308 Hybrid precision/hunting rifle barrel selection

[OH_Homesteader]

I am building a new bolt action 308 and I would like some advice on barrel selection. I will be using one of the Howa 1500 barreled actions in 308 from Brownells with a KRG Bravo chassis.

I would love to get into precision rifle shooting but there are no ranges over 100 yards in my local area, so I will mostly use it target shooting at 100 yards or deer hunting in West Virginia. For deer hunting my max yardage would be 300-400 yards. I would also like to take a long range shooting course so I would like the rifle to be capable to 1000 yards, but not necessarily optimized for that. I think of it more as a hybrid precision/hunting rifle, similar to a Bergara HMR.

The 3 options I'm considering for the barreled action are a 20" heavy barrel (6lb), a 22" standard barrel (5lb), and a 24" heavy barrel (6.65lb). All three are threaded. Given my use case, which makes the most sense?

My thoughts are either the 22" standard or the 20" hbar. Two years ago I hunted with my 18" scoped AR10 (11lbs without ammo). It was definitely heavier than my standard hunting rifle but wasn't really a big deal, as I'm mostly walking logging roads and setting up in blinds. I can see the weight being more of a factor if I was hiking long distance in the mountains out west. The total weight with barreled action, stock and scope for the 22" would be 9.5lb, 20" is 10.5 lb, and 24" would be 11.15lb.

For my use does the extra 1 lb for the hbar 20" make sense?

 

[Chuck R.]

For my use does the extra 1 lb for the hbar 20" make sense?

Do you plan on suppressing it?

 

[JmacD]

I am building a new bolt action 308 and I would like some advice on barrel selection. I will be using one of the Howa 1500 barreled actions in 308 from Brownells with a KRG Bravo chassis.

I would love to get into precision rifle shooting but there are no ranges over 100 yards in my local area, so I will mostly use it target shooting at 100 yards or deer hunting in West Virginia. For deer hunting my max yardage would be 300-400 yards. I would also like to take a long range shooting course so I would like the rifle to be capable to 1000 yards, but not necessarily optimized for that. I think of it more as a hybrid precision/hunting rifle, similar to a Bergara HMR.

The 3 options I'm considering for the barreled action are a 20" heavy barrel (6lb), a 22" standard barrel (5lb), and a 24" heavy barrel (6.65lb). All three are threaded. Given my use case, which makes the most sense?

My thoughts are either the 22" standard or the 20" hbar. Two years ago I hunted with my 18" scoped AR10 (11lbs without ammo). It was definitely heavier than my standard hunting rifle but wasn't really a big deal, as I'm mostly walking logging roads and setting up in blinds. I can see the weight being more of a factor if I was hiking long distance in the mountains out west. The total weight with barreled action, stock and scope for the 22" would be 9.5lb, 20" is 10.5 lb, and 24" would be 11.15lb.

For my use does the extra 1 lb for the hbar 20" make sense?

I’ve got a 26” on mine.
And with scope, bipod etc, it’s weighing in at 14lbs(13.8 to be precise). It shoots lights out.
Im still running factory barrel, but it was a match barrel made by… now I don’t remember… I think I’d recommend at least a 22” for your application, but I’m no expert…! I’m learning every day.
Edit: I missed a couple of the details that were brought out in the post after mine, so… Part of my comment is completely irrelevant.

 

[Varminterror]

@OH_Homesteader - it took me a minute to figure out the math on those barrel weights, because none of that made any sense for barrel weights... But then I remembered you're looking at BARRELED ACTIONS... Don't get the standard, it's a sporter weight, and it's not going to be well suited for what you're wanting. Even the "heavy" contour isn't very heavy. Also, don't get the 24", you're just going to feel too much weight as a hunting rifle, and the difference between 24" and 20" for what you're likely going to do won't be worth the ~175fps difference. Get the 20" Heavy, live happy. That extra pound will mean better stability, less recoil, and cooler barrel temp. It's still not a very heavy rifle, right about in the sweet spot for what I want ALL of my hunting rifles to weigh, let alone something I'd be shooting out to 1,000yrds. That wouldn't be too far off on contour from the Bartlein #4's I used for my personal long range precision/hunting rifles.

24" Heavy is too long, 22" Standard is too light contour - the 20" heavy will be just right.

 

[OH_Homesteader]

Thanks for the responses so far. Yes I would like to suppress it eventually, which adds to the other good reasons to go with the 20" hbar.