Ammo weights to use with the Rem SPS 1:12 barrel

[maximus83]

My Rem SPS Tac has the stock 20" factory barrel, 1:12 twist. I have seen a range of views on what is the largest bullet weight that this barrel can stabilize reliably at longer distances.

Some cite the "Greenhill formula" and suggest that 168gr is the max. Others say that their actual results with a 1:12 barrel have allowed them to use 175gr, 180gr, or even 190gr ammo with good results.

Has anyone else experimented with what bullet weights you can get good long-range results with in a 1:12 barrel?

[SHIVAN]

308 Win? I was able to use 175gr Black Hills with no issue to 300yds, furthest I shot it. I changed the barrel later because I used a suppressor on the gun, and never wanted a 175gr projectile to be less than stabilized leaving the barrel. So I went to 1:10 for that reason only.

I think the SR-25/Mk11/M110 and the ArmaLite SASS use 1:11.25, and they are suppressor "rated", so my preclusion to using heavier bullets in less than 1:10 may have been unfounded.

I didn't want to take the chance, however.

[decodeddiesel]

I was able to easily achieve sub MOA performance with BH 175gr out to 500 yards (4" group at this range). The rifle will stabilize 175gr no problem.

[maximus83]

I was able to easily achieve sub MOA performance with BH 175gr out to 500 yards (4" group at this range). The rifle will stabilize 175gr no problem.

Thanks Deco. Have you tried 180gr as well, to see what that would do?

I'm probably going to buy some Federal 175gr match ammo (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=728886) and try it out then, as I've found a number of folks including you saying that 175 worked fine in a 1:12 barrel.

[Hooligan]

delete

[Alpha Sierra]

I can tell you for a fact that my Howa 1500 (24" 1/12 tube) and my handloads duplicating M118LR (175 gr Nosler CC @ 2650 fps) will ring IDPA steel silhouettes at 900 yards without much problem.

You don't need a faster twist until you step up to the 190s and beyond.

[tuck]

A 1 in 12 twist will stabilize a 175 grain projectile just fine. I wouldn't go much heavier than that though.

I've been getting pretty good results with 175gr SMK's on top of 42.5grs of IMR 4064 lately. It still needs a bit of fine tuning, but it's definitely a sub MOA load out of my rifle (R700 SPS Tac).

[Elxx]

I have a SPS-V. The 150g (.9 inch avg @100yrds) and 155g(.82 inch @100yrds) work well for me. 168g (1.3moa avg [tested from 100-600]) are mediocre but the 175g[.9moa out to 1000yrds] work really well with varget.

Currently testing 165g SSTs with RL15.