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How short can I go on a .308 barrel? #6056271 11/29/15 07:48 PM
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TFF Caribou Offline OP
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Got a remmy 700 in .308 that in really contemplating having Morgan cut off and recrown. Or maybe put a muzzle brake on.

It's just a hunting rifle,and the stand I hunt in is pretty tight so I want to make it as handy as possible. Also planning on picking up a magpul stock as soon as I sell another rifle. I know I can go down to 16" legally, but I'm wondering if any gains will be worth it to leave it at 19 or 20". All shots will be under 300 yards. I know the accuracy won't be effected, but don't want to lose too much MV. It's a 24" right now.

Last edited by Tff caribou; 11/30/15 02:46 AM.

The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6056309 11/29/15 08:09 PM
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Mine is cut off to 16 1/2 and threaded for my suppressor. I use it for hog hunting mostly under 150 yards where I hunt. I built a 18" AR for the same purpose, not shooting very far.


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6056322 11/29/15 08:15 PM
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I've shot out to 800 yards with my 16" AR 308 running about 2510 FPS using 168gr Amax.


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6056436 11/29/15 09:09 PM
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Sounds like 16 will be the way I wanna go then. Then put a brake on it I think.


The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6056439 11/29/15 09:10 PM
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I would consider 14.5 and pin the brake. Save a bit more length

Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6056600 11/29/15 10:34 PM
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I'm getting 2600 with 168 Ballistic Tips from my 16" FNAR.



Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: scottfromdallas] #6056606 11/29/15 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted By: scottfromdallas
I'm getting 2600 with 168 Ballistic Tips from my 16" FNAR.


Im sure it's possible I was shooting Chad's 168 Amax bulk ammo if you load I'm sure you could get more than 2510 and it being a bolt gun you can push it harder than the gas gun.


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6056627 11/29/15 10:50 PM
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I was shocked it lost so little velocity. I was using Alliant Power Pro MR2000. Wasn't even max load. FNAR is gas rifle but I didn't see any pressure signs.



Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6056638 11/29/15 10:54 PM
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Yea I know the FNAR is gas gun, I was talking about the OP Rem 700 being a bolt gun. I was looking at SBR'ing my LR308 and was surprised how little MV it lost from 20" down to 12" wasn't really all that terrible.


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057003 11/30/15 01:24 AM
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I wouldn't go any shorter than 18" on a hunting rifle. Shorter barrels are a lot noisier, and do not perform as well, no matter what any 16.25" barrel owner might tell you.

Physics... It's the law.


Kind regards, charlesb


Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057010 11/30/15 01:26 AM
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Hmm id say steel going ping at 800 and a chrono in front of the barrel using the average of 10 shots real world experience doesn't lie. I shoot mine suppressed so noise doesn't bother me YMMV.


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057077 11/30/15 01:50 AM
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Here is a neat ballistic test where a guy shot four types of ammo, and cut one inch off his barrel from 28-16"
http://rifleshooter.com/2014/12/308-winc...ity-28-to-16-5/

In my opinion, that loud banging noise of the longer barrel hitting the blind is a bigger issue than the 100 fps velocity you loose from ~20" barrel to 16.5''.


Last edited by Colt W. Knight; 11/30/15 02:03 AM.
Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: charlesb] #6057204 11/30/15 02:37 AM
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Originally Posted By: charlesb
I wouldn't go any shorter than 18" on a hunting rifle. Shorter barrels are a lot noisier, and do not perform as well, no matter what any 16.25" barrel owner might tell you.

Physics... It's the law.



bs

Did you have a TIA?


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: charlesb] #6057226 11/30/15 02:44 AM
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Originally Posted By: charlesb
I wouldn't go any shorter than 18" on a hunting rifle. Shorter barrels are a lot noisier, and do not perform as well, no matter what any 16.25" barrel owner might tell you.

Physics... It's the law.



Obviously, I'm no expert on short barrels, since I'm the one asking the question. But that would depend on your definition of performance. Being exceptionally handy means more to me that a little loss in MV.


