R700 .308 oppinions?

[SteelW0LF]

I have a R700 .308 with two different barrels.

I know many of the pros and cons of the barrels lengths, but would like to here your pros and cons on my setup and while barrel you would go with.

I have a R700, in an AICS 2.0 chassis, with a SWFA SS 10x scope, Badger 20MOA scope Base and rings. It currently sits with a 26" Bull Barrel.

I am about to get a YHM-3300 Silencer when the paperwork comes back.

I also own a 20" bull barrel that I tried to cut my own threads on but messed them up on the lathe. So it would have to be cut back to 19" and threaded.


So what are your thoughts? 26" suppressed or 19" Suppressed?

Both barrels are esentially new, but factory, not aftermarket.

 

[3-0-hate]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

26" would be my choice.. But that makes for an awfully long stick with the can on the end.. Ever thought about cutting the 26" barrel down to around 22-24"? That would be ideal in my book.

But what do I know? I shoot 1100 yards with my 20" .308 and love every minute of it.

 

[37841anarchy]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

My votes for an 18" threaded. Its handy, plus with the can on or off she still has enough to reach 1k. My .02

 

[SteelW0LF]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

Thanks for the replies so far.

These are the considerations I'ld been mulling over in my head.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

I guess it would depend on your use. Are you hunting or target shooting?

Hunting, I would want the short of the two, easier to carry/pack and more through cover. Hitting targets at long range, the extra 100fps or so the longer barrel would offer maybe more desirable than portability.

 

[SteelW0LF]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

Soon after I recover from buying the suppressor. I want to look into getting another 700 action.

I still have the stock I had befor the AICS. So if I can find a donor action I'll basically have 2 rifles.

For the purposes I'm leaning twords. Sounds like I'll put the short barrel on it. The short barrel with the folding stock should make for a compact field gun.

Then I can put the 26" monstrosity on the non folding stock for bench shooting. That would be like 34.5" of just barrel and suppressor. Whew.


Thanks for helping me narrow down the dicision.

 

[Goodwood]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

Miles Coyote has it right on the money! Establish what your common maximum shot distance is and whether or not your round is likely to still be supersonic (or carrying an acceptable amount of KE for the game you are hunting). If it is going to meet that criteria with the 18 or 19 inch BBL than I think you are good to go with that length.

I would cut it AS SHORT AS I COULD while still maintaining acceptable velocity and KE to accomplish the goals you have for the gun. If it is shooting deer at <500 yards, or shooting a hole through paper at or about a kilometer, you could easily do the 18.

 

[Goodwood]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

Looks like I took too long to reply there. I think you are making the right decision with the short barrel.

 

[seanh]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

Load for the BBL and length isn't much of an issue. Being suppressed, you're probably not going for 1k targets so maybe load with something like Varget in 18"

 

[SteelW0LF]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

Maybe I stumbled into success then.

Varget is the powder I stockpile, and 175gr SMKs.

Sounds like I should be on the right track.

 

[Goodwood]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

Yes I think you are on track for sure. I'm shooting 44.5 gr. Varget with federal brass and the 175 SMK out of a 20" barrel and I'm supersonic past 1150 yards. I know the gun is 3/4 MOA to 850, but I only have 250 rounds through the 20" barrel, and It has not made it to a range with anything further so far.

I don't think you will have trouble with the shorter BBL at all, especially after it is suppressed because you may actually get a little velocity back from the can.

 

[JesseBB]

Re: R700 .308 oppinions?

Here is California only military and law enforcement folks can use the can on the end of the barrel. However I use my Left Hand LTR 20" and it will drop just about anything out to 600 yards. It has 1n12 and handles 125 to 175 grain bullets equally well.