.308 rifle barrel lengths

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Rifle recommendation: Thompson Center Icon or Browning A-bolt on that budget. Yep, particularly the Icon - good good stuff, Maynard (except for the stupid detachable mag part).

22" will be slightly flatter-shooting, but not enough to make any real difference at hunting distances. It's probaby the better all-around length than 20", though, if for no other reason than lessened muzzle blast. But if you want flat-shooting, there's a dozen or so better chamberings to choose from, not the least of which is the venerable .270 Win - it will shoot flatter from an 18" barrel than .308 will from a 24" barrel, and be a significantly better choice for the long shots on groundhogs, IMO. Dies are $25 - don't let that in any way dictate getting the caliber that is best for your wants and needs.
 
Some of the sniper rifle builders are cutting down their barrels to 18" or 20" on 308 and getting better accuracy and that is more than enough lenght for shooting under 800yds. If I hunted I would want a 18-20" barrel. What I actually have in 308 is a 26" 700p and a 24" LR-308, but I'm planning to cut down the lr-308 and I want to shoot Fclass so will leave the 700p at 26"
 
Jim,
I am looking at the TC's on the website and I don't see it in the combination I want. For instance, I'd like the field grade walnut in .308 with a 22" bbl (not the heavy). The current 22" bbl offered is "heavy" with the varminter stock.
And what is the ballpark price range for one of these from a gun shop, not msrp?
 
My suggestion would be to look at the auction sites and find a Mohawk in 308

Just like your .243 the .308 Mohawk is just deadly accurate.
 
LEVLOVR- I couldn't agree with you more. I have shot 1.19 inch groups with it at 200 yards.
I am however, looking for something new. I have a "thing" with buying used guns.
 
I recently bought a Remmy 700 30-06' nice engraved BDL, I'm going to have the barrel cut to 18". I've watched, listened to alot of talk of longer barrels, but haveing shot out past 800m with 18" .308's, I think I can handle the loss in velocity.

I do most of my hunting in wooded areas, were a 200m shot would be a taken down an old logging trail, most shots are under 100, more averageing 50m.
 
I would actually call up t/c, and see what they can do to help you out, what you want sounds wickedly good, I am sure they could do it, but will they?
 
A couple months ago I bought a Savage 10FCP. Bought the rifle and scope package for $700 plus tax. It's matte black and would work nice for hunting as it doesn't have anything shiny on it and it's fairly light. I think it was the low end of Savages' tactical rifles. It has a fairly short barrel on it, 20 or 21 inches. It shoots out of the box. I shoot ragged holes at 100 yards and consistently ring steel at over 1100 yards. And ring steel repeatedly anywhere in between. Oh, and that is with the cheap Tasco Mil-dot scope that came with the package. I have since upgrade the scope slightly to a Bushnell Elite 3200 mil-dot scope.

Look hard at Savage before spending too much elsewhere. My goal was to get a 1000 yard rifle for under a grand. Right now I am $50 over budget. I wouldn't win championships but I would put a deer or elk down inside of 500 yrds.

Edit: I forgot to mention this is a .308 Winchester in Savage 10FCP. It's got a 1:10 twist and it seems to like to shoot bullets 168 gr and heavier.
 
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I just looked at Savages website and they don't offer that exact rifle any more. The closest they have would be either the 10FP with an MSRP of $710 but I just did a quick search on GunBroker and came up with the same rifle at $550 and up. The next closest thing would be the 10FCP-K which is the same as mine except the newer one has a break. Not sure how much you would really need a break on a .308 but there it is. The MSRP on that one is $893 but I'll be you can get them at a better price than that too.

I think one of the reason's I got mine for a good deal was that I bought it at a big box discount sporting goods store. And since it was in a sporting goods store and looking all black next to the pretty walnut stocks it had probably been there a while. Possibly even last years model. It has the accu-trigger but does not have the accu-stock and I think they came out with the accu-stock in 2009. So mine might be a 2008 or older model.

Even if I paid $700 for the gun and had to put a scope on it I would not be a bad deal for how well it shoots out of the box.
 
I hear you on the "NEW" thing Thomis.

Take a look at the Ruger Hawkeye series and see what they have to offer.
 
Looking at the Ruger Hawkeye...
The standard has 22" bbl and weighs 7 #
the ultralight has 20" bbl and weighs 6.25 #
That 3/4 # can't come from just 2" bbl can it? Is the overall bbl thinner?
 
Thinner barrel and trimmer stock.

I would not dismiss Rugers too soon. They got a bad reputation years ago when they bought their barrels from outside vendors. New rifles, especially the Hawkeye's are shooting as good as anything out there. They can rarely compete in serious target shooting, but their hunting rifles are more than accurate enough.
 
+1 on the T/C Icon http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/icon_classic.php. Mine is .308 / Walnut stock the barrel is 24" it has a lot of nice features but what most impresses me is bullet holes touching at 200 yards many times when target shooting. It came with a test target and likes Hornady 168 A-Max the best. Took a deer this year at 300 yards with it and one at 360 last year. When I know I'm hunting over big fields it is my go too. Best wishes.
 
hefted a ruger yesterday..

Looked at an M77 Ruger in .308 Yesterday. Liked how it felt but the action was stiff and rough. It was like the parts weren't de-burred, like there was sand down in the action. the owner of the local gun shop said he didn't like any of the m77's he carried and was straight up honest about it. he was trying to talk me into walking out with a savage and I probably eventually will, but I really want to look at the Icon first and he didn't have any in. The price he quoted me for the Icon was high, 125 more than the savage model 14. I think I can get it cheaper elsewhere.
 
I wouldn't worry about a choppy , tight feeling action on a ruger; it is much like a CZ, and CZ's are regularly like this, they just take a long time to smooth up.
But no one's complaining how a CZ works!!!!
But you are right, go look at some more first, especially a t/c, marlin, or tikka.
 
New Rugers feel gritty. Especially the stainless ones in my experience. With use they smooth up and feel fine.
 
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