308 Winchester barrel length

[jfseaman]

I have 308s with barrels from 18 to 30 inches.

My RPR of course came with a 20" barrel.

In my experience and with the amount of time I spend on the range I have the observation that shorter barrels are louder, have more recoil and give up velocity at a rate of ~25fps per inch.

Why do so many seem to like shorter barrels for the 308?

 

[spclark]

Why do so many seem to like shorter barrels for the 308?

Depends on intended use I suppose.

My Palma rifles have 29-30" barrels, my SA SOCOM a 16". I don't use the latter for anything out beyond maybe 300 yards, the Palma rifles from 600 to 1,000.

Ever field hunt with a 30" barrel in brush or trees?

 

[jfseaman]

Depends on intended use I suppose.

My Palma rifles have 29-30" barrels, my SA SOCOM a 16". I don't use the latter for anything out beyond maybe 300 yards, the Palma rifles from 600 to 1,000.

Ever field hunt with a 30" barrel in brush or trees?

I concentrate on 600 yards plus.

The hunting situations have involved getting in and out of vehicles. Shorter was better.

The reason I posed this is from my Ruger Precision Rifle 308. The "Precision Rifle Series" and that form of shooting is something I am interested in. As well as the RPR format and ability to use furniture from any "Modern Sporting Rifle" based on the "Armalite Rifle model 15" platform. It is much easier for me to shoot the longer barrels and I am interested in replacing the 20" RPR with something longer.

 

[eric32]

Pressure curve rate with the 308win is most useful within the first 18 inches of barrel after than returns are marginal, here are some articles that show that barrel length vs maneuverability is best at 18-22 inches

http://www.tacticaloperations.com/SWATbarrel/

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2015/06/308-win-barrel-cut-down-test-velocity-vs-barrel-length/

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2...t-barrel-length-muzzle-velocity-and-accuracy/

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/02/04/rifleshooter-coms-barrel-length-velocity-tests/

 

[Ned Ludd]

If all you need is "Minute of Critter", 16"-24" barrels will certainly work; the rounds will get there with reasonable velocity for the purpose. If you're shooting a .308 in F-TR, that means you're already using a cartridge that doesn't have the absolute best ballistics. The amount of velocity given up by going with a shorter barrel as compared to a 30" pipe only amplifies that issue further. Most shooters in competition will try to get every ounce of performance out of their F-TR setup. The only real consideration there is making weight, which really isn't an issue with proper contoured barrels in the 30"-32" range. Having said all that, there is no way I'd want to lug any of my F-TR rifles around in the woods for any length of time. I have a Desert Tactical SRS Covert with a 16" barrel that is much lighter and more nimble and would be far better suited for that purpose. That particular rifle is easily capable of holding 1 MOA at 600 yds with commercial match ammunition. Different barrel lengths have their place, you just want to choose the right length for the job at hand.

 

[Patton243]

I have 2 308s. One is a 24 inch and the other is 25 inch barrel. I'm a hunter and target shooter. I only shoot them out to 500 yards so that's all I need for barrel length. Once I jump over 500 yards I'm using another rifle. If you want a 30 inch barrel expect it to be a pain in the ass to walk around with. I would not recommend anything over 26 inches for hunting applications or field use IMO. The only justification to have a short barrel 308 is to attach a suppressor to it or if you're only going to shoot it out to 300 yards or so.

 

[SheepDog]

I think the best all round hunting barrel should be 24". If you are in dense brush and trees like the Olympic rain forest then 22 is alright. You don't need the added barrel length when a long shot is 75 to 100 yards. For a long time long barrels were used in target guns and then they started getting shorter. Short, fat barrels were more rigid and so, more accurate but when shooting at ranges long enough to take the bullet into the transonic area the added speed of the longer barrel won out. Using 748 in a 308 with a 22 inch barrel there is a lot of muzzle flash which, to me, means that you are not using all the heat from the powder.

 

[284winner]

Personally I don't think I've ever noticed a difference in the woods between a 22" and 26" barrel. Four inches sure can't hinder woods travel over a 22". The returns are also non existent in the 26" barrel in the woods. Shooting in the woods where shots are limited to 300 yards or probably less only makes sense using a barrel for greatest accuracy rather than long range capability. I've heard alot of 308 guys say that shorter barrels are more accurate than long barrels. I suspect that's mostly due to harmonics and the longer barrels being a bit too light contoured for there length. Either way, I've found that a 24-25 inch barrel for me in my 308 seems to be a great compromise. I can load on the light side and still maintain decent velocities or I can run hot for shooting open areas at long ranges. My ARs are 20" and 24" and they both shoot comparable although my elevations are bit different at 600. Accuracy is about the same. Velocities are 22-30 fps different from 20" to 24". Nothing that will stop me from using a 20" barrel if preferred. Over all I prefer my 24" barrel in my 308.

 

[HPRE85]

Glad I read this. Confirms what I figured when I got a hunting rifle a few years ago. I hunt the Adirondaks, odds of ever getting a shot more than 100 yards are slim, maybe 200 yards in a swampy area. So I got a Remington 783 with the 20" barrel, put a Leupold 1-4x20mm on it and called it a day. It's definitely accurate enough at 100 yards, and I know where to hold at 200, if need be. But it's not expensive enough that I feel bad about abusing it as much as I do. Anyway, this brings a little piece of mind, knowing that I'm loosing very little velocity with the 20" barrel.

