20" or 24" barrel for .308

[eric.cartman]

I'm considering Tikka T3 Tactical... would be my first bolt action rifle.
I see them in both 20" and 24" barrels.
What's the (dis)advantage of 24" barrel in .308 Winchester ???
Which one should I get?

 

[DogBonz]

24"

I’m going to take a wild guess and say that since you are getting the T3 Tactical, that you will be target shooting with it, right? If so I would want the 24” barrel

 

[Texas Gunman]

24" on up, help get you to a 1000+ yards alot easier, to where a 20" would be lacking.

TG

 

[Davo]

If you are gonna shoot long range (600+ yards) the 24 inch barrel is preferred. It will typically give you 200-300 fps over the 20 inch barrel and make getting to 1000 yards much easier. Also at all ranges there will be a bit less drop and wind drift with a given load.
The short barrels are supposed to be stiffer, which may make them a bit more accurate, but that depends on the rifle. To get to 1000 yards will take a very stout load but can be done. They are also more compact.

 

[Jim Watson]

The point of these short tactickle rifles is for the swatters to carry them in their patrol car trunks. Except for high end benchrest shooting where the 21.75" barrel is preferred for stiffness and "harmonics", longer is generally better for actual shooting. Free velocity and the muzzle blast is less and farther away from your head.

 

[rangerruck]

if you are going for a sniper type setup, then the 24, if you are gonna move and shoot, then the 20. The 24 will gain you somewhere between 200 and 300 fps in speed, which translates to another 100 or yards of dead on hold , downrange.

 

[mariner243]

24". I can't think of a compelling reason to get the 20" unless you were working within 100yds.