Savage 10FP Barrel Length

[Boba Fett]

Okay, so after doing a lot more research and reading all the recommendations from my previous post here on THR, I have decided to go with the Savage 10FP in 308 instead of a Remington.

I can get the Savage 10FP in a 20" or a 24".


I want this to be a hunting rifle, a fun range gun, and a SHTF rifle.

So would I be better off with the 24" or the 20"?

I have heard that the 20" muzzle blast can be annoying; anyone else think so?

I like the idea of the shorter barrel, but I don't want the gun to be annoying to shoot...

 

[futureranger]

i have a 24" 10fp that i use at the range and for hunting past 200 yards, i love it and it shoots great i can literally shoot dimes with it off a bench. i have held the 20" but not shot one, and it felt good (except for the cheap stock), i think it would be faster in the woods then the 24", but you'll be giving up a bit of velocity with the shorter barrel, if you keep it under 300 yards id say the 20 would be good but if you ever wanna go past that get the 24, but both are heavy, and your gonna want to get a better stock before long too.

 

[gotime242]

Id say 24. Less muzzle activity and less recoil due to weight. Might not be needed for the range you are shooting at, but it will be more comfortable and able to do more in the future.

(The 24" 10fp will be my next gun)

 

[jmr40]

For your use I would go 20". Blast is not much different to the shooter. Maybe bystanders will notice the difference. I've had 308's with barrels as short as 18" with no problems.

The 308 is pretty efficient with shorter barrels and to see any significant difference in velocity you would have to handload. Unless you are planning on shooting in 1000 yard matches I would take the handier rifle.

 

[jlg]

I too own a 10FP 308. I actually cut my barrel down to 18". Close range it doesn't make a noticable difference in trajectory. Long range...just make few more clicks on the elevation dial. I wouldn't say that it's unbearably loud...but most of the time I'm shooting it suppressed.

Read this article.
http://www.sniperschool.com/sniper-rifle-barrel-length/
...more added here.
http://www.sniperschool.com/barrel-length-revisited/

Here's a couple of pictures of mine.



I've got to post a boasting picture of my wife shooting it as well. Man she looks hot behind a gun!

 

[gotime242]

There is a gun there?

haha jk

 

[Boba Fett]

WOW jlg! Those links are really impressive. I think I'm going to have to scrape together the bucks and enroll in the school.

 

[lej]

If it were me id go with a 24in, but thats just me.

Previous discussion on the topic if your interested

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=370405

 

[Winston_Smith]

I want this to be a hunting rifle, a fun range gun, and a SHTF rifle.

Sounds like you should go for the 20". Even with the shorter barrel it is going to be a pig to carry around.

 

[jpwilly]

You only loose around 60-80fps going from 24" to 20" bbl depending on ammo used & powder burn rates. A 20" is plenty and can actually be more accurate.

 

[jlg]

The 10FP is a heavy gun...even with an 18" barrel mine is a beast to carry.
BTW...if you're thinking of getting the standard Savage stock with it, DON'T. It's really cheesy IMHO...however, it is much lighter than the McMillan I replaced mine with.

 

[jlg]

Their schools really do look impressive. I've been saving my pennies for quite some time now hoping to enroll in a few.

 

[Boba Fett]

I noticed that you have a suppressor on yours JLG. How does that affect things? Obviously it isn't as loud, but how about recoil, accuracy, etc.

Did it cause you to have to re-sight in your scope?

Finally, how much did it set you back? And is it worth it?

Thanks

 

[jlg]

With subsonic ammo, it's spooky quiet. With supersonic ammo, I can shoot without hearing protection. You can hear the crack of the bullet but it isn't LOUD.
I've got about $4,000 wrapped up in the rifle (including rifle, stock, Leupold Mk4 Illuminated reticle scope, Talley rings, suppressor (& tax stamp), bi-pod...worth every penny.
Recoil is non-existant when suppressed...the weight of the rifle helps with that as well. If you put ear plugs in and shoot it subsonic you'll think it misfired (no recoil & the ear plugs cover the small amount of noise made by the subsonic round). Suppressors generally knock felt recoil down by about 60%ish.
The suppressor didn't make a noticable difference in the rifles zero...without or without it point of impact is he same (as far as my shooting skill level can make it). I've heard it said that suppressors actually have a positive effect on accuracy...I think due to the fact that there are less gasses escaping out the muzzle to have an effect on the bullet.

 

[jlg]

BTW, I chose the Savage 10FP over it's Remington counter part for three reasons.
1) 10FP comes with a 1:10 twist (as opposed to 1:12 on the Remington). 1:10 twist stabalizes subsonic ammo better so I won't get a wobbly bullet tearing up the guts of my suppressor.
2) 10FP costs about half of what the Remington does. I can replace the barrel several times and still not have spent what I would have on a Remington. And IMHO, Savage is every bit as accurate as Remington...and unless your Mr. I-can-shoot-a-squirrel-in-the-eye-from-1,000-yards, you'll never tell the difference...if there is any.
3) I LOVE the Accu-Trigger. I didn't at first because I thought it looked goofy. But once I got past it's looks and actually used it, I fell in love. I own a Remington 700 Sendero 7mmRUM that I had a professional trigger job done on...my Savage trigger is much, much nicer right out of the box.:banghead:

 

[Boba Fett]

BTW, I chose the Savage 10FP over it's Remington counter part for three reasons.
1) 10FP comes with a 1:10 twist (as opposed to 1:12 on the Remington). 1:10 twist stabalizes subsonic ammo better so I won't get a wobbly bullet tearing up the guts of my suppressor.
2) 10FP costs about half of what the Remington does. I can replace the barrel several times and still not have spent what I would have on a Remington. And IMHO, Savage is every bit as accurate as Remington...and unless your Mr. I-can-shoot-a-squirrel-in-the-eye-from-1,000-yards, you'll never tell the difference...if there is any.
3) I LOVE the Accu-Trigger. I didn't at first because I thought it looked goofy. But once I got past it's looks and actually used it, I fell in love. I own a Remington 700 Sendero 7mmRUM that I had a professional trigger job done on...my Savage trigger is much, much nicer right out of the box.

Hey, what do you know, those are the same reasons I decided to get one


Thanks for the info on the suppressor. I'll probably pick one up at some point. Which one did you get (link?).

Also, have you had to replace the barrel yet? I'm wondering how many round you'd have to go through before you'd need to replace the barrel. Part of the reason I'd like to know is, if it is a part that will need replaced fairly early in the rifle's life, then I may want to spring for one of the Davidson's Guaranteed rifles instead of one at a gun show or the like.

 

[jlg]

I don't expect I'll ever really have to replace the barrel. I enjoy shooting and shoot fairly regularly but I'm not going through 1,000's of rounds a year. Keep it clean and you'll probably never have to worry about it.

The suppressor is an AAC 7.62SD with fast attach flash suppressor. I can litterally mount the suppressor in a matter of seconds without having to worry about cross threading it.
http://www.advanced-armament.com/762_sd.asp

Note, the suppressor adds about 7" to the length of the weapon...another good reason to chop the barrel to 18".