Remington 308 PSS Tac.

[Quintin Likely]

Better to have and not need than need and not have, I suppose. I doubt this rifle will be something that's gonna be deployed in an urban/law enforcement sniper type situation, where yes, a shorter barrelled rifle will be something easier to deploy, so why have the shorter barrel? So it's easier to manuever in and out of a smaller car on the way to the firing line?

 

[Zak Smith]

168gr Federal shoots 2700fps from my 24" and 2575fps from my 19.5".
155gr Lapua shoots 2830fps from my 24" and 2680fps from my 19.5".

 

[Gewehr98]

Thanks for the numbers, Zak!

Jnewell, there's your "modest" increase, and Zak is showing the difference between a 19.5" and 24" tube, not 19.5" and 26". So I'll wager there's at least a 200fps difference between the 20" LTR and 26" PSS. That difference would definitely show up on the trajectory charts, and the location where the bullet drops to subsonic velocity.

 

[Rockstar]

Thanks, Zak! I'd also make a "wild" guess that the velocity difference between the 20" and 26" barrel will be AT LEAST 200 f.p.s. Now whether 200 f.p.s. at the muzzle makes any significant difference in accuracy @ 800 yds., I'll leave to those of you who shoot @ 800 yds.

 

[Zak Smith]

Practical accuracy involves the accuracy of the rifle, ammunition, conditions, and most importantly the shooter. I'll focus on three aspects of long range accuracy which I think apply most to this discussion:

1. As the distances get longer, the ability to accurately estimate wind drift over the bullet's flight becomes increasingly important (ie, downrange it's not necessarily what it is where you are). Wind drift is going to be proportional to the bullet's BC and the time of flight.

2. As distances get longer, small deviations in muzzle velocity manifest as larger deviations in impact elevation.

3. If you are shooting at unknown distances, range estimation error will manifest as impact elevation error as distances get longer. E.g. if you are off by 35 yards, a faster-falling bullet (ie, inches drop per additional yard at 800 yards) may miss the target when a flatter trajectory would allow a hit.

All of these effects get worse with lower muzzle velocities and/or lower ballistic coefficients (BCs) of the bullets.

Here is a comparison of some factory load data from those two 19.5/20" and 24" barrels, and how it will translate into downrange drop, drop rate, wind drift, and velocity. I know that handloads can improve the velocity of these loads, like a 175 @ 2700 instead of 2650, but using factory data will level out the field.

_Bullet_           _BC_ _MV_         0     200     400     600     800    1000 | YARDS
24 175SMK         0.51* 2650 >   -0.00    1.86    7.74   15.37   25.03   37.34 | drop (moa)
20 175SMK         0.51* 2525 >   -0.00    2.14    8.71   17.23   28.06   41.85 | drop (moa)
24 168SMK         0.46* 2700 >   -0.00    1.79    7.61   15.41   25.69   39.38 | drop (moa)
20 168SMK         0.46* 2575 >   -0.00    2.07    8.59   17.36   28.98   44.41 | drop (moa)
24 155LAP         0.508 2830 >   -0.00    1.51    6.52   13.01   21.12   31.32 | drop (moa)
20 155LAP         0.508 2680 >   -0.00    1.79    7.47   14.81   24.03   35.64 | drop (moa)

24 175SMK         0.51* 2650 >    0.04   -0.07   -0.22   -0.43   -0.72   -1.12 | drop per yard (inches)
20 175SMK         0.51* 2525 >    0.05   -0.08   -0.25   -0.48   -0.80   -1.25 | drop per yard (inches)
24 168SMK         0.46* 2700 >    0.04   -0.07   -0.22   -0.44   -0.76   -1.23 | drop per yard (inches)
20 168SMK         0.46* 2575 >    0.05   -0.08   -0.25   -0.50   -0.86   -1.39 | drop per yard (inches)
24 155LAP         0.508 2830 >    0.04   -0.06   -0.19   -0.36   -0.60   -0.93 | drop per yard (inches)
20 155LAP         0.508 2680 >    0.04   -0.07   -0.21   -0.41   -0.68   -1.05 | drop per yard (inches)

24 175SMK         0.51* 2650 >    0.00    1.38    2.96    4.79    6.93    9.37 | wind (moa)
20 175SMK         0.51* 2525 >    0.00    1.48    3.18    5.17    7.46   10.03 | wind (moa)
24 168SMK         0.46* 2700 >    0.00    1.47    3.22    5.35    7.92   10.87 | wind (moa)
20 168SMK         0.46* 2575 >    0.00    1.61    3.52    5.84    8.62   11.70 | wind (moa)
24 155LAP         0.508 2830 >    0.00    1.22    2.61    4.21    6.06    8.17 | wind (moa)
20 155LAP         0.508 2680 >    0.00    1.32    2.83    4.57    6.58    8.86 | wind (moa)

24 175SMK         0.51* 2650 >    2650    2305    1986    1694    1435    1225 | velocity (fps)
20 175SMK         0.51* 2525 >    2525    2189    1880    1598    1354    1166 | velocity (fps)
24 168SMK         0.46* 2700 >    2700    2318    1957    1625    1335    1124 | velocity (fps)
20 168SMK         0.46* 2575 >    2575    2200    1845    1525    1257    1076 | velocity (fps)
24 155LAP         0.508 2830 >    2830    2479    2154    1855    1586    1355 | velocity (fps)
20 155LAP         0.508 2680 >    2680    2340    2026    1738    1484    1272 | velocity (fps)

 

[Zak Smith]

My advice is to get the 24 or 26" barrel if you plan this to be a medium to long range rifle. The extra inches of barrel steel don't weigh very much and it won't hinder your movement, but you will get tangible benefits in the trajectory.

If you want to shoot a lot of very small 1/4 - 1" targets at 150 yards and less, like a police sniper, you won't lose anything in a 18-20" barrel. At the sniper match I shot last weekend in SLC, several of the SWAT guys had 16-20" barrels, but their average engagement distance is very short.

 

[JNewell]

Zak, it definitely shows up in the numbers, but not at any range of interest to me here in the east. If I lived out west, I would probably feel differently. This is one of those cases where you need to evaluate the task first, then make appropriate hardware choices.

 

[Zak Smith]

Like I said, if you won't be shoot to long ranges, then you don't lose much with the shorter barrel. Also remember you can always cut it down, but not lengthen it.

 

[YodaVader]

I bought a 26" 700P last year and could not be more pleased. It was not as expensive as the LTR and I actually like the heavier rifle for shooting the .308. Later , I almost bought an LTR in .223.

Shot the group in the attachment after only 20 - 25 rounds through the rifle. Shows potential for very good accuracy. A few weeks ago shot a group that was tighter still. I have a Leupold 6.5 - 20 , Leupold mounts ,Burris Signature rings and a Jewell trigger.