1000 yard 308

Go 26-29" for maximum ballistics advantage, and the twist should probably be 1-8", 1-9", or 1-10", depending on what what bullets you intend to use. Heavier bullets require a faster twist to stabilize. A 1-9 or 1-10" with a 175 grainer would probably do nicely.
 
A fair number of folks shoot competition matches with .308s at 1,000 yards. The combination seems to be long barrels and muzzle velocities which allow low-drag bullets to stay supersonic all the way to the target.
 
Just shot to 1050 this last weekend...had no problems. My rifle only had 9 shots or so at it and 1 hit. BUT that was my first time at that distance and at a 8inch target, over a canyon, and many were within inches. At that range,especially over a canyon, winds can make a huge difference and are ever changing. So get some FGMM 175's or SW 175's and go for it.
 
1000 yds is often part of some NRA high power events. M14s, M1As, and ARs have done it in .308. What's to say it can't be done?

As far as twist rate, 1:11 would probably be fine for 168 gr. If you wanted to shoot 175 gr, I would probably go to something a little faster, but if you are really interested in long range shooting, you ought to pm Zak Smith here. I'd bet he could tell you all you need to know.

Jason
 
If you just like retro things, look at the 30/338 Win Mag. Mine is built on a Remington short action which means in order to remove a loaded round from the chamber, the bolt has to come out. The short action is a little more stable than a long action and doesn't require sleeving. I'm shooting a 28" barrel, 1:10" twist, full bull stainless with recessed crown. The bullets are 190 gr Winchester Match HPs and the powder is a pulled down IMR4350 with Federal 210M primers. The gun has shot the certified one hole group at the Houston Warehouse years back and still is capable of hitting a 2" bull at 900 yds. I'm not sure where my stepdad came across a truckload of generic antifreeze bottles but they have an orange 2" ball on them that's suppose to look like the sun. We fill them with water and place them at the far fence of the pasture which is a measured 900 yds. It's a fun thing to do. The gun was built by Bob Pease of the old Remington target shooting days. I've still got the receipt and his signature on the paperwork. Kinda neat. I've got a Sako action with a Hart barrelled the same and it shoots the same load. I mostly hunt with the Sako and 150gr Core-Loks at 3500'ps will disassemble a coyote at range.
 
If you particularly want a .308 to shoot at long range or even in Long Range competition, you will do just fine with a 10 or even 12 twist. The longer the barrel the better although when you get past 30" you are mostly buying sight radius for Palma shooting. Mine is a 28" because after that, PacNor charges extra by the inch.

The Sierra 175 gr MK will do fine. The 168 gr SMK will not. If you have a long barrel and heavy loads, you can go the other way with 155 gr Scenar or 155.5 gr Berger Palma bullets.
If you don't mind paying 60% more for bullets, the 185 grain Berger is getting to be the hot ticket according to a report I have back from the big Long Range match at Lodi WI.
 
"The 168 gr SMK will not."??????????????
Who ever told you that is kinda wrong. My 168 SMK's ALL make the 1000 target.
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I have been SHOWN that the 168 SMK cannot be counted on at 1000 yards by people trying to stretch a 300 metre bullet a little too far.

When I first got into F class there was a guy who had a lot of 168s that did pretty well at 1000. But when those were gone and he had to buy more, his shooting went to pot. Not just worse, wild.
 
Best 1000 yard match scores I've fired were with a 1:10 twist, 22 inch barrel on my Super Match M1A..........175 Grn SMK's @ about 2550 FPS
 
As stated before I don't see why any 308 rifle can't REACH out to 1000. Even 168's will reach 1000, but just unpredictably. Although if your at higher altitude then the 168's will do well still.
 
When I first got into F class there was a guy who had a lot of 168s that did pretty well at 1000. But when those were gone and he had to buy more, his shooting went to pot. Not just worse, wild.
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What would be the reasoning behind this happening? Quality of the new bullets were bad?
 
I'd recommend a barrel length at least 24", and a good warm load with a 175 SMK, 155 Lapua or Berger, or the most accurate bullet your rifle will shoot with a BC over 0.50. Twist 1:10 to 1:12 will be fine.

The furthest I've made somewhat reliable hits with my .308 was about 1350 yards, and there it was running out of steam. About half the bullets had no call, the other half hit where I was aiming. Switching to my .260 put that hit percentage around 90%. (The .308 load was a 155 Scenar from a 24" 1:12 at about 2900 fps, alt 4000'.)
 
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