.308 Barrel length

[jwcrabb]

Putting together a .308 rifle for Deer hunting mainly out of a stand. Going to use either 155 or 165 bullets and shoot a max of 500 yds. I'm starting with a 26" barrel and want to have it cut off and fluted. I'd like it as short as possible (20-24") and still fit the above parameters. Any suggestions?

[MudRunner2005]

My factory Rem 700 5R barrel is 24" and it's a tack-driver. I used to have a custom Rem Model 7 .308 that had a custom cut 20" barrel on it, and it was a 1000yd gun.

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by jwcrabb

Putting together a .308 rifle for Deer hunting mainly out of a stand. Going to use either 155 or 165 bullets and shoot a max of 500 yds. I'm starting with a 26" barrel and want to have it cut off and fluted. I'd like it as short as possible (20-24") and still fit the above parameters. Any suggestions?

I like and recomend 20'' to 22'' for 308 based cartriges for deer hunting out of a deer stand.

You will give up a little velocity but not enough to effect hunting @ 500 yards.

J E CUSTOM

[emn83]

I went with a 26...so, with your guidelines, I'd go with a 24 inch...I have no problems maneuvering mine around with the longer barrel

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by emn83

I went with a 26...so, with your guidelines, I'd go with a 24 inch...I have no problems maneuvering mine around with the longer barrel

A 24" barrel is fine in a short action and if it is not awkward in a stand you are good to go.

I normally make short barreled rifles with a little heaver contour and this helps on running targets
and accuracy. As we all know a long barrel with a heavy contour is muzzle heavy and is not ideal
for running or follow up shots.

The 308s,708s,260s, and 243s perform well with short barrels and are very handy. the longest
.308 barrel I ever used was 28" and the advantage was with Iron Sites (IT gave it a long site
radius) velocity was not that much better than a 22" barrel (Around 100 ft/sec).

J E CUSTOM

[backwoods83]

22-24", I've shot and loaded for 16-28" barrels, accuracy isn't effected much with a heavy contour, if its a lighter contour and you go with a 20-22" you may want a break for quick follow ups. With some of the newer powders the long barrels shine with the heavier pills from 185-210. One of my favorite loads is in a 24", a 168grn Nosler BT and it has taken a whitetail doe at 506yrds.