 

[XTR]

The 20" RPR is to appeal to the tacticool range crowd and not to actual competitors in precision rifle competitions. Nobody uses a 308 any more in those. The 6's and the 6.5s have better ballistics for less recoil. You might note that the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 243 versions have longer barrels.

Bottom line, the RPR in 308 is marketing.

 

[eric32]

I beg to differ my good sir. I use a 308win in PRS events, they do have a specific category for 308win/223rem users in the TACTICAL Division of PRS. Once I got my equipment and load working together and developing techniques that work for me. I have been able to put up pretty good score on many stages any miss is my own fault due to time constraint or just executing a bad shot. Now mind you I have not won any match's, but breaking top 20 finishes in my most recent match.

The big advantage of the 6mm/6.5mm shooting from far from perfect positions, you can get away with more. which can be beneficial when your on the clock. Also learning what the wind is doing with the 308win is a bit trickery but with the size of targets at most matches being around 2 MOA you can clean stages but your technique will play a bigger role, and your have to be on your game.

** getting away from the topic with this**

20 inch barrel is a good learning tool if you do plan on moving on to the open class in PRS

 

[Ilya S.]

My 20-inch barrel Remmy LTR shoot 0.5 moa 5shot groups up to 700y and 0.7-1moa up to 900y (in perfect conditions with zero wind, I can do 0.5) with my M118LR clone with partial sized lapua(non-palma) brass, .336 bushing, 175smk and 45.0 vv140, coal is 2.810 (mv is 2590ft/s)
20 inch is perfect barrel lengh for tactical aplications in 1 moa target size up to 900y. If you need to use subsonic ammo best twist will be 10 for 0.3-0.5 moa 100y groups with lapua .308 subsonic ammo.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

My 20-inch barrel Remmy LTR shoot 0.5 moa 5shot groups up to 700y and 0.7-1moa up to 900y (in perfect conditions with zero wind, I can do 0.5) with my M118LR clone with partial sized lapua(non-palma) brass, .336 bushing, 175smk and 45.0 vv140, coal is 2.810 (mv is 2590ft/s)
20 inch is perfect barrel lengh for tactical aplications in 1 moa target size up to 900y. If you need to use subsonic ammo best twist will be 10 for 0.3-0.5 moa 100y groups with lapua .308 subsonic ammo.

I am totally impressed by your performance. With my fancy-shamsy custom-built F-TR rifle with 34 inch Krieger barrel shooting carefully handloaded 210gr JLKs at 2650 FPS, I've only cleaned a 600 F-class target (1MOA) 3 times in the last 20some outings and here you are shooting 400% tighter with a 20 inch barrel and 175SMKs in an ersatz M118LR loading.

Wow.

You should be able to win every F-TR match by just showing up with that set-up.

I told you I was impressed.

 

[r bose]

My thought is, Ruger put a 20" barrel on the RPR rifle thinking a good percentage of owners will use the threaded end and mount a suppressor. If the barrel was longer than 20" + suppressor, it could be a bit unmanageable. Just my opinion.....

 

[eric32]

Ilya S.

Post up some targets to shut these non-believers up.

But please make another thread so we stop high-jacking this one and keep moving it off topic of the user who posted it.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Ilya S.

Post up some targets to shut these non-believers up.

But please make another thread so we stop high-jacking this one and keep moving it off topic of the user who posted it.

I agree that Ilya's post was a drift, but my response was really intended to show agreement with the OP's observations.

I was actually looking at getting an RPR to play with, but the 20 inch barrel for the .308 caliber stopped me right there. I would have loved something like 24 or better yet, 26 inches.

 

[eric32]

yea I run a 24" on my PRS rifle 42gr of IMR 8208XBR 2.860 OAL 175smk get my just under 2700 its a beautiful thing cleaning a stage with a 308win. Something about when someone ask what are you shooting to say 308win and they just stay silent. only happened 1 time, but still great feeling.

i think a good start combo would be the new RDF noslers 175 and a 26 inch RPR barrel.

 

[Ilya S.]

You should be able to win every F-TR match by just showing up with that set-up.

My be u dont undersand me correctly. Sorry for my bad English.
Of course, its a not stable accuracy like any FTR rifle, just best groups.
It was my first rifle in .308. 2011 Remmy 700 LTR, Jewell trigger, Roedale c21.5 muzzle brake, harris bipod.
Today it has HS PST 093 stock, mars rail and surefire muzzle devices.
Cant find my 300 and 600 meters paper, it was more than 5 years ago.

100 meters 5 shots, standart 100y br target size, coin size is 17mm

607meters from my local comps, 5=1moa, x=0.5 moa no hit spots, 10 shots

805 meters testing norma brass ES

805meters 10 shots with my wind error with no hit spotting

 

[Ilya S.]

some 2009 targets from US Optics guy, but just 3 shots

p.s.
sorry 4 offtopic and big pics.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

If short barrels are really better/more accurate, then why do most competitors use much longer ones...?