Gunsmithing Barrel length

Furtaker_.223

Furtaker_.223

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 22, 2010
2,262
2
58
Columbia IL
www.snipershide.com
#1
I am having my Kreiger barrel put on my remmy 308. It is a #18 contour. Would I be better off keeping it at 29", 31" with the break? Or should I go shorter? It is a 1/12 so I will probably be stuck with 150g, maybee 168g dunno. I will be mostly bench shooting, maybee occasionaly P-dog.

Any thoughts of what I should do?

This will be going in a McMillian A5 stock, I have to call them tomorow and give my color scheme.
 
#2
Re: Barrel length

Guys are shooting up to the 208 Amax with the 1-12 twist, you'll be fine shooting a lot of different bullets.

What are you doing from the bench? F-class, punching paper at 100, etc? 30" 308 barrel seems like a LONG tube unless it's a purpose built rifle. Many here are into 308s under 20", 26" would be plenty long for most anything except a dedicated F-class rifle or similar.
 
#4
Re: Barrel length

This is my first custom build. I will just be long range shooting. 100-600 yards, for this is the only distance I have. I just am not sure on a length. my smith will be starting on this by friday, so I have till then to decide. I like the look of the 20" and the long rifle up to 30". I just did not know if one would shoot better than the other.
 
#7
Re: Barrel length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: furtaker_.223</div><div class="ubbcode-body">so, stock options. I know McMillian being the best, thoughts on the ultimate sniper stock? </div></div>

Do you mean options or a "Choate Ultimate Sniper Stock" ?
 
#9
Re: Barrel length

I own a McM A5 Fully Adjustable,and HS Precision also.Manners would be my other choice.I would also consider B&C or Graybull for a hunting Rifle.

I have never owned a Choate but some guys use them,just not for me.Not the kind of stock I would put on a custom Precision Rifle.
 
#10
Re: Barrel length

I love the A5 adjustable. The only thing is that I cannot decide on what color scheme I want. And the wait....Man, long time. They are telling me 10-18 weeks. But, what else can one do. I want the A5, so I am looking at cheep options to do. I will be getting my Barreled action back in a week or two, and I dont want to wait 10-18 weeks to shoot it.
 
#12
Re: Barrel length

30" is a lot of barrel. Usually only used on dedicated 1K BR, or F-Class competition rifles, because they are not a lot of fun to carry around in the field.

For an all-arounder, you will likely be happier with something in the 20-24" range.

The good news is you can always cut it back later, if you go for the long barrel.
 
#13
Re: Barrel length

From what Greg Tannel of Gre-Tan has told me the .308 Win has reached it peak of Barrel lenght at about 27" for any purpose. I do not favor short barrels for long range, but 30 seems long if you are gaining little velocity. Why a break? A 27" .308 Win will let you spot the shots and not ruin your ears? Breaks are loud, dirty and unnessary in a small cal. rifle with a long heavy barrel. They also could be a deterimenatal to accuracy.
Anything you do to mess with, thread, or otherwise complicate the muzzle, will not help and can hurt. Also can throw burnt powder and gas into the air which can end up in your face if the wind is wrong. JMO
 
#14
Re: Barrel length

The break is for some releaf on the wife. While I am shooting the break will come off and the band on. Also I like the look of the break. JMO. Like I said this is my first custom build, and there is so many F&*%$#^ options. I am racking my brain with this. The next I will make it simple and run with it.

This is just going to be a bench gun, maybee out west for P-dog. No deer or any other game. Mainly shooting groups.

I am new to the bench styl shooting and has now become my favorite drug.

I quit drinking 6 years ago and i told my wife I need something to do. So the safes are getting full. Time to complete the walk in.
 
#15
Re: Barrel length

For what its worth I am getting my 24" DPMS BBL cut down to 20 and threaded for a brake. I like the shorter look and know that it will still be able to reach 1k. Anything around 30 seems like overkill especially for only shooting out to 600.JMO Good luck with your build.
 
#16
Re: Barrel length

If 600 is what you have to play with, I think 22" from the recoil lug is a nice length.

Everyone is going to dogpile on the Choate stocks, so gird your loins.

My take-I had a could Savages in the Ultimate Varmint stock and I much prefer it to the Ultimate Sniper stock. No need to be that sniper-y, and the checkering is a meatgrinder. Since then I have been fortunate enough to have had McMillan A5's, A3's, Manners T4A and AICS's. I like them all a lot but the AICS's just don't fit my hand.

I have seen the Choate A5 copy's and if I were doing a budget build I would consider one, they are ugly, yet effective-kinda like riding a moped.

My first choice would be trading or haggling into a used McM at a decent price.
 
#17
Re: Barrel length

24 is a good all round length.
20's do out to 7-800 and in some case do "ok" at 1k by pushing loads or hitting "stuff" (rocks, steel, 2MOA + targets or with limited load options.) Lots of guys want to argue this. Just ask them if they will front the cash if your gun can't do what you need because of the velocity drop
wink.gif

Long barrels give you more options at longer ranges and extend your range.

I would look at something about 24.
 
#18
Re: Barrel length

JW Precision, Third Generation shooter supply, and McM specials page are all my go to places when I want an A-5 quick. I have gotten a few from all 3 places and service is top notch with each.

With the barrel I really never actually think about it I just usually go with what is given. A bunch of people here are becoming fans of the shorter barrelled 308's and getting great results.
 
#19
Re: Barrel length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MontanaMarine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">30" is a lot of barrel. Usually only used on dedicated 1K BR, or F-Class competition rifles, because they are not a lot of fun to carry around in the field.

For an all-arounder, you will likely be happier with something in the 20-24" range.

The good news is you can always cut it back later, if you go for the long barrel. </div></div>

+1, a lot of wisdom there. I have a 20", 21", 24" and 26" I use the first two the most simply because they are more convenient to carry, transport and better balanced. All will reach 1k targets when I get the wind hold down with 175g and 155g bullets. Stay away from 168's unless they are VLD style when going beyond 800y unless your a few thousand ASL.
 
#21
Re: Barrel length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AUJohn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What does "reach 1k targets" mean?
</div></div>

Too consistently place bullets on target when I have the wind hold right.
 
#22
Re: Barrel length

A Krieger # 18 contour to finish at 29" is listed at 6.5 pounds.

You may want to add that into your decision-making process. If you have not talked to McMillan about your stock yet, you might ask about fill weights. You could very easily end up with a very heavy rifle.

Won't matter much for just a bench or prone gun - The weight will make it more pleasant to shoot, but not so pleasant to lug around on foot in the field.

Paul
 
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