308 barrel length

[BobLeeSwagger223]

I am going to be buying a heavy barreled 308 and I am wondering if there is much of a difference between the 20" and 24-26" barrels.

I have been looking at one of the 20" Remington 700's with the HS stock. I think it is called Compact Tactical. I am wondering if I am losing anything with the 20" barrel compared to a 24-26". It will only be used as a bench gun out to 600 yards so I am not worried about the weight. I load everything and am planning on shooting 168gr pills. Will there be a noticable velocity difference? I was thinking the longer barrel might be needed for burning all the powder in the case.

Thank you for any help!

 

[2506]

I would go with a 24" barrel myself for your purpose because you will gain velocity over what a 20" will give you. I don't know how much velocity you will gain but it will be some. The 308 does not loose as much as some calibers by shortening the barrel though. I have a custom Rem 700 that has a Heart varmint barrel that is 21 1/2" long. It was built as a hunter class bench rifle many years ago. The fellow that built it had to keep cutting the barrel shorter until it would make the weight class. It is a tight neck tight chamber rifle that I use mainly as a deer rifle. It is a shooter though. I mainly shoot 125 Nosler Ballistic Tips in it at 3000 fps with 46 grs IMR 4895 and they do a number on deer.

 

[ryanjay11]

If you are only using it for a bench gun, I would go with at least a 26" barrel. The 155's and 175 matchkings are both better choices than the 168.

 

[Steve Blair]

For a 600 yard bench gun, use the longest barrel your weight limits and preference will tolerate. My F-T/R gun has a 30" barrel and makes weight (barely).

Ryanjay is right that the newer bullet offerings in 155 and 175 are much better choices than the 50+ year-old design of the Sierra 168. You might also try the new Berger 168 Hybrid or the heavy 185 BT-LR. The venerable Sierra 190 MK is also a good 600 yard choice. Your throat dimension and rifling twist will have some influence on bullet choices. If you do not use the magazine, you can generally seat to much greater OAL, affording a little more powder room.

 

[BobLeeSwagger223]

Wow thanks for all the replies! I am thinking about loading Gamekings, my thought is that I would have an accurate bullet but able to use it on game if I wanted to. I will be mounting a Nightforce BR 12-42 with NPR2 reticle. I already have one of those on my 223 and love it! My thought is to use one bullet and know my dope out to 600 yards. Is the Gameking a good choice? What weight would you load? I wont ever plan on shooting farther than 600 yards, but in NE we can get a bit of wind so I want a bullet that will buck the wind well.

 

[00Scot]

I remember reading somewhere that you will be loosing anywhere from 26-32fps per inch you remove. I could be wrong but I think that is what I read somewhere

 

[DennisH]

My FCP 308 with a 26" barrel is very accurate at 600yds! 10 twist

And my gun seems to like every bullet I put in it from a 110 TAP to a 190vld berger!

On of my best scores was using this gun with 175 smk's, still my highest X count to date! I have scored higher as 10's are usually the winning factor!

 

[JaxCatm]

BobLee,

If you want a bullet to hunt and shoot targets with then look at the Berger hunting bullets. Hate to say it but most bullets designed for hunting are not consistant enough for match shooting. BTW if you really want to hunt with that rifle may I suggest a lower manification optic. I've had a little experience shooting at things that move with a high power rifle and more is not always better when it comes to manification.

 

[BobLeeSwagger223]

That is a very good point about magnification. I don't plan on needing to make any running shots so I was just planning on using it at 12 power. But the 8-32 might make more sense. I realize 8x could possibly be too much power also but it will be mainly a paper puncher with the slight possibility of shooting game.

I thought the Sierra Gameking was a highly respected bullet. Is that not the case?

 

[DennisH]

I thought the Sierra Gameking was a highly respected bullet. Is that not the case?

Yes their respectable. What distance are you shooting the Gamekings.

600yds I recommend 175 Sierra Match Kings, or my gun likes 190 Berger VLD's w/Varget!!!!!

Here is a pic of 168 A-Max's, like I said, my gun shoots all bullets like this! Even the 175 smk's

I wouldn't hesitate to go hunting with either! Or shooting long range!

 

[JaxCatm]

I shot a ton of deer growing up in TX with the sierra gameking out of a 243 win. It performed very well and was very accurate in that particular rifle. Now I use match grade bullets for just about everything with the exception of situations where over penetration is a problem I.E. trouble animals in populated areas. My only point is most hunting bullets are not made to the same standards as target bullets then again some are. If the rifle like what you are feeding it then load, shoot and be merry.

 

[00Scot]

BobLee,

If you want a bullet to hunt and shoot targets with then look at the Berger hunting bullets. Hate to say it but most bullets designed for hunting are not consistant enough for match shooting. BTW if you really want to hunt with that rifle may I suggest a lower manification optic. I've had a little experience shooting at things that move with a high power rifle and more is not always better when it comes to manification.

What he said!!!

High magnification is not hunter friendly for the most part. Now if ALL of your shots will be taken from a known fixed position off a solid rest at game that is not moving then high magnification is fine. But such is not the case more often then not. I had problems when I tried to hunt with a 6.5-20x50. It was fine as long as game was 1000 yards plus. But when the game popped up under say 75 yards I would have a hard time tying to find it in my scope because I just didn't have enough field of view that close in which in turn equated to not enough time to locate the game before they would spook.

That was with my lowest setting of 6.5x, so with a lowest setting of 8x it will just compound and "magnify" the problem. Yes pun intended!

8 and 12x is great for punching paper. But if there is any chance that you will be using it for game I would look at a lower magnification.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Yes, high magnification and moving targets can be challenging. I've gotten good at the two-eyes-open shooting method were I force my eye dominance to the wrong side until the crosshairs are on the target, then a quick switch back and "bang!"

It isn't for everyone though.. but it does make shooting squirrels fun!

 

[00Scot]

Yes, high magnification and moving targets can be challenging. I've gotten good at the two-eyes-open shooting method were I force my eye dominance to the wrong side until the crosshairs are on the target, then a quick switch back and "bang!"

It isn't for everyone though.. but it does make shooting squirrels fun!

That just sounds like a very difficult mind trick that would mess with my noodle and confuse me to no end! But I'm glad to hear that you were able to learn how to do it.

 

[Steve Blair]

It isn't really switching dominance, just changing focus to the "weak" eye to scan your surroundings. High Power shooters do this all the time. I use my left eye to look at range flags and, when shooting F-T/R, the scope bubble level.

A similar effect is seen when people have one eye corrected for short distance and the other for long. The brain determines which one to use in a given situation. Busdriver is correct, it takes training and practice to do it without much effort and it does not work for everyone.

 

[FryeGuy]

I bought a compact tactical a few weeks ago. I have been shooting everything from the 110 v-max to the 165hpbt gamekings. It pretty much likes everything. the 110 vmax bullets gave great accuracy, as good as the 155palma match bullets did. I just shot some again last night. I can't decide on which bullet to load up for it, the 150sbt, 165sbt, 165hpbt, 155 palma match bullets. I haven't checked speeds yet, will do that soon. all of my shooting has been at 100yds so far. they have the 300yd range closed right now. I absolutely love the trigger they come with, super easy to adjust weight. probably the best remington trigger I have ever had.