308 twist

[25/06]

what would the optimum grain bullet for a 1:12 .308. i would really like to shoot a 168gr 308 what would be the optimum twist for a 168 be?

[John Traveler]

The standard twist rate for the 7.62x51 NATO/.308 Winchester is 1-12 inches.  This was decreased from the .30-06 twist rate of -10 inches.

For a couple generations now, service rifle competition shooters favored the Sierra 168 Match bullets in both cartridges.  The service rifle match ammunition used to be 173 grains FMJ.  So, for your purposes, the 168 should work just fine.

[25/06]

Thanks for the information, I guess this would also work well with the 175 gr. MK? 

[calvon]

I rather doubt that you would be able to notice any difference on the target with any bullet weight between 110 and 220 grains in either the .30-06 or the .308 with barrel twists of 10 or 12 inches. All the twist does is stabilize the bullet. Understabilization will cause yaw and in extreme cases tumbling, overstabilization probably won't happen with the twists listed.

[Giver of Doom]

25-06 Need a little more info.  How long is the barrel?  For short barrels 16" and less you need a little more twist then for longer tubes.  For example in a 15" barrel a 1:12 twist is great for 110 and 135s.  You start have some stability concerns with 150s and higher. (FPS is also a factor).  However in a 26" barrel a 1:12 twist is great for 150s and 168s.  A 15" barrel on the other hand would need 1:10 to do the 168s.  If you want to go above 168 with a short barrel a 1:9 or 1:8 would be the way to go.  If you are going with say 150 to 180 or even 200 on a rifle barrel I would strongly suggest 1:10.  Hope this helps.

D00M

[Chappy]

I have had a model 700 BDL SS DM in .308 Win for about 11 years now.  It has a 24" barrel with a 1:10 twist  It shoots my handloaded 125 Speer TNT, and various 165 grain hunting bullets in groups of about one inch.  Truth be told, the gun is probably more accurate than that, but the heavy trigger makes it difficult for me to realize its full potential.  I have been thinking about a trigger job, but the rifle has a couple other minor issues such as a bolt handle that almost hits the scope, and 2 of 4 magazines that have feeding problems.  As I get older, I am also getting tired of my SS and black stocked guns and find myself looking more at the blued and wood stocked guns.

The new Browning XBolt Hunter (.308 Win) is sure pretty.  It has a short throw bolt (with new safety and bolt release), rotary mags and feather trigger (both of which I'm told are great), and a shorter 22" barrel (a little handier in the MN northwoods) with a 1:12 twist.  I tend to agree with calvon that I probably will not notice much difference between these two rifles as far as their slightly different barrels shooting my loads.
But thought I would ask if any of you have experience with both Rem and Browning bolt rifles in .308 Win. and have any opinion on which shoots better.  Also, any comments on the XBolt in general would be appreciated.  Thanks

Chappy