But the 600yd is my first priority.
After reading a bit I'm thinking the 11.25 so I can shoot the 175s out to 1000.
Does that make sense?

 

[MLC]

It makes sense.
The difference between the 168 and 175 is the boat tail length/angle and a small amount of lead inside.
I will also say that my 10 twist Lilja shoots 155-185 equally.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

If 600 yard matches is your main concern and you want to stick with 308 155's in a 26" 1:13 tube is what I'd run. You can get them going 3000-3050 no problem in a 13" twist tube that long. They will also run great out to and beyond 1000 yards. No other 308 load is going to keep up with that for 600 yard shooting.

 

[fx77]

MY 12 Twist APA 308 consistently shoots 155-175 gr in groups from .058-.231" @ 100 yds
So 12 Twist is fine.

 

[phillip61]

My smith uses Douglas and Hart barrels, he says he can get either in 3-4 weeks. Are these barrels comparable to one another? Any particular reason you would pick one over the other?

 

[weshowe]

Gents,

I use a Obermeyer 5R 1:10" twist and it shoots 155 scenars and 175 SMK's equally well. It likes 168's, but I don't and settled on 175's for most of my work.
Think of it this way...worst case scenario your going to overstabilize the 155 Scenar using 1:10" twist.

Wes