Barrel length vs Velocity

CS8161

I am looking at a Remington Model 7600 Patrolman with a 16.5 inch barrel. It is chambered in 308. I am just curious as to how much velocity I will be losing with a 16.5 barrel vs the standard 22 inch barrel. Thanks for any input.

Patrick

CS8161

Does anyone know what is optimum barrel length for the 308 Winchester cartridge? At what length, does the bullet stop accelerating?
Thanks

Chris8161
Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!

Nighthawk

I thought 22in was standard I measured mine and its 22 3/4 in long. I am not the right person to answer this with 100% accuracy. But I would say a 24in barrel. I am going only by the length of a weatherby magnum barrel. If im wrong someone correct me.I better clear this one up! The Weatherby I measured was a .300 mag.

Hope this Helps.

Rugster

Edited by - rugster on 05/25/2002 00:05:04

fergusonmorse392

I REMEMBER READING IN THE 22LR ANYTHING OVER 26" THE V STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, HOWEVER IN 308 OTHER THINGS WOULD COME IN TO PLAY, WITH STANDARD FACTORY AMMO, AFTER 28 TO 30" WITH HANDLOADS & SLOW BURNING POWDER MAYBE A LITTLE LONGER, BUT PAST 30 OR 32" NO GAIN.

He Dog

Typically, though not always, the factories use 26" barrels to chronograph loads, which is where they derive the velocities on the boxes. It is difficult, however, to find a rifle with a 26" barrel these days unless you go to a custom. In general, you can add or subtract about 50fps for each inch of change in barrel length. For the average hunting situation, it will not matter much whether you use a 20", 22" 24" or 26" barrel. At least the deer will never know the difference. It is hard to see for what use you would need to "optimize" barrel length, since there will be only about 450fps difference between an 18" and 26" barrel. While that is significant, you still have sufficient energy for a clean kill way out there.

pigeoncreek1

In the .308 or other non magnums, anything at least 22" is fine in my opinion. However, I like a 26" barrell in any magnum caliber, more room for the large powder charge to do it's job...no use putting up with the high recoil ant the expensive reloads if youre not going to get the guns best potential,right?...even if it means 200-400 fps

Gun control is hitting your target

JustC

it depends on the distance which is desired, which then dictates a twist rate, which in turn dictates a bullet weight. A heavy twist rate, for a heavy bullet, would be better served with with a longer barrel to get a slower burning powder to shove the heavy bullet with enough velocity to hold enough energy to group well at distance. If you have seen any benchrest guns, most of the 308's around are 20" barrels. The longer barrel isn't needed for the "typical" benchrest distance, and the 20" heavy barrels group very well with the correct powders. The factory specs I have seen for 308's are generaly tested in 22" and 24" barrels. The magnums are 26" barrels. The factory knows that magnums and wildcat rounds do better with a 27-28" barrel, but the weight issue keeps them at 26". Now for a 300 Ultra Mag or 30-378 wthby mag and some of the lazzeroni calibers, a good gunsmith will tell you that they need a 30" barrel to effectively burn all the powder in their massive cases. I looked into building a 30-378 but the only thing I could do with a 30" heavy SS barreled gun like that, which would weigh in the 20lb range, would be to rest it and shoot fields.

A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.