Hey guys! I need some input/advice on a project gun I am building. This will be a short range,50 to 200 yard, hunting rifle. Yeah I know most of you guys are long rangers! I have a Remington 700 SPS tactical 1/12 rifling 20 inch barrel. I want to cut it down to 16 or 17 inches. Yeah I know sounds nuts but it will make the gun I want. The question is, will it hurt accuracy? I like to hunt with bullets in the 165gr range. I am not concerned about a little loss in velocity since it will be a short range rig. Always value the input of you guys good or bad!
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Gunsmithing How short is too short
- Thread starter stxhunter2013
- Start date
It will not hurt accuracy as long as a competent smith cuts/re-crowns it properly.
Shortening a barrel does not hurt accuracy, it hurts velocity. Now, the less velocity you have at extended distance the more the wind will play with the projectile, which could inherently decrease your accuracy, however at 200 yards you will not notice much. Go ahead and cut it to 16", you'll love it. I use to shoot a 17.5" Surgeon and I shot fine with it out to 700 yards.
Shortening a barrel does not hurt accuracy, it hurts velocity. Now, the less velocity you have at extended distance the more the wind will play with the projectile, which could inherently decrease your accuracy, however at 200 yards you will not notice much. Go ahead and cut it to 16", you'll love it. I use to shoot a 17.5" Surgeon and I shot fine with it out to 700 yards.
+1 on all of the above.
Depending on the game you are after with said rifle, proper bullet choice can help with somewhat with the MV loss you'll experience with 4" less barrel length. I do this regularly with "shorties" in .308 (mostly gas guns) moving from the 168-175gr fodder down to the 150-155gr class bullets which helps somewhat, but hell...within 200yds...it isn't really going to matter one bit. If short/handy/light is what you are after, cut it down to 16" and have at it. Like previously said though...be sure that it is done by a competent smith and with the proper tools to ensure that it ends up right the first time.
Depending on the game you are after with said rifle, proper bullet choice can help with somewhat with the MV loss you'll experience with 4" less barrel length. I do this regularly with "shorties" in .308 (mostly gas guns) moving from the 168-175gr fodder down to the 150-155gr class bullets which helps somewhat, but hell...within 200yds...it isn't really going to matter one bit. If short/handy/light is what you are after, cut it down to 16" and have at it. Like previously said though...be sure that it is done by a competent smith and with the proper tools to ensure that it ends up right the first time.
Thanks guys! Will I notice any significant increase in muzzle blast? Like I could tell with my bad hearing. I plan on putting this set up in a MDT LSS chassis with a collapsible stock for a compact rifle for the brush country. One option I might have would be a Rem 700 AAC SD in 308win. It has a 16.5in barrel but if I understand has a 1/10 twist. That would probably need a fairly heavier bullet to stabilize wouldn't it?
The faster twist on that model was primarily designed to stabilize some of the heavier bullets used for sub-sonic ammo and suppressed fire with the rifle. A 1:10 twist will still work well with just about any of the more "common" pills for a .308, including but not limited to anything 147gr+ without a single hiccup. YMMV if you are planning on running "varmint" bullets from the rifle, but from the sound of things...that's not really what you are after so you should be fine.
I have 3 16" barreled 308's.
Hornady 168 a max match leaves the muzzle at about 2550ish.
Love these guns and wouldn't trade them for anything.
Hornady 168 a max match leaves the muzzle at about 2550ish.
Love these guns and wouldn't trade them for anything.
Concur with this; the 16.5" 700 Tactical I previously owned chrony'd 168 TAP @ 2524fps.
As for blast...yes, you will get more muzzle blast. When I owned my 16.5" I also owned a 26" 260 and a 20" 260 and while it 'barked' a bit more, I didn't find it prohibitive. I would want earpro while hunting with it, however.
There would be a little more blast, but 16" guns were meant to be suppressed. 
Seriously though, I had GA cut down my old 700p bc I had gotten into AI's and it was just sitting in the safe collecting dust. It's one of my favorite guns now and my go-to for most things. Shot it out at 1200 meters with 3sfg at a tank range (not very practical, but fun). There's nothing you can't do with them really. Not great at the long stuff, but deadly to 500 yards or so.
Seriously though, I had GA cut down my old 700p bc I had gotten into AI's and it was just sitting in the safe collecting dust. It's one of my favorite guns now and my go-to for most things. Shot it out at 1200 meters with 3sfg at a tank range (not very practical, but fun). There's nothing you can't do with them really. Not great at the long stuff, but deadly to 500 yards or so.
Oh and the low MV is perfect for hunting with the amax!!! This is the coolest thing about it; knocks big exit holes and critters don't take another step.
I'm crazy about 16" 308's. We've toyed with the idea of building them as HDC Window Shoppers.
I'm crazy about 16" 308's. We've toyed with the idea of building them as HDC Window Shoppers.
Nice gun rrflyer! You guys convinced me to go with the 700 short barrel. I have my MDT LSS chassis and my rem700 on order! Those wild hogs are NOT going to be happy with this gun. Thanks for the input!!
You won't regret it. Knocks nice holes in pigs and is handy as heck. Try the 168 amax tap from Hornady. That MV is really a sweet spot for its terminal performance. Shoots little groups too.
Sounds good HuDisCo. I load most of my stuff but it is always nice to have a factory ammo on hand that shoots good. I have good luck with the Hornady 165gr SST too in my other Rem700 tactical. Makes dead animals on contact!
