Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Tell me why I shouldn’t buy this: Remington 5R 308

This Remington 700 rifle is chambered in 308. 5R barrel twisted 1:11.25
Why that rate of twist in a 308?
Tell my why I don’t need this. I’m getting weak….

My guess is that twist was thought to be just the stuff for a 175 SMK.

I enjoy shooting my 2011 vintage 5R Milspec 308. Right now the barreled action is in a 700 LTR stock.

A heavier bullet with a slower twist?
What is a SMK? The manufacturer?

I'm guessing it has a heavy 20" barrel, a tactical model. I shot one like it to work up some loads for another shooter. It was very accurate with 168 grain Sierra match bullets. My only complaint with it was the long throat. The owner wanted to shoot 125 grain Ballistic Tips and they were too short for best accuracy. I happened to meet a Remington factory rep who said he was responsible for those specifications at a gun shop. I mentioned the long throat. If memory serves, the barrel had 5R rifling.

Regarding the twist, my guess is it's optimal for 168 grain match bullets. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can say something more definitive.

I bought one of these .308s ( the heavy barrel mil-spec version) new about five years ago. I don't know the reason behind the 11.25 twist. This rifle shoots very well, but no better than a 700 VS (26" heavy barrel) in .308 that I bought new about thirty years ago. If you're looking at the mil-spec 5R... mine weighs about about 8.5 lbs. or so without a scope. With a NightForce 3-10 SHV scope and mounting hardware, weight is around 10.5 lbs.

There is a writeup in RIFLE magazine #310, May, 2020 on a couple of these rifles, one in .308 and another in .300 Winchester Magnum.

SMK = Sierra Match King

SGK= Sierra Game King

NPT = Nosler Partition

NBT= Nosler Ballistic Tip

NAB = Nosler Accubond

These seem to be the bullet lines that are often seen abbreviated here.

11.25 is quicker that the commonly encountered 12 twist in 308s.

SMK is for Sierra Match King.

Have had a 24" in 308 for about 14 years. Great rifle or it wouldn't still be here. Matter of fact, I have other rifles that will out perform it. But the 5-R is such a solid performer that I feel I must keep it even If I don't use it as often.

Disclaimer; The conclusion is historical speculation on my part;
The history of the 5R for Remington goes back to the M24 Sniper rifle that they produced for the US Army. When it was developed, a 5R rifling was spec'd. IIRC it was for accuracy and longevity reasons. I had an opportunity to interview the one of the project officer in charge of the development. You might recall that the M24 came in a 308 chambering, but on a Remington Long Action. It was envisioned that the M24 would be convertible to a 300 Win Mag with a barrel and bolt change. The initially Remington tapped Boots Obermeyer to make the prototype barrels. He was too busy, so Mike Rock (who apprenticed under Boots got the job of producing the barrels. Ultimately Remington tooled up to produce the 5R's in house.

Here's the speculative portion; because the 5R rifling is/was a specialty item, they probably used the same blanks for both the 7.62 and the never to be 300 Win Mag and produced barrels with the same mandrels.

My last build was a 308 Win. Lilja #3 1-10 5R twist.

I was on the fence, 5R or a 4 grove. I'm sure both would have been fine. I went with the above info. The 5R 1-10 on this gun.
Shoots really nice.
The barrel is 24 inches long.

Manners stock MCS-UC

Trigger-Tech "Special" for a trigger.

Talley LT. Mounts 1 inch with a Leupold 2.5-8X36. Weight is at 7.0 Lbs with this scope. Yes, it weighs more when I put my NF 2.5-10x42 NXS on it.
I really like the NF scope, works great. Just running the Leupold for a bit. If it takes a dump on me, quick change back to my NF scope.
Back to this stock: It's bad to the bone. Thinking about getting 2 more. If you haven't felt one of these, oh man I really like them. 17+/- oz after bedding, and ready to run. My stock is not the high gloss.Stock web site.

Hey, take care.

If you want and can afford it, buy it.

I have one in 300 Win mag, nice rifle

I don’t think I’ve ever been accused of trying to convince someone to NOT buy a rifle.

Lots of ignorance out there on twist rates

https://bergerbullets.com/product-category/rifle-bullets/?caliber=30-caliber

Click on a bullet, scroll down and see the twist rate requirement needed for that bullet, shocking for some

Especially true for me. I thought 1:10 was standard for most .30 caliber rifles....

What is 5-R? 5 Groove? or what?

I wish I would have been buying 5r barrels ever since I started buying rifles, esp., in fast varmint calibers including
308 win. with slow twist barrels shooting 125 v-max, Speer 125 TNT & 125 Nosler BT bullets.
Buy it, you'll love it.

I didn't win the auction........
Maybe someone here will sell me theirs!!!

5 Groove Rifling.

5 grooves and a type of canted land rifling form.