Range Report .308 in 16" barrels...does this work?

[JeffMichaud]

This might not be the right place for this question, but I know this is where the pros hang out, so thanks in advance for indulging me.

I recently read a comment (in a discussion about DPMS 16" carbines) that has suddenly caused me to question some arms in my safe. Is it true that the ballistics of a .308 WIN (NATO) diminish to similar ballistics of a 7.62x39 when fired out of a 16" barrel?

If this is true then it has huge implications on some of my rifles. Does one need to be at least implementing an 18" barrel for the round to reach it's potential? What then happens out of a 16" barrel to .308win? Is there any value in these carbines that shoot .308 out of 16" barrels besides how cool they look? Thanks.

 

[vmpglenn]

Re: .308 in 16" barrels...does this work?

As with everything, the devil is in the details.

If you're shooting weak 147gr 7.62x51 from 1979 with propellant designed to burn in a 21" barrel and compare against an SKS or similar shooting 7.62x39 with a fairly modern bullet, you might be in the same ballpark.

However, if you shoot a modern .308 load that performs well in shorter barrels (e.g. Hornady 168gr TAP Amax), your 16" .308 will blow 7.62x39 out of the water in every respect -- terminal performance, drop, wind deflection, retained energy, etc.

If you handload, you can do an even better job of tuning loads for your 16" barrel.

 

[Bigwheels]

Re: .308 in 16" barrels...does this work?

I don't know about the 7.62X39, but my 16" DPMS is throwing 150 NBT's @ 2600fps, & 147 nato FMJ's a little faster.