Suppressors 16" or 18" barrel with a 7" suppressor for a lightweight Precision .308 build

[The White Death]

I am building a lightweight .308 AR10 and I am not sure if I should use a 16" Proof Research Carbon wrapped barrel or a 18" Christensen Arms Carbon barrel. I will be using a 7" Thunderbeast suppressor and intend to shoot targets out to 1000 yards. Both barrels have a 1:10 twist rate and I will be using 170+ grain bullets.

I know the 18" barrel is better for longer ranges and has better velocity but I am wondering if the added 7" from the suppressor will make a 16" barrel a better option as I want this to be lightweight but still accurate at long ranges.

Any input/advice would be helpful thanks

 

[Zak Smith]

It's up to you what total overall length you want. For me I'd go 18", use a rifle length gas system, and make sure I have an adjustable gas block. Most 16"'s don't use midlength gas and this isn't optimal.

 

[Bakwa]

Following as I'm about to re-barrel a bolt gun to either 16" or 18" in 308 for a similar purpose. Same suppressor and everything.

 

[Romeo458]

I have been experimenting with a DPMS take off barrel that I bought from a member on here. It was going to be swapped, but that's changed. The only downfall is it has a carbine length gas system, they do make 16" 308 barrels with mid length gas systems. The action was a little violent, and I should look in to the next weaight up in buffer.

I would recommend a mid length for a 16inc barrel. I have been experimenting with gas system using the PRI fat boy or an adjustable block. The adjustable block is the way to go. It has had better reliability in cycling the rifle. Accuracy is great at just over or just under 1moa depending on me, and the balistic charts are accurate to 500 yd, I have not taken it farther yet.

I planned to go with a 16" because going through the brush I'm going to enjoy the slightly shorter package. If I was not going to be using this out in the brush for hog or deer hunting and stuff like that I would have went with an 18inc.

 

[Gtscotty]

It's up to you what total overall length you want. For me I'd go 18", use a rifle length gas system, and make sure I have an adjustable gas block. Most 16"'s don't use midlength gas and this isn't optimal.

This, even with a mid-length gas system and an adjustable gas block on my last 16" .308, I think it was opening a bit early with a can on. I'd want a rifle length gas system if I got another .308 to run suppressed. To state the obvious, 16"-18" .308 is going to be a relatively poor 1,000 yd target rifle. Yes you can mortar them out there, and I've done that a bit, but there are a lot of better options.

 

[earthtrekker1775]

Personal preference, for a hunting/precision rig I would go 18" with a 5" TBAC can. If you already have the 7" inch can I would still recommend 18" with rifle length gas. I have a 20" bolt action with an ultra 7 on it and a Proof lightweight hunter stock. It balances well, still short enough to be plenty handy in tight woods but maintains more velocity for reaching out to 1000 yards. That being said, if I ever re-barrel it I will likely go 18" and my next rifle can will probably be an ultra 5 for a dedicated hunting rig.

 

[The White Death]

Personal preference, for a hunting/precision rig I would go 18" with a 5" TBAC can. If you already have the 7" inch can I would still recommend 18" with rifle length gas. I have a 20" bolt action with an ultra 7 on it and a Proof lightweight hunter stock. It balances well, still short enough to be plenty handy in tight woods but maintains more velocity for reaching out to 1000 yards. That being said, if I ever re-barrel it I will likely go 18" and my next rifle can will probably be an ultra 5 for a dedicated hunting rig.

Yeah I was debating if I should get the Ultra 5 because of how compact it is, but I really like the new DOMINUS-SR from Thunder Beast arms which is 6.95". That's good to know you think your 20" with an ultra 7 is short enough in tight woods, I was concerned if I put a 7" can on an 18" barrel it would be too long and heavy up front for the woods. I think I will end up going with an 18" barrel and I am still debating on the 5" or 7" can from Thunder Beast Arms.

 

[The White Death]

This, even with a mid-length gas system and an adjustable gas block on my last 16" .308, I think it was opening a bit early with a can on. I'd want a rifle length gas system if I got another .308 to run suppressed. To state the obvious, 16"-18" .308 is going to be a relatively poor 1,000 yd target rifle. Yes you can mortar them out there, and I've done that a bit, but there are a lot of better options.

Yeah I will probably go with an 18" rifle length gas system as the 16" from Proof Research is only an intermediate gas system. Also for easily reaching out to targets past 1000 yards I use my 6.5 RPR, I just wanted something not as long, more lightweight, and still able to hit targets out to 1000 yards.

 

[thorium]

Main difference is ballistics of course and it’s not as big of a difference as made Out to be,
Check this out: https://rifleshooter.com/2014/12/30...ato-barrel-length-versus-velocity-28-to-16-5/

I think the gas system comments are valid too for a smoother recoiling slightly more reliable rifle.

but OAL matters, maybe, ask yourself honestly if you’ll be carrying it in the field a lot more than shooting it from prone/bench/etc.

also if you’re going to shoot to 1,000 yds a lot, consider going 6.5 creedmoor.. I recently went through same decision on barrel length (for for a lighteeight bolt rifle) and chose 18” .308 becsuse I only own one other bolt gun also in 308 and wanted to keep it simple and always shoot FGMM 175 out of both. I kind of regret not going 6.5 creedmoor since the recoil difference alone on the lighter weight rifle would have been nice, let alone the better wind drift, but the ballistics difference doesn’t really matter until you get out past at least 600.

 

[Hobbes442]

So criterion 16” stainless barrel to run with can and adjustable gas block- do I get mid or rifle gas length? Trying to get things ordered this weekend . Scar 17 is too heavy as get older
Will be for 400 yds and in gun. I have a pof rogue pistol 308 and 10” 300 blackout with can and thermal for shorter distances
Appreciate comments

 

[Zak Smith]

Intermediate (ie, halfway between mid and rifle) is better for 16"'s.

Of just rifle vs mid, I **think** it'd be better for a suppressed-only rig to be rifle-length. In 556 I'd have no qualms doing that; just haven't tried it on 308.

 

[blackblue]

Yeah I was debating if I should get the Ultra 5 because of how compact it is, but I really like the new DOMINUS-SR from Thunder Beast arms which is 6.95". That's good to know you think your 20" with an ultra 7 is short enough in tight woods, I was concerned if I put a 7" can on an 18" barrel it would be too long and heavy up front for the woods. I think I will end up going with an 18" barrel and I am still debating on the 5" or 7" can from Thunder Beast Arms.

I carry a 20" Grendel with a 7" thunderbeast, Ti can on the end the added weight isn't noticeable. 18" barrel with a 7" can on the end wouldn't be any worse that a normal hunting rifle length wise. I'll take the extra 2" of can for better suppression.

 

[RyanScott]

I like rifle for a 16” barrel, but intermediate is a valid option also. Mid length is the wrong option at least for anything longer than about 13”.