.308 rifle barrel lengths

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thomis

thomis

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Hello friends-

I am in the market for a new deer rifle for a ten year anniversary present. My current and only deer rifle is an old Rem Mohawk 600 in .243. It has no scope on it but is reliable and has taken many deer.
I am researching rifles, scopes, and calibers, basically starting from scratch. This rifle will be used for deer hunting out to 300 yards, groundhogs to beyond 300 and some occassional target shooting at the local gun club out to 200 yards.
I have settled on the .308 Winchester. I already have dies for it. My question is in regards to barrel length. I was looking on the Remington website and it appears that the only length they have for this cartridge is 20". I had my mind set on a 22" bbl but not sure why. Can someone explain the pro's and con's of these two lengths for this particular cartridge? More specifically, which barrel length would provide for the flattest shooting with this cartridge? I will be handloading all of my ammo, by the way.

I'd also like to hear opinions on the make and model of good rifles for this caliber. I definitely want USA made, traditional wood stock and blued finish bbl. I have a budget of about $750 for the rifle not including the scope, which I have already decided to be one of the new Redfields.

Thanks for any help!
Thomis
 
Hello,
My 308's are 16 inches and 21.5 inches respectively. I think you would be happy with either barrel length. The 20 incher is going to carry a little nicer. Velocity will probably be marginally better with the 22 inch barrel but I don't think it would be enough to ever make a difference in the field. Especially if you handload. You could for example load a 150 gr. in the 20 inch barrel that could be faster than the 165 gr. in the 22 inch barrel. As far as which one there are alot of good ones now, you would just have to feel them and look at them to figure out what you like. Remington would be at the bottom of my list for American ones now though. That new Model 70 would be nice.
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535109
 
most all bbl/rifle mfgrs give you their bullet stats , from a bbl of 24 inches; for most centerfire rifles/bullets, for a avg. cartridge, not a magnum or Weatherby, most centerfire carts go about 25 to 35 fps faster, with each inch of bbl gained.
All the way up to about 30 inches. then they start to slow down abit, per inch, after 30 inches of length.
Now if it were me, and I were handloading, i would be trying for max speed, along with accuracy, that I could get, so i would be more on the 35 to 40 fps per inch. And then if i new most of my hunting would be still hunting, or from a stand, then i would be doing a 26 inch bbl. Again, that is just me.
So I would be looking at a savage, with a 26 inch bbl., since you can order one from them, and also I think their bbl twist is faster; i would be looking for a 1/ 9.5 twist, if I were you.
Now all that being said; you have a remmy 600 in 243? You lucky, lucky dog;
I would just use that for deer hunting, and handload for that, for the rest of
my life!!!!
 
My only .308 winny has a 24" barrel. I don't hand load but I enjoy very tight groups at 100 and 200 yards. For a deer rifle in the deep woods I prefer a shorter barrel 20" or 22". I have a 7x57mm with an 18" barrel that is very handy in close areas.
 
Thanks to all. I'm taking a very serious look at the Model 70 and the Ruger. The Weatherby is not an option b/c it is made overseas, though not sure exactly where, maybe Japan. I want only USA made.
My Rem 600 is a dandy little rifle. My Grandfather gave it to me when I was fifteen. I've been putting them down with it ever since. I'm just ready for a scoped sharpshooter.
 
I have a 24" barrel on my 308 and I never have trouble "in the woods" with my barrel being too long. I do like how it efficiently makes use of the powder for less blast and a little more velocity than it would have had if it were 22"
 
Winchester
TC Arms
Savage
Ruger
Remington
some Weatherby
Marlin
Smith Wesson
Mossberg
Henry

all USA made I believe... I'll have to do some research and post it in a new thread. I insist on a USA made gun. If Winchester is usa made but foreign owned, I may axe it off the list..
 
Look at Kimber. USA made, CRF action. The 84 Montana is all stainless with a 22" barrel and weighs just over 5lbs. They make a blue/walnut version if you prefer. Mine is the most accurate hunting weight rifle I own. Only my 10+ lb target rifles out shoot it. Over your budget, but a lot of the gun for the money. I would save a little longer or sell something to make up the differnce.

The 308 is a good round and is not as bad in a 20" barrel as many others. To stay within your $750 budget my next choice would be Ruger.
 
rugers. while beauties , and quite stout, can be hit or miss on accuracy.
then you have CZ; a fabulous rifle, made and finished here in Kansas City; but home company is in Czechland... But a damn fabulous rifle.

If you want total american made, and good, and cheap, right now, I think Marlin and T/c have
it all over everyone else right now. Marlins about 300 , t/c's about 400, and great rifles, adjustable
triggers, fantastic bbls, and very good accuracy.
 
308's with 22" barrels were once common...it is the ideal length for 308 class rounds (not too long, not too short)

You are right to be looking for that length...but 20" works plenty good enough for hunting.

Winchester makes a 308 with a 22" barrel I believe, as does Savage.
 
I have a Ruger Frontier with a 16" barrel. For the woods of Pennsylvania it does great. I have a Leupold scout scope mounted forward on it. That type of scope arrangement is difficult for some but there are mounting points to place a scope in the "normal" position if you prefer.
 
Olin is american. But Olin owns the Winchester brand only, and produces ammunition under that brand. It also licenses the Winchester name to Browning (= FNH) to put on a line of firearms and other products
 
this is all great to hear.
rangerruck, I have heard the same about the Rugers. thats unfortunate as I am a huge ruger revolver fan, but I have crossed them off the list for this reason, that they are not consistent. I have a friend with a Ruger in .22-250 that has never been able to close up his groups.
I'm looking hard at the SAVAGES
I also have heard from a few that the new Winchester Model 70 has no out-of-the-box accuracy to speak of. But I have no experience with this rifle personally.
 
You can get a number of fine American Rifles for money but before you do, take a look at Thompson Center's ICON. I have it in 308 with the Hogue stock. It will cost a few dollars more than you wanted to spend but you would be getting the best on the market.
 
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