Opinions on fast twist 308 barrels

[Charger442]

looking for a new rig and have found a few 1:8 twist and 1:8.5 twist barrels out there on 308s. What are everyone's thoughts on this? I searched and found a little discussion from 7 years ago, but was hoping for some fresh info.

Will it be too fast for the typical 155, 168, 175 bullet weights? obviously it will do great with the heavier bullets ... say 180 grain and up? can you spin those lighter bullets too fast that it will effect accuracy?


for me, i shoot mostly 168 and 175 through my 1:10 twist Douglas right now, but i hunt with 180 grain Partitions. Probably would like to continue with such.

 

[Rob01]

Why would you want faster than 10 twist? It will do everything you need. An 11 would do it also.

 

[spife7980]

An 8 twist should be fine with those but I wouldnt do it unless you really want to run the heavies. For what you are describing the traditional 10 twist has become the default for a reason.

 

[Charger442]

Why would you want faster than 10 twist? It will do everything you need. An 11 would do it also.

not really a "want", more of an issue of im looking into lightly used rifles that literally have everything else i am looking for.... action, stock, mounts, brakes, barrel length, but then i see the twist is faster than the 1:10 and it makes me pause.

 

[Rob01]

I am surprised there are that many .308s with 8 twist barrels unless they were made as strictly subsonics shooters.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

That fast of twist rate being acceptable has less to do with bullet weight but more to do with bullet construction. Unless you are planning to run solids then you are really raising your chances of that fast twist rate destroying jackets on normal projectiles.
Some jacketed projectile designs can handle that twist in most environmental conditions but you will always run the risk of that "Have to make shot" and you getting a ghost projectile because 100m from the muzzle the jacket gives away and your projectile splashes into thin air.

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[Charger442]

Thats a hell of a point.

on that topic, i used to guide hunts and one hunter was a reloader and was shooting his 300 win mag that he had worked up a load on the far upper end of the spectrum pushing bullets very fast. He shot a deer at 150ish yards and i went to look at the deer after they brought it in. grabbed the horn and felt something cut me..... it was several pieces of copper jacket that had lodged in the horn as the bullet came apart mid-flight. It was a wonder he killed the damn thing. i know nothing about his barrel and twist rate but it was always something that amazed me.

 

[OLD308]

I have an 18” 1/8 twist 308. Here’s what I found out owning it. It’s my favorite 308. It stabilizes everything I’ve put through it with out slinging them apart. SMKs of all weights, Nosler Accubonds of all weights. That’s the positives Down side of fast twist short barrels is reloads or match ammo only. Example, my 20” 1-10 shoots most everything well (MOA or better) the 18” 1-8 is picky on store bought ammo. No issue for me as I reload. But something to think about if you don’t. Remember my experience is a sample size of one. Not meant to be taken as the gospel.

 

[Charger442]

I have an 18” 1/8 twist 308. Here’s what I found out owning it. It’s my favorite 308. It stabilizes everything I’ve put through it with out slinging them apart. SMKs of all weights, Nosler Accubonds of all weights. That’s the positives Down side of fast twist short barrels is reloads or match ammo only. Example, my 20” 1-10 shoots most everything well (MOA or better) the 18” 1-8 is picky on store bought ammo. No issue for me as I reload. But something to think about if you don’t. Remember my experience is a sample size of one. Not meant to be taken as the gospel.

appreciate the data point. its definitely something to consider. i havent reloaded in a long time, i have everything to do so except the time. and with my current rifles, FGMM and other match factory ammo shoots so well that i havent been driven by the need to make the time to roll my own.

 

[moosemeat]

1-9 will stabalize even the longest .308 bullets that it can push. 1-8 would probably even stabalize the 220+ bullets. I imagine it would be meh with the lighter ones but have no data to verify it. My vote is get it and if you hate it yank the barrel and put a new one on in 1-10. Maybe set the other back and chamber for 300 blackout on a differnt rifle.