Ok, so i understand that the twist rate in a rifle determines how well the bullet will be stabilized. I was just looking at the Remington SPS and its twist rate is 10". I then had a look at the Weatherby Vangaurd and its twist rate is 1-12". So what is the difference between a 10" twist rate and a 1-12" twist rate? Does this mean the 10" can stabilize heavier bullets or vise versa?Thankz

Yes, the faster the twist the better stabilization of heavier bullets. My Remington Model Seven also has the 1:10 twist rate and seems to work best with the 150's. Have tried 165's and 180's, but the lightweight doesn't digest them well.

If you check over at Brownell's tech site there's a twist rate chart for most all the calibers available.

Thanks faucettb and kdub i found that chart at brownell's. So can you still fire over 180's in a 12" twist or will it throw the bullet right off?

If the bullet is expected to have a higher velocity than normal, a slower twist will still stabilize a longer/heavier bullet. The reverse is also true; a slow bullet needs a faster twist.

Actually it's bullet length that determines if a certain twist rate will stabilize it. Longer usually equates with heavier so that's the general rule. There are exceptions such as some of the lighter extremely long copper bullets that contain no lead and some of the extremly heavy bullets with tungsten cores that are short for their weight.

The only way to really tell is to shoot those specific bullets in your rifle. Any other way is merely guessing.

Either twist rate can be expected to handle commercially available .308 ammo. You don't (commonly) shoot 220gr. bullets in a .308 like you do a .30-06, so 1-10" isn't needed, but barrel makers tend to use the same tooling if they can, and 1-10" works for the .30-06 and .300 Win Mag, etc. So they'll use whatever they have, and if new tooling is warranted, then maybe think about optimizing it for one particular chambering.

What your rifle will prefer is something you won't know till you shoot it.

But I wouldn't sweat the twist rate unless you plan on doing very specific competitive shooting, like 1,000 yards with the .308, or maybe serious hunter benchrest.

Yes, the faster the twist the better stabilization of heavier bullets. My Remington Model Seven also has the 1:10 twist rate and seems to work best with the 150's. Have tried 165's and 180's, but the lightweight doesn't digest them well.

My Remington is a 1:10 twist and likes the 150s best as well. It is an '06 and is on and off with the 180 grs. I posted some reports on here last fall but after putting a couple hundred rounds through it I have seen a big difference in the performance with the larger bullets. I really doesn't like them. With that said, I still have the cheapo stock on which I am getting ready to replace with a Boyd's laminate so we will see if that helps.

But I wouldn't sweat the twist rate unless you plan on doing very specific competitive shooting, like 1,000 yards with the .308, or maybe serious hunter benchrest.

No i wont sweat it, im just curious thats all. I own the Remington 700 SPS .308 which is 10" twist, so i guess i can use anything up to 220 grains if i have to.thanks guys!

My old Win 70 .308 had a 1:12 twist and would shoot up to the 200 gr Speer just fine. I shot many cloverleaf groups with 165 gr boattails from Sierra and Hornady. My current Model 70 is a 30-06 with 1:10 twist and will keep any bullet weight I've tried in an inch on a good day.

While on the topic of twist rates vs heavy bullets, how would a .308 go firing a 220 grain projectile? I have read that 180 grains is the max a .308 can handle (properly). So why do they make 220 grains for the .308, What would you use the 220's on and at what range?

Have never seen a 220 gr factory load for a .308 Win. Being a handloader, my question would be: How do you load a 220 gr bullet to COL and still have room for a sufficient powder charge in the case? It can be done, but doubt if anyone would be satisfied with the ballistics or accuracy.

While on the topic of twist rates vs heavy bullets, how would a .308 go firing a 220 grain projectile? I have read that 180 grains is the max a .308 can handle (properly). So why do they make 220 grains for the .308, What would you use the 220's on and at what range?

I have seen 308 Win factory loads up to 200gr (Federal, old red box). When you ask "why do they make 220 grains for the .308?" do you mean reloading components? .308" diameter bullets are standard for 30 caliber cartridges, so 220gr .308 bullets can be used in 30-06, 30-40 Krag, 300 Winchester Magnum, etc. They could even be loaded in the 308 Winchester case if you wanted, but velocities would be low, probably about like the old 30-40. In this age of high quality projectiles, I see no reason to load a 220gr bullet in any 30 caliber cartridge (unless you are talking about VLD bullets for long range shooting).

