Savage 10FP - 20" or 24" barrel?

M

madkiwi

New member
Well, I think I want to get a Savage 10FP in .308. This will be a gun for longer range play, say 200 yards+, and I will be seriously considering a Leupold 6x42 mil-dot to grace the top of it.

I will also throw a bipod on it, so I am trying to decide if I want to save the 2lbs by getting the shorter barrel, or just living with it. How much will the shorter barrel effect muzzle velocity and range?

Anyone know how much a Savage 10FP 24" .308 with a Harris bipod and the Leupold will weigh?

Any constructive comments? This will be my first boltgun. My M4gery and government 20" HBAR are my close rifles.

Thanks!
 
I own the 10FP in .308 with a 24" barrel. If you're only planning to shoot prone or supported in some manner, then that barrel length is fine. If you want to do some off-hand shooting, then I would suggest the 20" barrel, because I find that it's a little unwieldy due to the added barrel length.
 
Ah, the eye of the beholder strikes again!

Depending on whose chronograph is used, the velocity loss per inch of barrel is roughly 50 ft/sec. The factories' reference standard used to be 26", but nowadays the published data for various loads might be from other lengths.

"Handiness": For some 30 years, my old reliable pet walking-around hunting rifle has been a Weatherby Mark V in .30-'06, with a 26" barrel. It weighs some 9-1/2 pounds, fully dressed. I've never noticed barrel length or weight to be a problem when killing a running deer, much less a patient volunteer. The weight has now become a problem toward the end of a several-mile hunt in rough country, but my danged old legs are now 67 years old.

All this verbiage means that IMO for young squirts under 50, go with the 24" barrel.

:), Art
 
Madkiwi,

I just purchased the 10FP in .308 with a 24" barrel two weeks ago. I mounted mine with Leupold optics as well. I have yet to put a bipod on it, but current weight without the bipod is 9 1/2 pounds. I find it pretty easy to shoot offhand though.

HTH,
 
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