First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

[Shadowboxer]

Hi All,

I've been looking around this forum, and it's great!


I'm looking at the 98B. I have some questions I'm hoping forum members can help answer:

What is the performance difference in velocity and accuracy between the 20" and 27" lengths?

The easier handling of the 20" is tempting. But will it also have more recoil/be significantly louder?


Thanks for any insight you can share!

 

[Chiller]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

how much experience do you have in LONG range rifles?

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how much experience do you have in LONG range rifles?
</div></div>

^ this

 

[frankythefly]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

You wouldn't loose any accuracy going to the shorter barrel length but you will experience slightest increase in recoil from the lighter weight and it will seem significantly louder as you are that much closer to the muzzle. You will also loose a bit of velocity most have mentioned about 200fps loss going from 27" to 20" but I have also heard of 300-400fps with certain factory loads. With all of that I would still take a 20inch over 27inch one.

 

[Chiller]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shadowboxer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">



The easier handling of the 20" is tempting. </div></div>

not exactly a CQB rifle.

 

[Lowlight]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

Doing the numbers with the AX 20" 338, I get about 750fps out of a 250gr Scenar and about 2650fps out of a 300gr bullet.

What that translates to here in CO is a rifle capable at 1500 yards.

Now if you live in a place where you can take advantage of the distance, meaning you have regular access to 1500m + then the 27" is a better choice. If you live in a location that does not have regular access to at least 1500m then the 20 is a better choice.

Yes they make more noise, if you drive it right there is no more perceived recoil, however if you haven't the first clue how to a shoot a magnum, especially a loud magnum, you'll certainly blame the recoil for your woes, which are sure to follow.

The 20" in both cases are laser accurate I have seen great results accuracy wise of the packages, both the Barrett and the AIs, so there is no real downside beyond the reduced muzzle velocity, which only really matter beyond 1000 yards.

 

[rideHPD]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

The point of owning a lap mag is to reeeeeeeeeeeeach out. No sense cutting that down to 20", as you'll be less likely to be on target if you make a bad wind or distance call. If you're gonna do it, do it right. Don't spend $5-6 a round on factory ammo to miss. I know someone with a 98B and he's content with a buckshot grouping within 4" of POA. He's retarded. Never go full retard.

 

[BillyGoatMachine]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

More info please? It mostly depends on what distances you plan on shooting the rifle. As others have said, there in a decrease in velocity with a shorter barrel, thus affecting accuracy at extreme distances. Accuracy at short range will not be affected, and "may" even increase. What ranges are you planning to shoot the rifle?

 

[Chiller]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

LL's points are valid. My question is a foundational one if this is your first rifle or first LONG distance rifle. would like to keep you around and not buy a 10k rifle that you cant afford to feed.

 

[Lowlight]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rideHPD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The point of owning a lap mag is to reeeeeeeeeeeeach out. No sense cutting that down to 20", as you'll be less likely to be on target if you make a bad wind or distance call. If you're gonna do it, do it right. Don't spend $5-6 a round on factory ammo to miss. I know someone with a 98B and he's content with a buckshot grouping within 4" of POA. He's retarded. Never go full retard.</div></div>

You'd be surprise just how often people are NOT Reaching out and by definition some people's idea of reaching out is actually quite tame.

The 20" 338s are great, they are accurate and effective and still even with a 20" rifle shooting a 1000 yard target with it is like shooting a 500 yard target with a 308.

The rifles perform, even short and knowing how to dope is every bit as important so if you learn on a 20" you'll be that much better when you move beyond.

It's a mission specific rifle, and not every one can handle the mission of shooting ELR... 90% of the people out there in fact shoot inside 1000 yards, not beyond.

 

[rideHPD]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

Point taken. I guess my point was, without actually stating it, that if you weren't going to take advantage of it's elr ability, then a well performing platform could be had for cheaper, and at a lower cost to feed. The tone of the OP led me to believe they were interested in it without knowing a whole lot about precision rifles, therefore a more affordable rifle/chambering might be more suitable. I could easily be mistaken though.

 

[Shadowboxer]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Typically distances would never pass 1,000 yards, maybe 1,250.

Currently have a 20" Armalite .308 and a 24" DPMS .308. The overall handling is quite a bit different even with only 4" barrel difference. It got me wondering if a 27" would be a bit unwieldy.

Some of you have asked about me personally. I am defiantly not as experienced as many of you with this kind of shooting, but know when I have the opportunity to help guide those less informed than I on other kinds of shooting, I welcome the chance.

 

[rideHPD]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

Listen to Frank, he has the experience, I don't. My only concern is that you drop serious coin and then not enjoy the full extent of the investment, and that with so much rifle learning to shoot that far might hinder the process. I'm still just working on getting the basics squared away before moving out farther in range, and learning the wind is one of the biggest challenges. It really just boils down to what you ultimately want from the rifle, as you could go with a 260 or so that will have much lower recoil and still be very flat shooting, and cheaper to feed. Still, listen to Lowlight.

 

[Lowlight]

Re: First post! Please help me on the Barrett 98B

For a lot of people a 338 is a serious investment, it's expensive to shoot, so they really dont' want to be wasting time at 100, 300, or 500 yards, which is understandable.

The Barrett is a great rifle, and it's an investment that has some staying power, however if you want to consider resale, people are less likely to buy a 20" rifle over a 27". That is just the facts of it.

If you really want to step up and only plan on shooting to 1250, I would pick a more economical, ballistically just as good round. You can consider a short action, like a 243, 260, or even if you want range beyond 1500 the 7WSM in a custom package. If you want to try a long action magnum, consider the 300WM to save some money. Sure not as cool as a Barrett, but you can find an AI and then you can change barrel at home to suit the situation.

For 8 years of the Sniper's Hide Cup, someone always showed up with a 338, and it wasn't until Tom Fuller brought a 20" Barrett did someone finally crack the Top 10. That says something.