Accuracy with a .308 between a 20" to 24" barrel?

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blacksky

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I am considering buying a Savage 10FCP in .308 but I am not sure which barrel length would be the best a 20" out to 24"? I currently own a Savage model 12 BTCSS in .223 with a 26" barrel and it is a tack driver! I would mostly be shooting at the range, out to 1000 yards. Also looking at a Tikka T3 Tactical ? Accuracy with a .308 between a 20" to 24" barrel? Would I loose accuracy with a with any barrel over a 20"? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. :confused:
 
I know it is common for the snubnose fans to brag about long range shooting, but if you don't have to pack it in a patrol car trunk or hump it through the jungle, I would (DID!) go with a long barrel for some free velocity.

Theoretically, a short stiff barrel is more accurate, but that is the sort of thing that pays off at 100 yard benchrest more than at long range or Long Range.
 
I'm with Jim. I personally don't notice the handling difference in a couple inches of barrel length, but it's inarguable that, up to a point, the longer barrel will produce higher velocities.
 
I know it is common for the snubnose fans to brag about long range shooting, but if you don't have to pack it in a patrol car trunk or hump it through the jungle, I would (DID!) go with a long barrel for some free velocity.

Theoretically, a short stiff barrel is more accurate, but that is the sort of thing that pays off at 100 yard benchrest more than at long range or Long Range.
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This ^ and it's likely most people wont be able to shoot the difference. Both can get it done at 1000yds. Go for whatever you want ;)
 
FWIW: My pet '06 was deliberately chosen for the 26" barrel. Sub-MOA groups were common. After around 4,000 rounds through it, I was still getting three-shot groups around 0.5 MOA. The only way I ever bothered to compare velocities was via holdover for trajectory at 500 yards, going against friends' .308s. I was roughly 300 ft/sec faster, as near as we could tell.
 
Just a thought here but there is a noticeable noise/muzzle blast difference between the 20 vs 26 inch barrel personally I would opt for the longer barrel on that reason alone.;)
 
The 308 does about as well at 20" as 24"+. Some cartridges really need the extra length, but the 308 is one that works well in shorter barrels. I'd never want a 308 with anything over 22" and that would be only to reduce muzzle blast and to balance the rifle. 20" would give all the velocity you could use.

Here is a good read

http://www.tacticaloperations.com/SWATbarrel/
 
for all practical purpose, 18-20 inch enough to reach 1000 yards. If you ring 1000yds then 20in is the sweet spot. More than that its not that useful for 308 ballistics. Go for balance instead of an all out specc'd gun that's unwieldy.
 
Longer barrel for volocity is needed to get out to 1000 yards and beyond. Might run into that issure with a short barrel. Unless you are shooting a 155 gn or lighter. I know you will never get that MV out of a 175 gn in a short barrel.
 
Well, you CAN but you have to kind of push the loads.
Actually it is the 155 gr Palma bullets that benefit most from a long barrel because they need screaming velocity - as loud a scream as you can get out of a .308, anyhow.

Nei
ther you nor any target other than paper is going to be able to tell the difference as far as accuracy is concerned.
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I sure hope the OP is shooting paper at 1000 yards. Too far for sportsmanlike hunting and if he is shooting at people, I hope they are foreigners and his supply sergeant is issuing him a suitable rifle.
 
I shot some larue OBR recently and they reached out to 1000yds no fuss holding 2-3 mils of wind. Those OBR barrels are at most 20in
 
Jim Watson said:
Well, you CAN but you have to kind of push the loads.
Actually it is the 155 gr Palma bullets that benefit most from a long barrel because they need screaming velocity - as loud a scream as you can get out of a .308, anyhow.
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Exactly. Plenty of shooters run 175gr in their 18" right at or around 2500fps. Then if you want 18" .260 or .243 will work. Although .243 in 18" really seems to cut the legs out from under it. Still a 105 vld @ 2600+ (if achieved) is better than a 175gr SMK.

Another strange note is some stores report the 155gr lapua's BC as .508 when according to lapua's webite and Brian litz it's more in the .460G1 range. Bit of a difference. I know you are referring to the palma's, though.

I know not many people checked it out but if you couple it with Alliant's MR-2000 and get a nice SD and ES you could be looking at around 2650-2700fps. Sounds crazy but a guy over at SH was getting 2700+ with 185gr BT LRs in a .308 25" barrel. at my max load with varget i had just shy under 2650fps with 175gr BT LRs out of a 24" tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15qj032UJ1I
 
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Accuracy with a .308 between a 20" to 24" barrel? Would I loose accuracy with a with any barrel over a 20"? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
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Simply put, No. Barrel length does not determine accuracy so long as you have enough barrel with rifling to spin the projectile.
 
4runner if you like that you'd like the book. It's a great read lots of useful information and tons of actual recorded G1 and G7 BCs.
 
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