Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

[para1505]

Shooters on here talk about chop'n of there barrles down to 20" and debating the pro's and con's of it. Well I am thinking about doing just the oposite. I have a R700 Short Tactical. It performs just fine out to 800yds. Never had a chance to shoot any further. I reload 43gn of RL15, I have 2470mz vel. I feel like I should shoot more velocity. My accuracy falls off if i push it in to the 2500's fps. I was thinking about getting one of the take off barrels from tacops. I would like to hear from the shooters who shoot the R700v or P, or from some one who has some good input on this matter.

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

You dont need to go 26, wont hurt but not needed. 2470 is SLOW.

Ill let the reload wizbrains help you with load. But if your looking to get a better barrel for a 308 go with a 20-22inch Bartlein. That plus good ammo/load will get you to the far limits of a 308.

 

[-=boone=-]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KNIGHT11B4</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You dont need to go 26, wont hurt but not needed. 2470 is SLOW.

Ill let the reload wizbrains help you with load. But if your looking to get a better barrel for a 308 <span style="font-weight: bold">go with a 20-22inch Bartlein</span>. That plus good ammo/load will get you to the far limits of a 308.
</div></div>

Go with a 22" BBL. You'll find the you don't need to push as hard to achieve the 2600FPS or faster. You'll also notice there is less BBL whip.

I run 2650 FPS with a factory remington sps tactical. However I'm pushing 45.8 grains of Varget to get the 175's up to speed.

 

[USW.260]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

Funny thing. I got my Rock Creek barrel in the other day and at 27" unfinished length taking it down to 24" just seems wrong. But it will be done anyways. I plan on running a brake or just threading it. If you want to run 26" try it see what happens. Plus looking at your load and maybe seeing if you can just add some powder might satisfy your needs.

 

[BELLYCRAWL]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

para1505,

I do not reload (yet), but I have shot both the V and P in stock configurations. I also took my 700V barrel down from 26" to 20". I did this based on propellant burn of the ammo I was using (Fed 168 GM) and watching guys shoot 18" and 20" .308s at distance very well. GPS sniper school posted some more numbers on cut downs and I felt confident shorter was better for me. With that said, I am sure some barrels perform better than others as well as powders/loads. For example, I was with a group of guys who shot and chronographed a 24" older 700PSS against some newer 26" 700Ps. The Chronograph had the 24" around 30 fps faster with 168 fed gm than the 26". Both barrels were 1:12, so go figure. I no longer believe in the standard numbers for fps x inches of barrel. Have you ran any commercial ammo such as Black Hills or Fed just to see what it chronos out at? Just curious if the load still needs to be worked.

Blessings,
BC

 

[para1505]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

FGMM runs slower than what I am reloading. I have loaded up to 45gr of RL15 and it averaged at 2780fps. Maybe i'll try and mess around with 44gr this weekend.

 

[The Lawn Ranger]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

I run identical load to yours with 175 smk's through a 24" Bartlien a get 2644 fps....outstanding accuracy and great brass life to boot. I am having the rifle re-barreled as a 6.5 x 47 Lapua with 26" barrel.

 

[para1505]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

KNIGHT11B4, I would love a custom barrel but not in the funds right now. maybe this fall.

 

[The Lawn Ranger]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

I will be selling the Bartlien in about a month......

 

[para1505]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

here is my complete work up
lapua/FGMM
CCI BR2
175SMk
43 RL15
2470 mz vel

 

[roggom]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

I have an SPS-tac as well and there must be at least 2 more accuracy nodes above the one you are currently at. I hit one at 2566 fps 175 SMK WW WLR 44.1 Varget 2.800

 

[Rifle Barrel Blanks]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

If you go 26 inches to start you can always shorten up a little later if need be.

I run an 18 inch 308 barrel. I run the 155 Scenars at 2775. They shoot great!!!! And I love how handy the short barrel is in the 308.

if you were going with a different caliber I would advise a longer barrel, but for a 308 you are fine with the shorter barrel.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

para1505,

This is a post I made last year after conducting a velocity comparison between a few of my 308’s

“About two months ago I decided to find out what 6" of barrel length would yield with identical loads fired in both of my Remington’s, one 20" tactical and one 26" varmint. Here is what I found, FWIW...

Remington SPS Tatical20"
175smk 44.5 varget load @ 2.825oal = 2550fps
155 Lapua scenar varget 46.7 load @ 2.825 = 2750fps

Remington Varmint 26" same loads as above.
175 = 2645
155 = 2850

So in my rifles you gain ~100 fps from those extra 6" of factory barrel. I also have a 21" rock creek custom that matches the 26" factory barrel velocities so it does make a difference on what you are comparing. The rem tactical gets more use as it just more convenient to carry and better balanced compared to the 26" and I can still knock the steel plates around at 1000 with 175's. If I were to build another 308 I'd stay close to 21" personally.”

 

[para1505]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

I guess I should try the ladder test for load development and see where the next node is at.

 

[D_TROS]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

DO OCW test. similiar to ladder, but done in a round robin format to take away the variable of hot/cold barrel.

In all reality, either should get you better results thatn blindly loading and shooting.

Here good article thats been floating around awhile on barrel length. Good read.
http://www.tacticaloperations.com/SWATbarrel/

Good luck.

Regards,
DT

 

[para1505]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

good read D_TROS, looks like I will be staying w/the 20". Just ned to get velocity up, try more powder.

 

[kheuertz]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

I had my GAP built with a 26" Bartlein barrel back a few years ago. Figured I could always get it cut down later and re-chambered. Looks like I have a few inches to go before it's too short...JaxOps

 

[TCKev]

Re: Going from a 20" to a 26" barrel

Less dwell time in the shorter barrels. It's that same theory that was used when my hunting handguns were built with 16.5" barrels. I shoot a 7.21 Lazzeroni with 168gr Bergers at 2850fps and have shot MOA accuracy out to 600yds. I have a 308 in the works and I guess I should think the same way, had planned on a 26" barrel but might have to rethink that.