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Posted By: Earney Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/09/19
I'm looking at buying a Remington 5r milspec 308, it seems to come in 11.25 rate of twist. This will be a open field hunting rifle, will this rate of twist be good for 150-175 grain bullets? I'm looking for optimum accuracy from this gun, the best groups I can get out of it. I don't want to buy if it's not really made to shoot these bullets. I hope this makes sense, any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Please help me out, thanks. By the way my son handloads my hunting bullets, thanks
Posted By: lotech Re: Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/09/19
I bought one of the .308 5r Mil Spec Remington's a couple of years ago. I've fired it a good bit, trying a variety of bullets in the 150 -180 grain range, using mostly H4895 powder. My rifle also has the 11 1/4" twist rate. My only complaint with this rifle has been the factory throating and this may not the same on all such rifles. Some bullets that shoot very accurately, particularly the lighter ones, must be seated to an OAL too long for the magazine.

I've lately been shooting the Sierra 180 ProHunter seated to 2.81", just under magazine length of about 2.83" or so. I can't get 1/2" or 5/8" groups every time, but I've seen enough small groups to know this is a very accurate bullet in my rifle. Same for the 168 MK. The Barnes 150 TTSX BT is another good one seated to about maximum magazine length.
Pretty sure MontanaMarine member here has the 11.25tw heavy barrel remington - shoots 208 amax just fine .
I have one. The twist is no problem whatsoever.
Posted By: Earney Re: Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/09/19
That's good to hear, I have another 308 I use in the woods, micro hunter, we usually load 150s and 168 grain bullets and I'm hoping it will shoot these as well.
What is giving you the idea it wouldn't?
Posted By: Earney Re: Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/09/19
I don't know alot about this stuff, just trying to make sure I'm not buying a rifle that will not shoot hunting ammo. I know some twist are better for lighter varmint type rounds. I'm an older guy and looking for wisdom from you knowledgeable folks. I appreciate all the info, my son built him a rifle and I don't know enough to do that. I have been watching this forum hoping to find a I guess you would say, partially custom heavy barrel 308 hunting rig that's already a proven shooter but hadn't had any luck. I guess I'm too impatient, lol
You mentioned open field hunting. For deer? What's the length of the anticipated long shot?
Posted By: Earney Re: Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/09/19
No more than 250-300 yards, my eyes are not as good as they were and I'm not gonna shoot over that. I have a Sako 75 7mag that I have been using for probably 15 years. In Mississippi theres really no need for magnum guns on a whitetail so we are going away from reloading the 7mag. The 308 is plenty gun
Deer inside 300 yards or so, of course the 308 is plenty. I use several 308's for that very thing and I don't even handload them to full throttle most of the time.

That said, have you considered a 6.5 Creedmoor? Plenty of horsepower, less recoil and usually quite accurate. I've been playing with a new 5R Milspec in 6.5 Creedmoor and it's shooting exceptionally well.
Posted By: Earney Re: Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/09/19
I really haven't, every few years it seems like there is a new caliber that the gun manufacturers push on us and I try to not get caught up in the hype. I know alot of people that shoot it though.
It has been around since 2007 and it's firmly established well beyond the hype stage.
Posted By: Earney Re: Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/09/19
Yea, I was raised in the bigger the bullet the better era, lol.
I've loaded 200 grain accubonds in my 1:12 twists 308 and they were suprising accurate and a non issue. I'm thinking you'll be more than fine with a 11.25 twist and 180s.
My 11.25 twist Rem 700 tactical won't shoot 200+ grain bullets for sheet! Stick with a 1:10
Posted By: Bella1 Re: Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/13/19
Originally Posted by Earney
I'm looking at buying a Remington 5r milspec 308, it seems to come in 11.25 rate of twist. This will be a open field hunting rifle, will this rate of twist be good for 150-175 grain bullets? I'm looking for optimum accuracy from this gun, the best groups I can get out of it. I don't want to buy if it's not really made to shoot these bullets. I hope this makes sense, any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Please help me out, thanks. By the way my son handloads my hunting bullets, thanks
Originally Posted by Earney
Yea, I was raised in the bigger the bullet the better era, lol.


