Gunsmithing Twist rate for 7.62

paramil

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Minuteman
May 8, 2011
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25 inch barrel, shooting Black Hills 175gr bullets, want to have the versatility to get out to 1000yds.

Do I go with a 1:10 or 1:12 twist?

This is for a rem. 700 build.
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

Barrel length has nothing to with twist. Velocity and bullet lenght(weight) is what determines twist. With you using 175gr bullets, any twist from 10-12 will work. There is not enough difference in them twist rates to worry about.
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: excaliber</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Barrel length has nothing to with twist. Velocity and bullet lenght(weight) is what determines twist. With you using 175gr bullets, any twist from 10-12 will work. There is not enough difference in them twist rates to worry about. </div></div>

I think his point is that shorter barrels tend to yield less velocity.

I'm partial to 1-10, as it'll easily handle any 30 cal bullet the 308 case can launch.
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

If 1,000 yards is the goal, go with a 10. 175s will still perform but the heavies will get you to 1k with a few less clicks on your scope.
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot 180VLDs from a 12 twist at 1000, in the winter.</div></div>

Why in the winter? What is the advantage? How does it preform?
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Paramil</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot 180VLDs from a 12 twist at 1000, in the winter.</div></div>

Why in the winter? What is the advantage? How does it preform? </div></div>

Thicker air = More twist required

Thus, lower altitude and colder temps yields worst case scenario for proper bullet stabilization.

A barrel that can stabilize a given bullet at 1000' above sea level in the summer at 90° might not stabilze that same bullet at lower altitudes or in cooler weather. A 1:12 308 launching the 208 amax is a good example. These tend to do great in the summer, and often don't work in the winter.
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

Barrel length has everything to do with twist. If you are running a marginal twist rate for a 175gr bullet like a 1/12 then you don't want a 20" barrel. You lose velocity and when you lose velocity you lose bullet rpm and thus stability. For a 25" barrel a 1/12" twist will work just fine.
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

i would not consider the 1-12 marginal for the 175. generally speaking you want the slowest twist that will stabilize your intended bullet under all conditions. a slower twist will yield more velocity as well. in the early days of benchrest the .308 168MK was a very popular combonation and they ran 1-14 twist barrels. a 1-13 is sufficient to stabilize the 175MK under MOST conditions. if you are ordering a blank, and are willing to wait, a 1-11 would probably be the most versatile if you thought you might want to try the 208 at some point. otherwise the standard 1-12 will do all the .308 was intended to do.

chuck
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

1:10 works. Given a choice an overstabilized bullet is more desirable than going the other way.

As for air density:

Look up "magnus effect".

The USMC Reserve team used to shoot a match in Bailey, CO shortly before Camp Perry. Bailey is almost 9000ft. Perry is a few hundred. Don't recall anyone ever talking about rebarreling their service rifles to adapt to air density. Same guns, same load. Guns worked just fine.

Loads sometimes get a little fussy on hot days but that has more to do with charge weights and pressure than anything. When you steam 80g vld's at ludicrous speed primers get fussy.

I dunno . . .

C.
 
Re: Twist rate for 7.62

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: excaliber</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Barrel length has nothing to with twist. Velocity and bullet lenght(weight) is what determines twist. With you using 175gr bullets, any twist from 10-12 will work. There is not enough difference in them twist rates to worry about. </div></div> please add-in the length of the bullet to the mix too gene said a 3 way cut pie for the twist -bullet -barrel-temp [i looked up some old notes of his ]