Hi, everyone I am new to long range shooting and want to do it right from the beginning. I have decided on getting an Accuracy International AE MK III which is a .308. I want to be able to shoot to 1000+ yard or to whatever the limits of the .308 are. I chose .308 due to is wide availability and lower cost that most other calibers. Does all of this make sense or not? Please tell me if I am totally wrong about all of this and need to go a different rout. My main question about this is my choises are a 20" braked barrel or a 24" barrel with no brake. I would like to know the advantages of both and peoples opinions at which to get. Thank you so much for your time!
Which size barrel to get
- Thread starter Skold
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Re: Which size barrel to get
The 24" will squeeze a little more velocity out of hot handloads.
The 20" is easier to swing.
If all you are doing is shooting 1K from a bench, then the 24 is the way to go.
If you shoot and move the added handling of the 20" is more important that the tiny velocity boost.
I use the braked 20" because pushing a .308 past 1000 yards, while fun, is not the best course of action. For distances that great, there are better cartridges that sill fit through the AE receiver.
The 24" will squeeze a little more velocity out of hot handloads.
The 20" is easier to swing.
If all you are doing is shooting 1K from a bench, then the 24 is the way to go.
If you shoot and move the added handling of the 20" is more important that the tiny velocity boost.
I use the braked 20" because pushing a .308 past 1000 yards, while fun, is not the best course of action. For distances that great, there are better cartridges that sill fit through the AE receiver.
Re: Which size barrel to get
Hi, thanks for responding so quickly. I would like to be able to shoot and move around possibly at some comepetition level. So you are saying that with a standard load the 24" barrel wouldn't give me much benefit over the 20" braked one?
Hi, thanks for responding so quickly. I would like to be able to shoot and move around possibly at some comepetition level. So you are saying that with a standard load the 24" barrel wouldn't give me much benefit over the 20" braked one?
Re: Which size barrel to get
Not with factory ammo.
If you are going to compete in a tactical competition you aren't going to give much up with the 20" barrel. The brake will help when you can't get straight behind the rifle, shooting off barricades, etc.
Not with factory ammo.
If you are going to compete in a tactical competition you aren't going to give much up with the 20" barrel. The brake will help when you can't get straight behind the rifle, shooting off barricades, etc.
Re: Which size barrel to get
Like LoneWolf said if you want a more manuverable rifle than the 20", but if you plan on doing comp. stuff at a 1000yds than go with the 24". And if im not mistaken I think the new AE Mk III come with a 1/10 twist so the 20" would be perfect.
Like LoneWolf said if you want a more manuverable rifle than the 20", but if you plan on doing comp. stuff at a 1000yds than go with the 24". And if im not mistaken I think the new AE Mk III come with a 1/10 twist so the 20" would be perfect.
Re: Which size barrel to get
Ok, thanks for all of the information everyone. If I do any competition stuff it would be more like tactical stuff not like bullseye 1000 yard competitions. With that im seeing that the 20" with the brake would be much better for that.
Ok, thanks for all of the information everyone. If I do any competition stuff it would be more like tactical stuff not like bullseye 1000 yard competitions. With that im seeing that the 20" with the brake would be much better for that.
Re: Which size barrel to get
I have a couple of rifles cut at 20" and they are very manuverable and accurate. And if you decide to add a suppressor in the future you are good to go with a 20". Hope this helps. Paul.
www.boltfluting.com
I have a couple of rifles cut at 20" and they are very manuverable and accurate. And if you decide to add a suppressor in the future you are good to go with a 20". Hope this helps. Paul.
www.boltfluting.com
Re: Which size barrel to get
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PPR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a couple of rifles cut at 20" and they are very manuverable and accurate. And if you decide to add a suppressor in the future you are good to go with a 20". Hope this helps. Paul.
www.boltfluting.com </div></div>
When you say accurate, what type of accuracy are you getting at 1000 yards with the 20" barrels?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PPR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a couple of rifles cut at 20" and they are very manuverable and accurate. And if you decide to add a suppressor in the future you are good to go with a 20". Hope this helps. Paul.
www.boltfluting.com </div></div>
When you say accurate, what type of accuracy are you getting at 1000 yards with the 20" barrels?