Just because you consider yourself old doesn't mean you can't learn new tricks.

6.5 might be worth looking at for all the reason mentioned by mathman......and more.....
The last time I was at the range with my 5R in 6.5 Creedmoor I shot some inexpensive Federal hunting ammunition.

https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/non-typical/non-typical/11-65CDT1.html

It performed very well, 1/2 moa at 300 yards when the wind would let up.

I have some accurate 308's, including a 5R, but this 6.5 Creedmoor looks like it'll shade all of them.
Originally Posted by Earney
I really haven't, every few years it seems like there is a new caliber that the gun manufacturers push on us and I try to not get caught up in the hype. I know alot of people that shoot it though.

earney my feeling exactly when existing cartridges can duplicate the nkotb ballistics. anywho off the soapbox and not taking anything away from the 6.5 cm. but, if you don't wanna follow the herd but still are intrigued by the 6.5 ballistics and on game performance try a 260 rem or the ole man 6.5x55 swede and be unique in deer camp. another option would be a 7mm-08 rem as both the 7mm-08 rem and 260 rem directly compete against the cm market share. i'd personally suggest a tikka t3x in either cal or even a 308 win in a tikka unless you are set on a rem m700.
good luck with your choice fellow mississippian,
Big Ed
You're either missing or deliberately ignoring the fact that the reason for the Creedmoor wasn't just duplicating the old man on the block ballistics.
Originally Posted by mathman
You're either missing or deliberately ignoring the fact that the reason for the Creedmoor wasn't just duplicating the old man on the block ballistics.

math not missing nor ignoring. just not buying is all. my goodness man,just read your own signature line by our own md. i stand by the 260 rem OR the 6.5 swede will do everything and more than the vaunted 6.5 cm. yeah the swede is not quite a long action or a short action which makes using the chambering usually a la. so, what if you can't tote 3 more oz you need to hit the gym. and the 260 rem is also a short action and will shoot 140 grain bullets just as well or better/faster than the cm. i'm sorry bud i don't wanna be contrary but i'm just not hitching my wagon to the new horse when the old one is just as good or better. just my personal thoughts and you can have yours. i appreciate a man not following the herd and doing all errbody else is doing and thinking the cm is some new deal. and no it wasn't about duplicating,which is all it will do, it was a way for hornady to make money. face it and the 6.5 cm is a great cartridge. its just not any better than several others i've listed is all.
regards,
Big Ed
I understand the word optimized in the sig line.

The Creedmoor has been out only twelve years, but I just got one. I'm such a bandwagon jumper. grin
+1 on the Federal non Typical. 3/4" at 100 easy to hit 12" gong @ 650. Really amazingly good factory ammo.
Pavementends
Posted By: Quak Re: Barrel twist on hunting 308 - 12/14/19
To the original question...my 308s are all 1:12 and they shoot 200gr bullets very well. You will be fine.

Iirc the 1:10 thing was a carryover from the 06 which was a carryover from the 03 which was a carryover from the 30-40

Originally Posted by whitearrow
Originally Posted by mathman
You're either missing or deliberately ignoring the fact that the reason for the Creedmoor wasn't just duplicating the old man on the block ballistics.

math not missing nor ignoring. just not buying is all. my goodness man,just read your own signature line by our own md. i stand by the 260 rem OR the 6.5 swede will do everything and more than the vaunted 6.5 cm. yeah the swede is not quite a long action or a short action which makes using the chambering usually a la. so, what if you can't tote 3 more oz you need to hit the gym. and the 260 rem is also a short action and will shoot 140 grain bullets just as well or better/faster than the cm. i'm sorry bud i don't wanna be contrary but i'm just not hitching my wagon to the new horse when the old one is just as good or better. just my personal thoughts and you can have yours. i appreciate a man not following the herd and doing all errbody else is doing and thinking the cm is some new deal. and no it wasn't about duplicating,which is all it will do, it was a way for hornady to make money. face it and the 6.5 cm is a great cartridge. its just not any better than several others i've listed is all.
regards,
Big Ed



Well said.
Well-said BS...but whatever.
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