.308 barrel length

[scotch_egg]

I’ve got a couple of 20” .308’s which both like 168 gr and up at relatively sedate speeds. I’ve only used them for target shooting. I think part of my nervousness about chopping this new one very short is I’ve not been able to get decent speeds out of these. However I’m sure I can find a load with 150’s or lighter.

You have just introduced a whole new player to the game

If you already have 20” .308’s go bold or go home. Get the tape out and chop it off at 16” and be done with it. Shoot 110gr TTSX or 130gr “insert generic copper bullet”

There is something pretty liberating about carrying a short barreled rifle.

Get some 155gr ELD-M’s or 155gr 2155 SMK’s if you can find them if you want to shoot targets up to 600m beyond that take the other rifles.

 

[Jagged77]

You have just introduced a whole new player to the game

If you already have 20” .308’s go bold or go home. Get the tape out and chop it off at 16” and be done with it. Shoot 110gr TTSX or 130gr “insert generic copper bullet”

There is something pretty liberating about carrying a short barreled rifle.

Get some 155gr ELD-M’s or 155gr 2155 SMK’s if you can find them if you want to shoot targets up to 600m beyond that take the other rifles.

Nothing is straight forward

To be fair the .308’s I have are not stalking rifles and do well with heavy match bullets. Just very slow and loopy.

With the barrel that’s on the Surgeon I think even 22” is going to be massively weighty, especially with an ASE Jet-Z hanging off the end. Might be time to be bold like you say and go properly short.

 

[scotch_egg]

Nothing is straight forward

To be fair the .308’s I have are not stalking rifles and do well with heavy match bullets. Just very slow and loopy.

With the barrel that’s on the Surgeon I think even 22” is going to be massively weighty, especially with an ASE Jet-Z hanging off the end. Might be time to be bold like you say and go properly short.

If you are considering fluting get it re-profiled at the same time. The quality of barrels now days you shouldn’t see a loss of accuracy. Something like the Tikka CTR profile is still stout and at 16” would be well balanced.

 

[CBH Australia]

Not sure what it would cost to modify this heavy barrel vs any other option.

Inches are ounces on a a straight taper.

I think 20” loooks in proportion.

I would like to build a 21” hunting rifle just to be different because my Tikkas are 22”