.308 twist rate

[Rem - P14]

Will the 1:12 twist rate of the .308 rifle efficiently handle heavier, longer bullets or is one stuck with middle weight bullets. I am primarily a mid-range (subjective term I know) target shooter and the middle weight bullets suffice very well but I have a hankering to throw some heavy lead down range once in a while. I look forward to hearing from you. Seems to be some very knowledgable people in here.
Thank-you

[Robmcleod82]

I believe the 178 grain sierra match king works well.

[Leeper]

the 12 inch twist will handle any bullet up to and including the 200 Sierra MK. Leeper

[303carbine]

I shot 220 grain RN Hornady's out of my Mohawk 308, great accuracy, but I believe the velocity was probably on the low side. I will have to try it again now that I have a chronograph.

[Rem - P14]

I believe the 178 grain sierra match king works well.

Are you sure you meant 178 gr MK? I have heard of 168 gr and 175 gr MK bullets but then its been a while since I was shopping for them too.
At any rate, thank-you for your response.

[Rem - P14]

I shot 220 grain RN Hornady's out of my Mohawk 308, great accuracy, but I believe the velocity was probably on the low side. I will have to try it again now that I have a chronograph.

Thank-you 303. I have shot 190 grain MK from my .308 but then also that was from twenty inch barrel and my groups, while right on the money, took some convincing to come up from "kinda low" at two hundred yards. Shorter barrel plus heavy bullets had me believing the Rem. SPS was over reaching a bit to handle that kind of ammunition with 12 inch rifling. I have since read that for truly optimum performance with the heavy lead one really wants the ten inch rifling. There is a lot I do not know so it is good to hear from people with some experience.

[Rem - P14]

the 12 inch twist will handle any bullet up to and including the 200 Sierra MK. Leeper

Thank-you for your reply. As a mid-range target shooter I suppose I do not have any true reason to be shooting heavy lead but sometimes its just kind of interesting to shoot something with some fair authority behind it. I am still conservative enough to shy away from the magnums but am considering a
.30-06 in something longer than my 20" barrel which could be loaded to .308 levels on those occasions when I am not suffering from the "bigger is better" mentality.
It is good to hear from you Leeper and I think I will attempt working up some 200 grain loads. This will be a good compromise, especially if I can achieve some fairly tight groups along the way. So far, the little Remington has performed remarkably well for a low priced rifle but I am careful when trying loads approaching maximum levels. My best groups so far from the SPS tactical have been rougly two inches at two hundred yards with 165 gr Garme Kings. That's with a 3 by 9 Zeiss scope piloting the ship.

[Leeper]

Even from the 20 inch barrel, you will be able to achieve velocities near 2500 fps. This isn't half bad. I have gotten pretty good results with 200 MK's from various 308's but to tell the truth, I've had even better results with the 155 Lapua bullets.
The 200's are a good bullet in the wind but they kick harder and this makes these loads harder to handle.
I shot 200's from a 30/06 one year. The load chronographed at 2780 fps and shot well but I never did score as well with it as I could with lighter recoiling rifles. Regards, Bill.

[Robmcleod82]

Hey sorry i meant 175 grain, whoops

[Rem - P14]

Hey sorry i meant 175 grain, whoops

That's quite okay:
The only reason I caught that one is that I use Sierra bullets almost exclusively. I kinda admire the guys who can quote weights and loads from several different manufacturers at any given time but I doubt if that will ever be me.
Thank-you for your input.

[Rem - P14]

Even from the 20 inch barrel, you will be able to achieve velocities near 2500 fps. This isn't half bad. I have gotten pretty good results with 200 MK's from various 308's but to tell the truth, I've had even better results with the 155 Lapua bullets.
The 200's are a good bullet in the wind but they kick harder and this makes these loads harder to handle.
I shot 200's from a 30/06 one year. The load chronographed at 2780 fps and shot well but I never did score as well with it as I could with lighter recoiling rifles. Regards, Bill.

Thanks,
Sounds like good info and I'm glad you reminded of the 150/155 grain territory of bullets. I have experience with 150s in my .303 but so far the 150s I loaded for my .308 sit awaiting actual field testing. From what I've read so far and what you just said to me, the 155s are the way to go for the best accuracy. As was said earlier, any curiosity I have for the very heavy 200 grainers comes more from a whimsical notion than any true need.
Thanks again.