Not 24 or 26 but 28 or 30 inch?

[Ultraman550]

I see tons of talk between 24 and 26 inches but not so much on the 28 to 30 inch barrels. I have a medium palma Bartlein, 1:10 on its way and its 31 inches. I'm not using the gun for hunting, just precision and distance so weight is not an issue. I've read that the .308 doesn't have enough room for powder to make the 30 inches that much more efficient and that the powder burns within the first 20 inches. I plan on using 175 SMK and 178 AMAX hand loads but I'm open to other weights as well if someone can tell me the benefit of having a 30 incher. I read that the 30" barrels main goal with this length is to get a 155 grain bullet to near 3000 fps in order to make it to 1000 yards super sonic. Another dilemma I'm facing is I can't bear the thought of cutting off 5 inches of perfectly good barrel. Is a happy medium 28 inches?

 

[MLC]

I doubt you'd see 125 fps difference between a 24" and 30" with single based powders commonly used in a 308.
2" difference will be less than 50fps, ie, the ES of some factory ammo.
I'd forgo the 30" and add a brake to help spot hits/misses.

There's a lot of road to run out there, wouldn't a 30" WSM be a bit more appropriate out there?

 

[Ultraman550]

Well only thing is I have a Stiller Tac 30 in .308 on its way. So I guess the extra length will just be extra length so no need to have it there. It wont help and it wont hurt is what you're saying MLC? So out of 26 - 28 inches which would you go with given my situation? I have an AAC 51T Brakeout that I want to put on it already.

 

[MLC]

I have a 30" tube on a designated target rifle and in hindsight I'd take 4" less barrel in a heartbeat.

I also have a can on a 26" 308.
Again, a little shorter would make it more practical.
I've taken that rifle out to 1200 in your neck of the woods, albeit a little higher.
From my experience, 24-26 will be plenty of barrel.