In a 1:8 twist barrel, what is the range in bullet weight can you reasonably run? Are there any charts available online for twist and bullet weights for the .308? Thank you in advance. Jim
Here's a place to start. Gunsmiths generally use the Greenhill Formula to determine the optimal twist for a given bullet. The formula is T=150(d/r) for velocities from about 1500 to 2800 fps. Substitute 180 for the 150 value for velocities exceeding 2800 fps. "T" is the twist rate. "d" is the bullet diameter. "r" is the bullet length to diameter ratio (length of bullet divided by diameter). In .308, it works out fairly well. Sierra 168 grain Matchking is 0.308 inches in diameter. Bullet length is about 1.210 inches so we have a length to diameter ratio of 3.929. Plugging this value into the formula and using the 150 constant (the proven best velocity for the 168 grain MK is 2550 - 2600 fps), we get T=150 x (.308/3.929); T=150 x 0.078; T=11.76 inches or 11 3/4 inch twist
I not a rocket scientist on ths topic, but from the little I know a 1 in 8 twist is not needed for most commercially available 308 loads. So unless you reload it's not needed.
I believe there are some disadvantages to fast twist rates too. Perhaps MSH can fill us in on the downside of fast twist rates.
The spin imparted on the bullet by the rifling stabilizes the bullet like a gyroscope. The bullet will keep its orientation, to a point, as long as it is spinning fast enough. The bullet is traveling perfectly true to its axis as it leaves the barrel but then begins to fall. It accelerates downward. As it falls it now is no longer traveling true to its axis. The bullet would need to point down a little bit more as it increases the downward velocity. If the bullet orientation could fallow this arced movement, that would be perfectly stabilized. If the bullet is over stabilized it will continue to point in the direction it left the barrel and pointing up relative to its direction of travel. This adds pressure to the bottom of the bullet and will cause it to move left or right like a curve ball, and will also decrease its ballistic potential.
There is a lot more to it than just bullet length, weight and shape. The balance of all these parameters with the air pressure on it, the velocity it is traveling, center of balance/mass point,air pressure, gravity, alignment of the moon and stars... :woohoo:
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