Re: Which size barrel to get
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shoot 1st</div><div class="ubbcode-body">competitions huh? you must be a natural. </div></div>
I do not understand the point of your post other than attacking someone..... Sorry for asking help from people that I belive are more knowledgeable in the subject than I am. All I wanted to do was to buy the correct rifle that would suit my needs the first time and not waste, in this case, alot of money.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shoot 1st</div><div class="ubbcode-body">competitions huh? you must be a natural. </div></div>
I do not understand the point of your post other than attacking someone..... Sorry for asking help from people that I belive are more knowledgeable in the subject than I am. All I wanted to do was to buy the correct rifle that would suit my needs the first time and not waste, in this case, alot of money.
Re: Which size barrel to get
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shoot 1st</div><div class="ubbcode-body">competitions huh? you must be a natural. </div></div>
Not sure I am tracking with this. I try to get new shooters to our local competitions all the time. It's the best way to grow the sport. You don't have to win to have fun.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shoot 1st</div><div class="ubbcode-body">competitions huh? you must be a natural. </div></div>
Not sure I am tracking with this. I try to get new shooters to our local competitions all the time. It's the best way to grow the sport. You don't have to win to have fun.
Re: Which size barrel to get
Skold,
Welcome to the forum and try to ignore comments like the one above, they're meaningless. FWIW, accuracy from a 20" .308 barrel at 1000 yd is likely to suffer simply because the muzzle velocity out of that length barrel will be less than the 24" by something in the neighborhood of 100 fps. Even with a lighter projectile such as the 155s, a 20" barrel is giving up a lot at that range, which is why many of the shooters in competitions at 1000 yd will use a barrel of 26", 30", sometimes even longer. Those barrel lengths give much greater muzzle velocities, particularly with heavier projectiles, thus buying greater resistance to the effect of the wind and requiring less elevation adjustment on the optic.
However, unless you plan on shooting past 800 yd or so on a regular basis, it's unlikely you would miss the extra 4" of barrel length. There are many types of shooting competitions that will be at or below that distance in which you can participate, from benchrest to midrange highpower to tactical matches. In any event, hope you are happy with whatever you decide to get and best of luck with your shooting.
Skold,
Welcome to the forum and try to ignore comments like the one above, they're meaningless. FWIW, accuracy from a 20" .308 barrel at 1000 yd is likely to suffer simply because the muzzle velocity out of that length barrel will be less than the 24" by something in the neighborhood of 100 fps. Even with a lighter projectile such as the 155s, a 20" barrel is giving up a lot at that range, which is why many of the shooters in competitions at 1000 yd will use a barrel of 26", 30", sometimes even longer. Those barrel lengths give much greater muzzle velocities, particularly with heavier projectiles, thus buying greater resistance to the effect of the wind and requiring less elevation adjustment on the optic.
However, unless you plan on shooting past 800 yd or so on a regular basis, it's unlikely you would miss the extra 4" of barrel length. There are many types of shooting competitions that will be at or below that distance in which you can participate, from benchrest to midrange highpower to tactical matches. In any event, hope you are happy with whatever you decide to get and best of luck with your shooting.
Re: Which size barrel to get
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gstaylorg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Skold,
Welcome to the forum and try to ignore comments like the one above, they're meaningless. FWIW, accuracy from a 20" .308 barrel at 1000 yd is likely to suffer simply because the muzzle velocity out of that length barrel will be less than the 24" by something in the neighborhood of 100 fps. Even with a lighter projectile such as the 155s, a 20" barrel is giving up a lot at that range, which is why many of the shooters in competitions at 1000 yd will use a barrel of 26", 30", sometimes even longer. Those barrel lengths give much greater muzzle velocities, particularly with heavier projectiles, thus buying greater resistance to the effect of the wind and requiring less elevation adjustment on the optic.
However, unless you plan on shooting past 800 yd or so on a regular basis, it's unlikely you would miss the extra 4" of barrel length. There are many types of shooting competitions that will be at or below that distance in which you can participate, from benchrest to midrange highpower to tactical matches. In any event, hope you are happy with whatever you decide to get and best of luck with your shooting. </div></div>
Thanks so much for your lengthy reply. I still cannot decide as to which one to get im trying to read everything I can about this topic and make a decision soon!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gstaylorg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Skold,
Welcome to the forum and try to ignore comments like the one above, they're meaningless. FWIW, accuracy from a 20" .308 barrel at 1000 yd is likely to suffer simply because the muzzle velocity out of that length barrel will be less than the 24" by something in the neighborhood of 100 fps. Even with a lighter projectile such as the 155s, a 20" barrel is giving up a lot at that range, which is why many of the shooters in competitions at 1000 yd will use a barrel of 26", 30", sometimes even longer. Those barrel lengths give much greater muzzle velocities, particularly with heavier projectiles, thus buying greater resistance to the effect of the wind and requiring less elevation adjustment on the optic.
