That's why M1 garand became very expensive , Thanks to Hollywood ,
the GOV must spend the taxes they collected , US Military receive high budget , ...
By the way I have a custom built M14 GWLA with heavy Keriger barrel 22 inch 1:10 NM , shoots better than all semi auto 308 on the market , no matter what bullet weight 147 or 175 . an accurate rifle will shoot acurate in any bullet because we have too many factors will affect on accuracy and that amount of twist rate doesn't count (fact) , However I would go with 1:10 instead of 1:11:25 , ( my own experience and opinion.)
Please do not share your opinion as a fact because US military spent money on project , so they had a reason to spend more on program and build new weapons.
Like I said even if 1:11:25 selected by all military
you offered here for everyone to google and find information , THAT IS THE ROOT OF PROBLEMS , you follow pen pencil and paper ,
Stop asking questions from google ,
I went through this about 15 years ago with all the same arguments. I was able to get 1;10 twist barrels to also shoot exceptionally well. But I had to reload. It was a rare barrel in that twist rate that shot 168 and 175 SMK Federal Gold match ammo well. Usually 1 moa for 5 round shots. Some would give the odd weird flier with the lower velocity Federal Gold. Not acceptable for a precision rifle.
Then I found out about this rifle called the Remington 5R milspec. Took it out and put in factory match ammunition. Shoots like a custom, without having to tweak reloads. Just a 2.8 OAL, 168 or 175 SMK round with normal load. Nothing special, easy to get and often on sale. When I do reload it took me all of 2 seconds to get the right load. I just looked up the pre M14 M118LR specs and based it off that. Easy sub .5 moa.
So now you are stating that I'm basing all of this on the internet. I own and have owned a lot of different rifles. 308 is one of my favourite calibres to shoot.
So... you don't trust the US military doing the research to create the Nato precision 7.62x51 rounds known as M852, M118 and M118LR. The research on production of the round was also down by Federal and the direct result for sport shooters is Federal Gold match ammo. There are also other designations that differe slightly such as the Naval warfare center with MK316 mod 0 etc.
We could get into all the government procurement etc that you want. I've had experience as the end user of this process. But.. let's not wast time with the process. I will say one thing, if it wasn't working there wouldn't have been 15,000 M24 rifles in the US military.
So let's bring it more home. Since I"m only basing my experience from the internet....
Canada's semi auto precision project:
So Canada in 2004 needed to field a semi auto precision rifle for the sniper's spotters. This was a direct need for Afghanistan deployment. Much like the US with the M110, the UK with the LMT MWS and the Germans with the G28. Well a company many know on here since they are a sponsor put together some Armalite AR10t rifles for the contract. The contract was small with about 18 rifles only along with replacements when needed. The rifle they put together was an Armalite AR10 with 24" Lothar Walther barrel in 1:11.25 twist rate. Badger ordnance stabalizer handguard with accuracy speaks A2 stock. They were obviously given parameters they had to meet by the Canadian military including the ammunition it would have to shoot. There were 6 prototype rifles (1 extra as a spare as well) and they underwent 200 rounds each by the military for testing before the design was accepted and then fielded in combat by Canada.
So, the barrel length I can understand only because it was a spotters rifle and likely dictated by the contract the length they wanted. But that was an odd twist rate to choose. Lothar Walther made 1:10 back then. In fact most AR10 rifles back then that were precision rifles had that twist rate. I know because I owned one. The civilian AR10 target rifle came with a 1:10 twist barrel. This was a small project with what at the time were less common and expensive additions such as the Badger stablizer handguard, GG&G tridium backup sights and the accuracy speaks adjustable stock pad for the A2.
Here's a photo of the two I own. One is a confirmed one of the prototype rifles. The other is a bring back (IE one of the uppers that was replaced for the military. For a while rather than servicing the uppers, they were just replaced and some were able to buy them. That however stopped).
I own two of these fairly rare rifles. I have owned three, however I sold one to a buddy. I have shot 4 of these rifles. They are all sub .5 moa with off the shelf match ammo, or ammo loaded to the M118LR specs. There are three of us that used to shoot together that own these rifles. We also all own Remington 5R milspecs and interchange the ammunition with those bolt guns and these semi autos.
Here's a group a buddy of mine shot with one of these rifles using my M118LR round. He was using a 3-9X Burris fullfield II scope, harris bipod and rear bag. 100 yards (Correction it was 100 metres) , 5 rounds. Shame he threw the 4th round.
Here's a quick thread on his first outing with his AR10t. We had two of them on the line that day.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/533010-Thursday-with-the-twins-at-the-Mission-range?highlight=Mission+twins
So here is a specialized project for the Canadian department of national defence, with precision semi autos for combat. The ammunition paramaters were set. Looking at the options selected at the time, this wasn't a lowest bid project. The company sold many military grade rifles including AI. Yet here we are.
For those wondering,
the company was Wolverine supplies.
My personal experience. I own 308 rifles with 1:10 twist, even one with a 1:12 twist. Yes I can get them to shoot. But... my experience with the 1:10 twist barrels has been I have to tailor the ammunition for the barrel in order for this to work. Generally they shoot 168 and 175 Federal Gold marginally. About 1 moa. Reload and up the powder and you are good to go. Usually in the 44 varget range. However Federal Gold is in the 43 varget range. Some of my rifles don't make the accuracy node. The round stablizes fine. But the overall of the barrel with twist rate, barrel length doesn't make the accuracy node without reloading. I guess it does if you find 1 moa acceptable out of rifles that are easily capable of sub .5 moa.
So I'm basing what I know from what I read am I? Well another group of us were the first with the Kel tec RFB. Our had 18.6" 1:11.25 twist barrels on them. The shorter length did pose an issue and is why I like 20-24" barrels for semi auto. Along with the Kel tec barrel quality, it being chrome lined and the rifle being built off the barrel as the spine. The test RFB was sent to a well known bolt shooter who did up a bunch of reloads etc. The reloads were wrong. The best was about 2-2.5 moa. We were told that this was the best the rifle would do. So we took it upon ourselves to do our own ammo testing. Here's the thread: Spoiler alert , 1.5 moa with 5 rounds at 100 was achieved. The best ammo? 168 Federal gold with 168 reloads ie M852 round being dead on for this rifle. We actually reloaded at the range as well. Good times. If nothing else it shows you that I tend to do some testing myself rather than just reading as a few on here seem to keep suggesting.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/552746-RFB-initial-thoughts-Range-report-***JANUARY-31st-ammo-test-at-bottom-of-OP***?highlight=RFB
Now I take my 5R milspecs, MY AR10t rifles, LMT MWS (20" SS Mike rock barrel), etc etc and they shoot the same off the shelf ammunition or the one reload I have. I can interchange the ammunition between all of them and they shoot sub .5 moa. I've already factored in other variables such as chambers, barrel lengths and barrel quality. This isn't new to me, nor is it based off the internet. I will also add that my Stag 10 was built with the same premise. I took it out the other day and sighted it in. The results were exactly what I expected. Predictable, accurate and interchangeable with my other rifles.
Right here is the main issue that many don't seem to understand.
I want to be able to shoot the same ammunition in all of them, without tailoring the round to the gun. Not just bullet length/weight but actually loaded ammunition. Who else has that same goal? Military. It's not a matter of actual accuracy as I can also reload to the barrel just like everyone else. It's a matter of accuracy out of the box with the off the shelf standard match ammo. Federal Gold is the benchmark for off the shelf match ammunition.
When I get my PGW I will request the 1:11.25 twist rate. You guys/gals are free to choose whatever you want. That's what's so great about having choices.