So which is a better AR upper option in .300 BO 1:7 vs 1:8 twist barrel

timc

Ok, now that I have my thoughts turning to an AR upper in .300 BO which would you choose 1:7 or 1:8 twist. I will probably be shooting 110 or 125 grain bullets 99% of the time but may try my hand at some 220 grain bullets too. I am thinking the 1:8 would be fine because I doubt I will shoot much in the whisper range.

Decisions, decisions, decisions....hmmmm

Linefinder

It's easier to have too little twist than too much.

Just sayin'.

Mike

timc

Linefinder wrote: »

It's easier to have too little twist than too much.

Just sayin'.

Mike

Kind of what I was thinking, I really think the 1:8 is what I need but just want to be sure; this is a new caliber for me so no experience. Dogonit and I said I wasn't going to add anymore!

Bigslug

A Blackout shooting subsonic has a reason to exist.

A supersonic Blackout is a castrated .30-30.

Spin 'em fast and optimize for a suppressor. The lighter bullets won't care, the heavy ones might, and the upper will be easier to re-sell.

BigDanS

I think the AK barrel standard twist rate is 1:9.5, so in the 125 gr range of .308's I would go 1:8 minimum and 1:7 if possible, especially if you intend to lob 220 grain round nose.

FWIW I have considered this a lot. It is better than a 5.56 at 50 yards to 200 yards energy wise and it is between the 5.56 and .308 at around 1600 fpe at top loads. Plenty good hawg medicine and deer too.

Since I already have several AK's and SKS's I cannot justify it in my collection.

The good news is you have everything you need to load for it, except the dies and brass.

D

timc

Heck if justification was needed I would have quit buying guns years ago!

CHIRO1989

BigDanS wrote: »

I think the AK barrel standard twist rate is 1:9.5, so in the 125 gr range of .308's I would go 1:8 minimum and 1:7 if possible, especially if you intend to lob 220 grain round nose.

FWIW I have considered this a lot. It is better than a 5.56 at 50 yards to 200 yards energy wise and it is between the 5.56 and .308 at around 1600 fpe at top loads. Plenty good hawg medicine and deer too.

Since I already have several AK's and SKS's I cannot justify it in my collection.

The good news is you have everything you need to load for it, except the dies and brass.

D

Very poor enabling Dan:bang:, you go stand in the corner and think about what you said:tooth:.

tennmike

Go with the 1:7 twist. The lighter bullets won't care, and the heavy bullets will thank you. Seriously, buy the barrel with the twist rate to stabilize the heaviest bullet you intend to send downrange.

Gene L

I wouldn't think there's that much difference, but I'd go with the 7 twist.

timc

Ok, hows this deal sound? I can get a DPMS 16" upper in 1:7 twist, heavy contour barrel, charging handle and bolt carrier group, 200 pieces of brass, dies, the turret for my press at a price of $675.50 delivered to my door. I have been shopping around and this is the best price I can find with everything I need to get started.

This sound good or is there something else out there that sounds like a better deal?

tennmike

A DPMS upper you describe goes for almost $700, so I guess that deal ain't all that bad.

timc

tennmike wrote: »

A DPMS upper you describe goes for almost $700, so I guess that deal ain't all that bad.

I didn't think so, the brass is almost $150 by itself which is high but at least it will get me going. I guess since I have some 125 grain bullets I can start there until I can find some 110 grain.

tennmike

Sounds like you have everything but the light bullets. I'd say get it. It sounds like a fun upper to have.
Hope the reloading components start getting more plentiful. I need some stuff and can't find it anywhere.

timc

tennmike wrote: »

Sounds like you have everything but the light bullets. I'd say get it. It sounds like a fun upper to have.
Hope the reloading components start getting more plentiful. I need some stuff and can't find it anywhere.

Ok, its done, the new upper and components are on the way, should have it by the 10th, I hope I like it!

I know what you mean about components being hard to find. Varget is still tough at times to get, .50 cal bullets for my Desert Eagle are impossible to find and I have had .308 bullets for hunting on backorder since December. Don't even get me started on .22 lr!

BigDanS

Was that a one of a kind deal?

