Hennie Dreyer wrote:Help me understand....normal barrel twists for .308's are in the 1:12 range, depicting (according to info I have) bullets between 165 - 168gr.
I learn from the replies above that lighter grains are used generally - forgive me my ignorance - but am I missing something?
1:12 is pretty common, 1:10 is just as common as well.
150gr or 168gr will shoot find in the 1:12. The 1:10 could handle heavier again... 180gr, 200gr etc.
It all depends on what you want to do though.
A 168gr will have a higher BC than a 150gr in the same bullet. It will shooter better, but heavier bullets also have more recoil.
If you're competition shooting and a 168gr bullet makes your groups better then it's worth the extra recoil.
If you're hunting though, a 150gr kills anything just as dead as a 168gr but with less recoil.
If you 're shooting 1.5" groups with the 150gr or 1" groups with the 168gr bullets as a deer hunter, it doesn't make a difference either way when you're out in the field. A deer isn't the size of a postage stamp obviously... That 1.5" group from the 150gr bullets will be more than enough to hit home.
You might as well take the 150gr and subject yourself to less recoil. You'll still be having deer for dinner either way.
It's all about what you need or want to do.