However, unless you plan on shooting past 800 yd or so on a regular basis, it's unlikely you would miss the extra 4" of barrel length. There are many types of shooting competitions that will be at or below that distance in which you can participate, from benchrest to midrange highpower to tactical matches. In any event, hope you are happy with whatever you decide to get and best of luck with your shooting. </div></div>
Thanks so much for your lengthy reply. I still cannot decide as to which one to get im trying to read everything I can about this topic and make a decision soon!
Re: Which size barrel to get
Well I'm in about your same position knowledge-wise, brand new to the sport, so this may be nonsense. But I opted to go with a longer barrel when given the option. I figured I could always have it cut and crowned in the future cheaper than buying a new barrel (but now I want a new one anyway). Of course I don't plan on moving with mine all that much, and it gets heavy after lugging it a while. 26" 700 SPS Varmint in a B&C A2.
Well I'm in about your same position knowledge-wise, brand new to the sport, so this may be nonsense. But I opted to go with a longer barrel when given the option. I figured I could always have it cut and crowned in the future cheaper than buying a new barrel (but now I want a new one anyway). Of course I don't plan on moving with mine all that much, and it gets heavy after lugging it a while. 26" 700 SPS Varmint in a B&C A2.
Re: Which size barrel to get
Welcome to the hide. You made the comment "I have decided on getting an Accuracy International AE MK III which is a .308. I want to be able to shoot to 1000+ yard or to whatever the limits of the .308 are. I chose .308 due to is wide availability and lower cost that most other calibers." That makes no sense since the cost of the rifle and sight system is hardly at the economy end of the spectrum, and the .308 is hardly the optimum short action round for 1k shooting. If you have never used the AE rifle I would urge you to see if you can at least find an AE stocked rifle to try before you spend a bunch of money and find out that the rifle doesn't fit. Good luck with your new hobby.
Welcome to the hide. You made the comment "I have decided on getting an Accuracy International AE MK III which is a .308. I want to be able to shoot to 1000+ yard or to whatever the limits of the .308 are. I chose .308 due to is wide availability and lower cost that most other calibers." That makes no sense since the cost of the rifle and sight system is hardly at the economy end of the spectrum, and the .308 is hardly the optimum short action round for 1k shooting. If you have never used the AE rifle I would urge you to see if you can at least find an AE stocked rifle to try before you spend a bunch of money and find out that the rifle doesn't fit. Good luck with your new hobby.
Re: Which size barrel to get
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: smallbore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Welcome to the hide. You made the comment "I have decided on getting an Accuracy International AE MK III which is a .308. I want to be able to shoot to 1000+ yard or to whatever the limits of the .308 are. I chose .308 due to is wide availability and lower cost that most other calibers." That makes no sense since the cost of the rifle and sight system is hardly at the economy end of the spectrum, and the .308 is hardly the optimum short action round for 1k shooting. If you have never used the AE rifle I would urge you to see if you can at least find an AE stocked rifle to try before you spend a bunch of money and find out that the rifle doesn't fit. Good luck with your new hobby. </div></div>
Hi, thanks for your insight. I already have all of the equipment to reload .308 and lots of supplies so I have a greatly reduced price in ammunition. Also as I am fairly new to this I will probably not be shooting at 1000 yards any time soon. As with the AI I have not shot one, but I do believe in buying a very good product in the beginning so as to not have to upgrade in the near future and work up to the abilities of the product. I will try to find one locally to shoot but im not sure how to go about that.......
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: smallbore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Welcome to the hide. You made the comment "I have decided on getting an Accuracy International AE MK III which is a .308. I want to be able to shoot to 1000+ yard or to whatever the limits of the .308 are. I chose .308 due to is wide availability and lower cost that most other calibers." That makes no sense since the cost of the rifle and sight system is hardly at the economy end of the spectrum, and the .308 is hardly the optimum short action round for 1k shooting. If you have never used the AE rifle I would urge you to see if you can at least find an AE stocked rifle to try before you spend a bunch of money and find out that the rifle doesn't fit. Good luck with your new hobby. </div></div>
Hi, thanks for your insight. I already have all of the equipment to reload .308 and lots of supplies so I have a greatly reduced price in ammunition. Also as I am fairly new to this I will probably not be shooting at 1000 yards any time soon. As with the AI I have not shot one, but I do believe in buying a very good product in the beginning so as to not have to upgrade in the near future and work up to the abilities of the product. I will try to find one locally to shoot but im not sure how to go about that.......
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