Originally Posted by
TRIDENT82
Firstly, I've received two new barrels the last several weeks to evaluate, and both are 1/8. Thus far both have shown to be accurate barrels using a number of different weighted projectiles. That said, I believe currently it's en vogue to do barrels in 1/8...and has been over the last cpl. years at least. On paper it's makes perfect sense....a twist rate that accommodates not only heavy projectiles like 1/7, but also should have the ability to accurately shoot light projectiles that in theory go best with a 1/9.
The rub is the fact that my real world observations, and testing haven't shown the 1/8 to shoot lighter projectiles more accurately, and moreover they have shown to be less accurate with heavies than the 1/7. Every 1/7 I can remember testing has shot 40-60gr. poly tipped loads as good as it shoots 77gr. SMKs. I'm still waiting on my first lightweight projectile to vaporize coming out of a 1/7 barrel. So quite honestly, there is no real good reason for a 1/8 other than the great sounding theory that it shoots lighter bullets better than the 1/7. My pair of Rock 5R SS 1/7 barrels shoot the Hornady 40gr. Vmax into roughly a MOA 10rd group.