16 inch .308

[sean]

Well here is the question.Do i chop my perfectly good blaser down to 16"? I reload so i could load 125 grain bullets ones that don't blow up.But what kind of veloictys are poeple actualy getting with short barrels? I know that speed is not the be all and end all but i would not want a rifle that i would not be comfortable shooting deer out to 200 yards or so.Thanks for all the info so far.
ATB SEAN

 

[KRS]

Well here is the question.Do i chop my perfectly good blaser down to 16"? I reload so i could load 125 grain bullets ones that don't blow up.But what kind of veloictys are poeple actualy getting with short barrels? I know that speed is not the be all and end all but i would not want a rifle that i would not be comfortable shooting deer out to 200 yards or so.Thanks for all the info so far.
ATB SEAN

Sean,

When I decided to change a rifle and go for a moderated one at the same time I chose the Blaser due to the action giving a shorter overall length than standard bolt actions but retaining a barrel of 22.5". Adding an Ase Utra Jet Z Compact gives me a rifle that is still a fraction shorter than my 25.06 with 26" barrel and so I have something which is perfectly good for stalking around with, gives nothing away in terms of performance and so gives confidence in taking the longer shots when required. A friend has a .308 with 19" barrel and mod, getting around 2,400 fps with 155 Gr bullets and uses a Nightforce with the elevation turret marked for various yardages past 100yds to ensure accurate placement of shots when stalking. Certainly he feels he needs to take into account the greater bullet drop out past 150 yds. At the end of the day you get what you want and just get the practice in to shoot it accurately.

Regards,

KRS

 

[howa243]

Well here is the question.Do i chop my perfectly good blaser down to 16"? I reload so i could load 125 grain bullets ones that don't blow up.But what kind of veloictys are poeple actualy getting with short barrels? I know that speed is not the be all and end all but i would not want a rifle that i would not be comfortable shooting deer out to 200 yards or so.Thanks for all the info so far.
ATB SEAN

Without knowing what you have in your cabinet its difficult to say. I am very pleased I have mine but i do have others to go to. If I wanted such a rifle I would buy one rather than cut my only one down.

 

[biglad]

Whats all the fuss about 16 in barrels i have a APR in 260 rem 24 in tube shooting 120 gr berger at 3150fts very accrreate dosent catch the trees when stalking cant understand why you need a short barrel ????Neil

 

[sean]

I shoot a .270 with a 20" barrel a 6.5 with a 26" barrel,300WSM with a 24" tube all my rifles have mods on them. But alot of my stalking is in very thick woodland consisting of large patches of black thorn and low over hanging branches.So here is theory if i dont give up much velocity or enough to make a big difference.Why not have a very short rifle so that when fitted with a jet z mod is a nice compact light rifle?
SEAN

 

[howa243]

So here is theory if i dont give up much velocity or enough to make a big difference.Why not have a very short rifle so that when fitted with a jet z mod is a nice compact light rifle?
SEAN

Its not a theory it works. In addition to which is a more rapid acquisition of the target. I hate moderators and see them as a necessary evil but they screw up the balance of a rifle something terrible. I have found that with a short rifle this is not the case, as it is clearly not so muzzle heavy.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Whats all the fuss about 16 in barrels i have a APR in 260 rem 24 in tube shooting 120 gr berger at 3150fts very accrreate dosent catch the trees when stalking cant understand why you need a short barrel ????Neil

Neil - sounds impressive, what's your load for this? Thanks J

 

[dieseldan]

125g heads are not to good in a 30 cal, as far as im aware they are a varmint bullet to a degree as such they make a mess! They have very little in back end, thus they do explode with deadful effect.

This is boll**ks in my opinion James. Got 2 roe hanging in my garage both shot with 125gn noslers. I will take a pic over weekend as they are fine.

They will not run away when shot with these. try finding a red at dusk when it takes off (again). Sako 123gn is a good round as well IMHO.
Shot placement. End of.

 

[Nicholas Fahey]

If RPA are making it, i'm sure it shoots pretty good. They also have brought out a hill range Available in 270 Win, 25-06, 30-06 and 6.5 x 55 with a choice of 3 or 5 shot magazines
http://www.rpainternational.co.uk/pdfs/brochures/highland_stalker.pdf

 

[matt458]

Surely the point is more concerned with the handyness of the rifle not the barrel length. The overall length is more the factor here.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Surely the point is more concerned with the handyness of the rifle not the barrel length. The overall length is more the factor here.

That is exactly it Matt. The objective to take a moderated rifle and make it as light and handy as possible - in effect to try and make it handle like a rifle that does not have a bloody big can hanging on the front. I would only want to give up the minimum amount of barrel necessary to achieve this.

The Blaser is actually a really good starting point for this as it is 3-4 " shorter than a conventional rifle for any given barrel length. I am inclined to think the RPA have gone a bit far at 16", but a conventional rifle cut down to 19"-20"s of barrel with an ASE Utra Jet-z handles extremely well and does not give up a huge amount of velocity.

With a Blaser there is no need to go shorter than 20".

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Whats all the fuss about 16 in barrels i have a APR in 260 rem 24 in tube shooting 120 gr berger at 3150fts very accrreate dosent catch the trees when stalking cant understand why you need a short barrel ????Neil

I'd like to see that 260 hit 3150. My 260 with a LW custom barrel shows clear signs of pressure as you take any 120gr bullet near 3000fps. Maybe the Berger has some magic, I would like to try them.

 

[howa243]

Steyr SSG PIV with 16 inch barrel and moderator.

 

[Teckel]

Sean, Have look on http://www.accuratereloading.com/ there's been a lot of talk about short 308.

 

[biglad]

j my loads are 39 gr reloader 15 120 gr berger match remmington cases cci gold medal match primers very accurate in my rifle mate.... and its 2820 ftps sorry its my 95gr thats 3150 ftps

 

[buck52]

125g heads are not to good in a 30 cal, as far as im aware they are a varmint bullet to a degree as such they make a mess! They have very little in back end, thus they do explode with deadful effect.

I am using reloaded 125 Sierras in a .308 on red & roe, I did a drop test recently, zeroed to 200 yds (1.5in high @ 100) it was 4.5 inches low at 300 yards, I am not experiencing excesive meat damage.