D

timc

BigDanS wrote: »

Was that a one of a kind deal?

D

No sir, off the shelf pricing from MidwayUSA.
DPMS A3 upper: $462.99
200 pieces of .300 BO brass: $147.96
Lee Pacesetter 3 die set: $34.99
Lee 4 hole classic turret: $13.29

This was still cheaper than anything I saw on gunbroker or anywhere else for a complete upper. The handguard will change if I like it and decide to keep it, I'll probably go with a quad rail. Still thinking of dedicating this to a night time only upper. The more I check into the ballistics I like what I see for a 200 yard max rifle.

Zee

Sale at Midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/247795/dpms-ar-15-a3-flat-top-upper-assembly-300-aac-blackout-1-in-7-twist-16-heavy-contour-barrel-chrome-lined-chrome-moly-matte-with-glacierguard-handguard-single-rail-gas-block-a2-flash-hider

timc

Zee wrote: »

Sale at Midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/247795/dpms-ar-15-a3-flat-top-upper-assembly-300-aac-blackout-1-in-7-twist-16-heavy-contour-barrel-chrome-lined-chrome-moly-matte-with-glacierguard-handguard-single-rail-gas-block-a2-flash-hider

Story of my life, that's the one I ordered and it will be delivered today, of course it wasn't on sale when I bought it!

Zee

timc wrote: »

Story of my life, that's the one I ordered and it will be delivered today, of course it wasn't on sale when I bought it!

Sorry. :bang:

timc

Zee wrote: »

Sorry. :bang:

Ehh, no big deal, it won't make or break me either way but I could have bought almost 100 more cases for that discount!

Zee

I just got the email today and instantly thought of you. Day late and $63 short.

snake284

tennmike wrote: »

Go with the 1:7 twist. The lighter bullets won't care, and the heavy bullets will thank you. Seriously, buy the barrel with the twist rate to stabilize the heaviest bullet you intend to send downrange.

I agree. Whatever twist rate you buy is what you're going to have. There's no changing it and whatever you think will be your heaviest bullet should govern this. If, on the other hand, you decide to shoot some ridiculously lighter bullet in it, and it would over stabilize the bullet, doing some strange things with your accuracy or causing the bullet to disintegrate or something, then you just go up a bullet weight until things get stabile again and don't look back. If the bullet you try isn't big enough it's easy to go up, but if it's too big to stabilize in your barrel then it might limit what you can hunt with it.

timc

snake284 wrote: »

I agree. Whatever twist rate you buy is what you're going to have. There's no changing it and whatever you think will be your heaviest bullet should govern this. If, on the other hand, you decide to shoot some ridiculously lighter bullet in it, and it would over stabilize the bullet, doing some strange things with your accuracy or causing the bullet to disintegrate or something, then you just go up a bullet weight until things get stabile again and don't look back. If the bullet you try isn't big enough it's easy to go up, but if it's too big to stabilize in your barrel then it might limit what you can hunt with it.

I agree and that is why I did go with the 1:7 twist barrel. Going to start with the 125's since I can't find any 110 grain bullets but will also do some testing with the 220's for sure since I do have several hundred on hand already.

tennmike

timc wrote: »

I agree and that is why I did go with the 1:7 twist barrel. Going to start with the 125's since I can't find any 110 grain bullets but will also do some testing with the 220's for sure since I do have several hundred on hand already.

Tim, Graf & Sons has Hornady 110 grain round nose in stock. Better strike while the iron is hot if these will work.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/6251

timc

tennmike wrote: »

Tim, Graf & Sons has Hornady 110 grain round nose in stock. Better strike while the iron is hot if these will work.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/6251

I do have a bunch of the .30 carbine bullets but I am looking for something more like the Vmax.

tennmike

How about these? Widener's has them in stock.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100001673&dir=278|281|1079|1126|1583

timc

tennmike wrote: »

How about these? Widener's has them in stock.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100001673&dir=278|281|1079|1126|1583

Awesome, thanks!

That is what I am looking for, just ordered 400.

tennmike

timc wrote: »

Awesome, thanks!

That is what I am looking for, just ordered 400.

Cool! Glad I could help enable this project! :tooth: