Actually the 1:7's would better stabilize the 77gr SMKs. In my brief experience with 1:8 twist barrels, they seem to favor 69gr over the 75gr and 77grs. Lets just say I won't be buying 1:8 barrels anymore.
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I prefer 1x8 over 1x7 for 75-77gr ammo.
I find 1x8 to stabilize 77gr (real Mk262 Mod 1 and Black Hill red box) just as good at 1x7 and to provide higher velocities everytime I've chron'd. 1x7 was needed back in the day to stabilze M856 64gr tracer in M249s. The 64gr tracer projectile (orange tip) is actually longer than a 77gr OTM (Sierra MatchKing).
I won't be shooting tracer out of my stainless AR precision barrels so I use 1x8 when it's available to me. I also don't find any real repeatable accuracy differences between 1x7 and 1x8, I typically only see differences in velocity usually 30-50fps faster with 1x8.
You missed the point. The point is that if the OP wants a MK12, the barrel is what makes a MK12 a real MK12. The military spent thousands of dollars to design a specific barrel profile that met certain requirements. For example, two of the requirements may have been that the barrel profile had to accept the Ops Inc suppressor and another may have been that the barrel had to be as light weight as possible while still being stiff enough to provide a certain level of accuracy. Any other barrel and it's not a MK12.
Among other things, one of the identifying characteristics of an M4 carbine is the grenade launcher notch in the barrel. It's not an M4 carbine without the M4 barrel profile, imo.
I don't care if its not the hand turned barrel turned by the man himself. After thinking for a while about what would be practical, reviewing your much appreciated comments, I have decided to take Sticks suggestions for four reasons.
1. Do I really need a top of the line barrel capable of MOA or better for shooting at paper and a few unfortunate hogs? No
2. Do I care what rail will be used, or how rugged the rail will be for my practical application of shooting paper? No
3. Do I think the Mk12mod1 looks absolutely gorgeous? Hell yes!
4. Are the ops inc goodies required? No, but maybe they will encourage me to eventually get a ops inc 12th.
Thank you for your comments guys. I have been so fed up with getting the most accurate rifle that I failed to realize if it was practical to have such a rifle for nothing other than shooting paper.