The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057258 11/30/15 02:57 AM
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It will "perform" fine. That post should be stricken from the record. We are all dumber from having read it.


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057263 11/30/15 02:59 AM
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Look at the pistol data for the 308, most reloading data for that caliber is for a 15 inch barrel. The shortest I hunt with in a boltaction is 18.5 inch 7mm-08 and is very effective to 350 yards for me. My handiest short rifle for close quarters stand hunting that will reach that far wears a 20 inch barrel but a Ruger #1 action takes a lot less space than any boltaction.


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057269 11/30/15 03:03 AM
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Got a pm in to Morgan now about cutting it down, crowning, and adding a brake for me.


The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057716 11/30/15 02:10 PM
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If you don't want to stamp it 16" AOL with a pinned brake. If you want to stamp it I wouldn't go shorter than 12".

I'd like to hear the "physics" behind short barrels being poor performers.


Originally Posted by unclebubba
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.

Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TexFlip] #6057740 11/30/15 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted By: TexFlip
If you don't want to stamp it 16" AOL with a pinned brake. If you want to stamp it I wouldn't go shorter than 12".

I'd like to hear the "physics" behind short barrels being poor performers.


It's not exactly rocket science. With shorter barrels, especially shorter than 18" with a .308, you are going to get lower velocity which means (you guessed it!) less useful performance.

I thought everybody understood that much... Whatever you may feel that you have gained with a shorter barrel, in order to get that, you must also give something up.

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

See the chart posted above. Note the clear trend it displays.

"Performance" in the shooting world, (especially for hunting weapons) is most often measured by velocity with a given bullet weight - and guess what?

Last edited by charlesb; 11/30/15 02:34 PM.

Kind regards, charlesb


Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: J.G.] #6057750 11/30/15 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
It will "perform" fine. That post should be stricken from the record. We are all dumber from having read it.


So - you'll be cutting the barrels on your long-range rifles (including the magnums) down to the legal limit now, right?



Kind regards, charlesb


Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: charlesb] #6057752 11/30/15 02:33 PM
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Performance is also measured in consistency. And a short barrel has a less pronounced sine wave, thereforem making it be a forgiving barrel with a variety of ammo. One must have a requirement of the rifle, and the O.P. wants a short hunting rifle to kill to 300 yards. A 16" .308 will do that, therefore performance is exactly what he wants it to be. Yes a short barrel produces less velocity, but it also can produce "enough" velocity for the intended purpose of the rifle.

Had he said he wanted the .308 to push a 178 gr. A-max 2800 fps, then no, the 16" .308 will not perform. But that is not his stated intended purpose.


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Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057759 11/30/15 02:37 PM
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I'm surprised there is so little velocity lost from 24" to 16"...good to know. Makes me want to cut my bolt guns even shorter.

My only advice to the OP...do not put a muzzle break on a 16-18" .308 gun, your ears will hate you. I had one on my 18" AR-10 and it would literally shake the bench every time I shot it, I hated it. It was obnoxiously loud even with ear protection.

Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057763 11/30/15 02:38 PM
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Now we get specific, when it's realized that the argument will not hold water in general terms.

I was speaking in general terms, and in general, a .308 with a 16" barrel will perform poorly, compared to one with a longer barrel.

There will be less velocity.


Kind regards, charlesb


Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057767 11/30/15 02:41 PM
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I'm planning on cutting down a 308 to 18", but I'm not going to try to BS anybody about it performing just as well when I do.

I'll be giving up some performance in favor of better handling qualities - with my eyes wide open.


Kind regards, charlesb


Re: How short can I go one a .308 barrel? [Re: TFF Caribou] #6057792 11/30/15 02:57 PM
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Velocity isn't the end all be all gauge of performance. You can have a 24" 308 that shoots faster than a 16" but if it shoots bigger groups it doesn't perform as well as the 16".


Originally Posted by unclebubba
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.

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