I have seen 308 Win factory loads up to 200gr (Federal, old red box). When you ask "why do they make 220 grains for the .308?" do you mean reloading components? .308" diameter bullets are standard for 30 caliber cartridges, so 220gr .308 bullets can be used in 30-06, 30-40 Krag, 300 Winchester Magnum, etc. They could even be loaded in the 308 Winchester case if you wanted, but velocities would be low, probably about like the old 30-40. In this age of high quality projectiles, I see no reason to load a 220gr bullet in any 30 caliber cartridge (unless you are talking about VLD bullets for long range shooting).


Then one would need a faster twist...

I have seen 308 Win factory loads up to 200gr (Federal, old red box). When you ask "why do they make 220 grains for the .308?" do you mean reloading components? .308" diameter bullets are standard for 30 caliber cartridges, so 220gr .308 bullets can be used in 30-06, 30-40 Krag, 300 Winchester Magnum, etc. They could even be loaded in the 308 Winchester case if you wanted, but velocities would be low, probably about like the old 30-40. In this age of high quality projectiles, I see no reason to load a 220gr bullet in any 30 caliber cartridge (unless you are talking about VLD bullets for long range shooting).


Then one would need a faster twist...

Yes, I was thinking in this case of the fellows that use 30 caliber magnum rounds and VLD bullets for long range shooting. Different scenario entirely than the Remington 700 SPS hunting rifle the poster is talking about. The serious long-range shooters often use very specialized equipment.

.308" diameter bullets are standard for 30 caliber cartridges, so 220gr .308 bullets can be used in 30-06, 30-40 Krag, 300 Winchester Magnum, etc. They could even be loaded in the 308 Winchester case if you wanted, but velocities would be low, probably about like the old 30-40. In this age of high quality projectiles, I see no reason to load a 220gr bullet in any 30 caliber cartridge (unless you are talking about VLD bullets for long range shooting).

Ok i get it now. So has anyone used a 200 or 220 grainer in a .308? I guess you would not use any heavier than 180's.

I was given a box of .300 Win Mag 180g from a friend and he said i could use them in my .308. Is this correct?

You can use the bullets. Both the 300 WM and the 308 use .308 dia. bullets. If you're talking the loaded cartridge - no, it ain't gonna fit! :D

I think you might be confusing "bullets" and "cartridges" (or as some people say, CALIBERS, although technically CALIBER describes the diameter of the projectile).

There are not really such things as 300 Win Mag 180gr BULLETS, only 300 Win Mag CARTRIDGES loaded with 180gr bullets. If your friend gave you 300 Win Mag CARTRIDGES, then no, you cannot use them in your 308 Win rifle. If he gave you 180gr 30 caliber BULLETS that he used to load in 300 Win Mag, but you want to load in your 308 Win cartridge cases, then that should work.

As a side note, Winchester Fail Safe bullets used to be classified into separate classes for standard and magnum cartridges because they were designed to expand properly at different velocities. They were safe to shoot in any of the regular 30 caliber cartridges, but terminal performance was different for each bullet. That is a case of a BULLET being better suited for handloading in one cartridge or another, but isn't the same thing as saying there is a 300 Win Mag BULLET.

And to answer the post before this one, I have shot bullets of 200 grains in a 1:12 twist .308 Win with good results. I don't personally know anybody who uses a 220 grain bullet - it's not a very popular weight anymore, and I doubt you'll find anyone who uses it in 308. Still, your rifle will stabilize the 220 gr round noses if you should want to try them. You'll likely get anywhere from 2200 to 2400fps velocity, depending.

I think you might be confusing "bullets" and "cartridges" (or as some people say, CALIBERS, although technically CALIBER describes the diameter of the projectile).

There are not really such things as 300 Win Mag 180gr BULLETS, only 300 Win Mag CARTRIDGES loaded with 180gr bullets. If your friend gave you 300 Win Mag CARTRIDGES, then no, you cannot use them in your 308 Win rifle. If he gave you 180gr 30 caliber BULLETS that he used to load in 300 Win Mag, but you want to load in your 308 Win cartridge cases, then that should work.

As a side note, Winchester Fail Safe bullets used to be classified into separate classes for standard and magnum cartridges because they were designed to expand properly at different velocities. They were safe to shoot in any of the regular 30 caliber cartridges, but terminal performance was different for each bullet. That is a case of a BULLET being better suited for handloading in one cartridge or another, but isn't the same thing as saying there is a 300 Win Mag BULLET.

And to answer the post before this one, I have shot bullets of 200 grains in a 1:12 twist .308 Win with good results. I don't personally know anybody who uses a 220 grain bullet - it's not a very popular weight anymore, and I doubt you'll find anyone who uses it in 308. Still, your rifle will stabilize the 220 gr round noses if you should want to try them. You'll likely get anywhere from 2200 to 2400fps velocity, depending.

Yes i meant .308" projectiles. Sorry