Barrel length??

[Seth8541]

Got question on what barrel length with what twist would be best. 24" with a 1 in 11.25, 26" with a 11.25, or a 26" with a 1 in 10? Ill be shooting either Lapua Senars 155, or the SMK 175gr. I know the 26" with a 1 in 10 is better if Im gonna be shooting the 190's, but I dont foresee shooting the 190's. What do you guys think.

 

[JJones75]

Re: Barrel length??

Whats your objective??

Personaly I don't see the point in a barrel over 20" on a 308 unless your just trying to squeeze as much speed out of it that you can.

A 1-10 twist on a 20" barrel will get the 175gr bullet to 1000yds with no problem as well as the 190's and I'm sure would get the 155's out their too.

I've got a 18" 308 loaded with 48g Varget (realy compressed)and it shoots the 155gr A-max under 1/2" at 200yds with hand loads. makes for an awsome deer gun

 

[TrooperBrian]

Re: Barrel length??

I had a 20" bull on my SPS, when I swapped it out, the barrel blank was a 28" straight taper blank. I had it finished at 26". Unless you have a huge reason for having it short, I see no reason to waste perfectly good barrel.

 

[Seth8541]

Re: Barrel length??

Thats how I feel also. Dont see going to anything shorter than a 24". I figuring on a 24" 1 in 11.25 or a 26" with a 1 in 11.25 or a 1 in 10.

 

[crumpmd]

Re: Barrel length??

It depends on what the rifle is being used. If it is paper, on a bench or on your belly and you are not carrying it for long periods of time then there is not reason to go short. 26 inch seems to be the standard.

If you are carrying that rifle for miles hunting or doing a run and gun competition then you want to save weight and cutting down the barrel will help. My hunting 308 is cut at 18 inches and it wears a 8 inch suppressor. So it is still kind of long but not as heavy. My new F-class is 26 inches and has a 1-10 twist and I am shooting the 155 scenar with 47.5 Varget at 2950 fps. I was doing well out to 700 this past week and made a hit on steel at 1000.

If you want the most velocity and weight and handling are not issues go long, if handling is an issue go 20 or less. 1-10 or 1-11 either is OK for 175 and 155 grain bullets.

 

[Seth8541]

Re: Barrel length??

Itll be a hunting / lr gun. This is the only rifle Ive ever owned so I used to the weight and length with a 24. Not sure if you guys are seeing a noticible accuracy difference between the 2 lengths, and does either rifling have an advantage over the other? Im probably gonna put a break on it so Im leaning towards the 24" 1 in 11.25. That should put me @ about 26" total barrel length

 

[btrapr]

Re: Barrel length??

Here is an article where a test was run on a Tango Sniper rifle...they cut it down and tested as they went

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

Good luck!

 

[gugubica]

Re: Barrel length??

Why would you want any more barrel than you need? A 20 inch will do anything a 26 inch will. If extra length for no reason is your thing, why not go 30 inches, why not 38?

My 20 inch will sling 155s very accurately at 2840 fps, 185s at almost 2600.

 

[scotharr]

Re: Barrel length??

Can't go wrong with a 24" 1:11.25. I prefer that length for hunting rifles because the extra length reduces muzzle blast and noise and it is not overly-long. For high-power, I use a 27" for 243 and 30" for 308. Not sure what type of "match" shooting you'll do, but for long-range stuff & hunting, I'd go with 26" as a good compromise for the 308WIN.