Barrel Length for AR10 .260 Upper?

[Swifty Morgan]

A few years back, I got myself a DPMS LR308 with a 24" bull barrel. I actually wanted a .260 Remington, so I could learn to shoot accurately at long distances, but the price on the .308 was good, so I bought it. I figured I could shoot cheaper .308 ammo from time to time.

I got myself some cans of Radway Green .308 ammo and I shot it at 100 yards, but I never got around to shooting .260.

Now I'd like to go ahead and get a .260 upper, but I'm not sure whether I want a 20" or 24" barrel.

Is there any big disadvantage to the shorter barrel? I know it will give lower velocities, but is it a big deal? I was kind of hoping some day I might be able to go out west and shoot prairie dogs or something. It would be nice to know something about shooting at distances above the hundred yards my local range provides.

 

[mickeydim468]

People say that you'll lose anywhere from 50 to 100 feet per second of velocity per inch of barrel reduction. I have a US model of 1917 30-06 that had a 20" barrel. I shortened it down to somewhere around 16.5". I chronied the bullets before and after. These were reloads, I loaded 10 of the same charge and type. I shot 5 before and 5 after. The reduction was, on average, only about 100 fps. That is over the 3.5" length reduction, not per inch as I had been told would be the case.

My barrel is also lot stiffer and is definitely more accurate than before, as there is now less barrel whip during the shot, than there was before. YMMV

Mike!

 

[Jdillon]

Steve:

I have a LR 260 heavy barrel that I recently replaced with a Lilja 20" barrel in 308. The barrel has less than 200 rounds through it and really have no need to keep it. Would be more than happy to make you a good deal on the barrel as well as several hundred pieces of new brass. Send me a private message if you are interested.