18.5 or 20" barrel delima

[remington patriot]

Contemplating a future rifle and cannot decide between a 18.5 or 20" barrel. It will have a muzzle break but I keep going back and forth on whether to keep it at 20" or cut it down to 18.5. Thanks for the input.

 

[T2CH]

.308? Longest distance you will shoot? Purpose of rifle?

If .308, either should work fine out to 800 yds and possibly further depending on bullet weight and load.

 

[remington patriot]

.308? Longest distance you will shoot? Purpose of rifle?

If .308, either should work fine out to 800 yds and possibly further depending on bullet weight and load.

.308 I primarily shoot 168g and 500 yards is about as far as I can stretch it out.

 

[Duffy1298]

500 yards?? I'd chop it to 16 and never look back.

 

[Expert684]

I have a 18" rig, 308 on an AR platform. Best load that shoots decent 43.0 Varget, LC match case, 210 primer, 175 SMK. 2450 FPS. Same load in a similar gun but 24" barrel, 2600 FPS. Hope this helps?

 

[jpspeeddemon]

if 500y is the farthest u shoot then it doesn't matter which one you go with. I've only ever had 20" 308s and they are plenty compact.

My suggestion, try 20", if u think it is too long, then cut it to 18.5"

 

[jasonk]

Keep it at 20"? If it's already at 20 then don't spend the time and money to whack 1.5" off, just run it as is.

 

[buffybuster]

19.25"

Problem solved. Quit over thinking it.

 

[D_TROS]

THIS has been posted a couple times. Id go with 20"

SWAT Article BARREL LENGTH

Regards,
DT

 

[MosesTheTank]

18". Your ranges don't need more than that, and it makes room for the suppressor you will need.

 

[Graham]

Two inches of barrel on a .308 at those lengths don't matter. No relevant difference. Pick either one.

 

[The Gump]

It depends on how it balances more than it's ballistic performance in my opinion. I say go 16" an get a can.