Gunsmithing 308 Barrel Length
- Thread starter Brux
- Start date
I've had them all lengths. Now I have a 16.5, 16.75 and a 24". Longest range around here is 650, the 16" guns don't go subsonic with a 175 SMK until 850 so its got plenty of juice to make it to 650.
26" on the bench, 22-24 for hunting. With that being said I have gone into the deer stand with a Remington PSS in a mcmillan stock and nightforce scope on top. Big, long and heavy...but once I climbed into the stand I had absolute confidence in making long shots way across the field. It worked for me while others were laughing at my heavy rifle...
I would sooner consider the 20-22 inch range.
For hunting, 20" will be long enough for range, velocity and accuracy. Plan twist according to bullet weight.
If you want to play on the range past 600-800 yards, I would consider 22".
It's not how long it is, but how you wield it....or something like that.
Also, for re-sale, there will be less interest in a 26" behemoth, than a 24" barrel.
And if you don't have a chrono...most speeds advertised on ammo are from a 24" barrel,
so you have something (fairly close in velocity) to plug into your ballistic computer.
For hunting, 20" will be long enough for range, velocity and accuracy. Plan twist according to bullet weight.
If you want to play on the range past 600-800 yards, I would consider 22".
It's not how long it is, but how you wield it....or something like that.
Also, for re-sale, there will be less interest in a 26" behemoth, than a 24" barrel.
And if you don't have a chrono...most speeds advertised on ammo are from a 24" barrel,
so you have something (fairly close in velocity) to plug into your ballistic computer.
18" is plenty to get a 308 to 1000yds with a 1-10 twist and 175g bullet , and when a fat barrel is used you can drop a lot of weight cutting inches off.
For a basic dedicated target gun I'd go with a 24" just to squeeze a bit more speed out of it to help buck the wind.
For a basic dedicated target gun I'd go with a 24" just to squeeze a bit more speed out of it to help buck the wind.
I've got an 18.5" barreled with a 1:10 twist AR that sends my 175 SMKs 2570 FPS and my Hornady 178 Amax's 2550 FPS (all ammo numbers provided are from handloads). My 24" barreled bolt gun with 1:11.25 twist sends the same 175 SMKs (different load, different powder) 2712 FPS. I'll be a lot more comfortable at 1000 yards with the bolt gun, but I'm using my AR for hunting. I think a 26" barrel is too much for a .308. Optimal for a .308 is between 20" and 24" I believe.
Plug it in all you want, it doesn't mean crap without the right numbers.
True. But even the "right numbers" may vary. Different chrono's can come up with different speeds on the same batch of ammo.
There may be a 3% error margin between same chrono's. And the same ammo may clock at different speeds out of two identical length barrels.
Leave your ammo laying in the sun and velocities may increase a bit as well. Still a good idea to have some DOPE.
