300 WSM Rate of Twist?

LeePeterson

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Hi! I was wondering if anyone knew what the best rate of twist is for accuracy in a 300 WSM pumping out 180Gr slugs? I've seen a couple 300WSM rifles with 1 in 10" twist and 1 in 11" twist.

Thanks, Happy Shooting! :D
 
either twist rate you have selected would be fine. With the longer VLD bullets alot of folks have been using the 1-10 with good results.

Here is how they arrive at barrel twist rates.
i copied the post i can not take credit for the below explaination.

Gunsmiths generally use the Greenhill Formula to determine the optimal twist for a given bullet. The formula is T=150(d/r) for velocities from about 1500 to 2800 fps. Substitute 180 for the 150 value for velocities exceeding 2800 fps. "T" is the twist rate. "d" is the bullet diameter. "r" is the bullet length to diameter ratio (length of bullet divided by diameter). In .308, it works out fairly well. Sierra 168 grain Matchking is 0.308 inches in diameter. Bullet length is about 1.210 inches so we have a length to diameter ratio of 3.929. Plugging this value into the formula and using the 150 constant (the proven best velocity for the 168 grain MK is 2550 - 2600 fps), we get T=150 x (.308/3.929); T=150 x 0.078; T=11.76 inches or 11 3/4 inch twist …. One rotation of the bullet for every 11.76 inches of barrel traveled. This is very, very close to the "standard" 12 twist barrels on our PSS's and on my Chandler and one of the reasons they shoot the 168s so well. The 175 Matchkings do not perform as well in the 12 twist barrels. Again diameter is 0.308 inches. Bullet length is 1.257 inches, resulting in an ld ratio of 4.081. … plugging into formula (optimal velocity is 2500 to 2550 fps so we will use the 150 constant again) T = 150 x (.308/4.081); T = 150 x 0.0755; T = 11.320. That approximate half inch twist difference makes a big difference in my guns. 12 twist barrels tolerate 175s but do not excel with them. My Hart 26" 10 twist barreled .308 tactical rig, built by John Eckenrode on a Remington 700 SA in a McMillan A2 stock with Ross guard and Leupold 3.5 x 10 M3 LR, eats 168s, 175s, 180s and 190s alive. I'll never go back to slower barrels. The general rule of thumb is to use the fastest twist you can tolerate and match to the longest bullet (usually heaviest) you intend to use for the life of the barrel. I don't remember the exact source of the Greenhill formula. He was a Brit and developed it back in the late 1920s
 
HI Lee
Seeing you are looking at the 300 wsm we know the its diameter is 308. It would be the length that is unknown. Someone else might know which bullet is used in the winchester case, be it Nosler or Hornady or even Barnes. For a rough guide you can use the length of the 175 sierra Match king and come up with the approx twist rate
 
Thanks for all the info Trevor60. It got me confused as hell though. I called a local dealer and he told me the 1 in 10" twist is best for the 180s at this speed.
 
The 1:10 is your safe bet, I use a 1:14 in one of my rifles and it is very accurate shooting 168 SMK bullets, it also handles the 175 SMK.
bigbull
 
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