FTR 308, 1000 yards Shortest Barrel?

[nfngun]

So whats the Shortest Barrel Lenght do you think one can get away with for 1000 yard FTR competiton.

My current build is a 27" Krieger 1:10 twist M24 on a trued rem action.

I'm kicking around the idea of a new build ... why i don't know i only have 200 rounds through this build and haven't competed with it yet and it shoot AWSOME. I just have an itch for a full custom build on a custom action.

Curious if i can go shorter and still have the velocity to reach 1000 accurately.

Shooting 175 and 185 OTMs

 

[TonyR]

It should work with those bullets and a 27 inch barrel. I shot the 185 LRBT from a 26 inch barrel and it got there. You might want to use the Palma brass because the case heads are stronger than the LR brass and you will need all the velocity you can get. Varget should do it and mine shoots H4895 well in the short barrel.

 

[savageshooter86]

27" should work. Shoot the 185s

I love my 185s

 

[nfngun]

If 26" is the cusp then the extra inch may be good for piece of mind. I guess if i go with a new full custom build I'll stick with 27"

I was going to go with Palma brass but that uses the small primer and wanted to avoid ignition issues that i have read about. I shoot all year long and to keep things simple choose to stick with Lapua Large primer rather then dealing with two primer sizes for weather change.

It should work with those bullets and a 27 inch barrel. I shot the 185 LRBT from a 26 inch barrel and it got there. You might want to use the Palma brass because the case heads are stronger than the LR brass and you will need all the velocity you can get. Varget should do it and mine shoots H4895 well in the short barrel.

 

[savageshooter86]

If you get another barrel for FTR use on that rifle I would go with 30" barrel. Or at least a 28"

 

[nfngun]

So far both the 175 and 185 are shooting on par during tests out too 200, I really need to stretch them out farther.

27" should work. Shoot the 185s

I love my 185s

 

[snowpro440]

The 30" should work better for 1000 , I wouldn't give up any velocity there.

 

[nfngun]

The blank I'm looking to get will finish at 28"

I will say i hate this sport/hobby what I want never coincides with what i need to get the job done.

In another 10 years maybe a miracle bullet design will get me too 1000 with a 20-22" barrel.

If you get another barrel for FTR use on that rifle I would go with 30" barrel. Or at least a 28"

 

[nfngun]

I know 30" would be ideal ... I'm trying to get away with a dual purpose rifle, something too shoot FTR and possibly run a tactical match but I may just have to bite the OTM and have 2.

The 30" should work better for 1000 , I wouldn't give up any velocity there.

 

[MNFinn]

I know 30" would be ideal ... I'm trying to get away with a dual purpose rifle, something too shoot FTR and possibly run a tactical match but I may just have to bit the OTM and have 2.

The 30" should work better for 1000 , I wouldn't give up any velocity there.

Build 2. I tried having a hunting/FTR rifle and it worked OK, but I always knew it was too heavy, too much scope for my hunting, and not up to the full potential for competition

 

[XTR]

Running a 308 in tactical matches is a serious handicap. If you are buying a barrel buy a 30" heavy Palma. If you want to run tactical matched build a 6 or 6.5.

Now if you already have a 308 come out and shoot it with what ever it has and start learning

 

[nfngun]

Yes definitely better cartridge choices out there. I promised my self to stick with standard cartridges. Kind of why i was drawn too FTR, the restrictions. It puts everyone on a pretty level playing field although on a windy day the 308 seems too kick the crap out of .223.

Figured tactical would be secondary more for fun, Their isn't allot of opportunity where i live .. NY ... Even FTR is limited to a few places within reasonable driving distance.

Running a 308 in tactical matches is a serious handicap. If you are buying a barrel buy a 30" heavy Palma. If you want to run tactical matched build a 6 or 6.5.

Now if you already have a 308 come out and shoot it with what ever it has and start learning

 

[Jdne5b]

Use one gun, 2 barrels.

 

[XTR]

Use one gun, 2 barrels.

That is the obvious option and actually very easy to set up if you have a competent smith (just have him pin your lug)

 

[nfngun]

Switch Barrel, definitely an option. I should read up on it I'm not 100% familiar with it. If i go with a custom action the lug will be integral ..

Use one gun, 2 barrels.

That is the obvious option and actually very easy to set up if you have a competent smith (just have him pin your lug)

 

[jaclthr]

Hello All,

Your velocity will tell you if your barrel is long enough or not. Check the tables and see if you can make it with the drop off at 1000 yds with what you get out of your rifle now. Anything over that is better. That being said, a switch barrel would give you the best results for each shooting arena.

jaclthr

 

[ballison]

I got started in FTR with a TRG-22 with a 26" Bartlein barrel shooting 185 and varget, getting 2720 fps. Was competitive in mid-range, but got my butt handed to me in long range. Decided to build a dedicated FTR rig with a 30" barrel and rebarrel my TRG to a 260 for tactical/precision matches. Best of both worlds but I'll be eating soup for the next 10 years to pay for it!

 

[RDavies]

Switch Barrel, definitely an option. I should read up on it I'm not 100% familiar with it. If i go with a custom action the lug will be integral ..

Use one gun, 2 barrels.

That is the obvious option and actually very easy to set up if you have a competent smith (just have him pin your lug)

Switch barrel is definitely a good idea. All of my F class guns are switch barrel. For your Remington, you will want to get the recoil lug pinned to the action when they fit the 2nd barrel. Switching barrels is easier and faster than most people think.

 

[XTR]

Switching barrels is easier and faster than most people think.

The first time I watched it done it took less than 5 minutes on the tailgate of a truck in the parking lot. Made a believer out of me

 

[Corey Schwanz]

I'm contemplating a switch barrel setup myself. Originally was thinking 2 different calibers, but recently have started the idea of two .308 barrels, a 24" for hunting and a 28-30" for F-Class. I would shoot all spring/summer with the long barrel, then swap it out for the fall hunting season. If you do it at the same time, use the same reamer and have both barrels done the same way. The only problem I'm seeing immediately from this idea is optics. Ideally, I'd want a higher power scope like a 12-42 or greater for F-Class and then something like a 3-9/4-16 for hunting (under 200 yards). A 6-24 or something similar may have to be a compromise if I want one setup to do it all. Just food for thought, but the switch barrel idea is a good one to look at.