Trying to build a folding shorter, lighter, more compact bolt gun than my m24. What length barrel would you dudes suggest? It’s going in a AI AX chassis.
Shortest Barrel for 308
- Thread starter rothperson87
- Start date
What do you want to do with it?
My current bolt action 308s are 20" and am pretty happy with performance out to 800 yards. 16" isn't unreasonable for a 308. Ultimate Reloader did an episode comparing 308s with a 16" and 24" barrel that was fairly interesting.
My current bolt action 308s are 20" and am pretty happy with performance out to 800 yards. 16" isn't unreasonable for a 308. Ultimate Reloader did an episode comparing 308s with a 16" and 24" barrel that was fairly interesting.
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Nothing specific. Just want something short enough and light enough I can strap it to my pack and ruck around but still reach out and touch something. Leaning towards something in the 16-18" range.
I'd pay more attention to the difference in wind drift.
I feel like 16" is about as short as you want to go with a 308 shooting supersonic non suppressed. If you're talking subsonic suppressed the argument could be made for shorter.
Had zero issues shooting to 1K with my 16in DTA with factory 175 FGMM years ago.
Probably a bit easier nowadays with the sleeker FGMM 185 and the 178 Eld-m
Sure it'll keep you on your toes on a windy day and it'll keep your fundamentals honest but it's absolutely fine inside of 1k depending on your DA
If you plan to reload, you could throat it long and shoot 200/208 with RL17 at 2600+ FPS, it'll destroy your brass and the recoil impulse is wicked but you'll get 30-06 speeds out of a 16in 308. Wasn't worth the squeeze in my opinion but it used to be popular 15 years ago before the big creedmoor craze.
Probably a bit easier nowadays with the sleeker FGMM 185 and the 178 Eld-m
Sure it'll keep you on your toes on a windy day and it'll keep your fundamentals honest but it's absolutely fine inside of 1k depending on your DA
If you plan to reload, you could throat it long and shoot 200/208 with RL17 at 2600+ FPS, it'll destroy your brass and the recoil impulse is wicked but you'll get 30-06 speeds out of a 16in 308. Wasn't worth the squeeze in my opinion but it used to be popular 15 years ago before the big creedmoor craze.
I have a 16" Christensen Arms MPR in .308 Win that hammers. It's a 10" twist, so it handles the 210/215's really well. It also handles subs really well, too. Nice compact package when folded up with the can on it, and really lightweight, too (CF barrel, and aluminum/CF chassis).
IMO, if you're going for a subsonic suppressed ONLY setup under 16" barrel, then you might as well just go ahead and drop down to a more efficient subsonic cartridge in shorter barrels...Like .300 BLK.
Pretty much this, a sub sonic 308 is just a really heavy blackout, and the blackout is one of my favorite weapons at 125 yards and in with vmax 110’s, with subs it really does whisper.
I 100% agree and was going to mention that, but since the OP asked about the shortest 308 barrel, I didn't want it to go too far off track.
It’s The Hide man, nothing ever stays on track…
But, having owned plenty of guns in both cartridges, and loading my own subs for both cartridges for years… Unless you have a nice stash of Trail Boss sitting around, the easy-button route is to just opt for getting an 8lb. jug of Hodgdon H110 or Alliant 300-MP (my personal preference) magnum pistol powder, and build a 7” twist .300 BLK for pushing 190-220gr subs. It’s tons of fun!
I have some 14.25" three O hates with P&W SiCo ASR suppressor adapters.
They get about 2,500 fps with Fed T308T and Hornady TAP 168s which is plenty to give good terminal performance.
We've actually clocked some factory LTRs and 700Ps that were barely doing that with their longer barrels.
No problem on 2/3 IPSC steel at 750 but you better have your shit together if the wind starts blowing.
Pretty sure you will be super safe with a 16"***
*** You did not mention whether you plan on shooting suppressed. If Yes, you will be happy with any of the shorter lengths. If No, you will have a cool looking rifle that is an obnoxious MF'r with a short barrel.
IF you plan on running No suppressor AND adding a muzzle brake, you can at least double the obnoxious quotient due to the short barrel..
