20" Is Too Long

[dårlig jeger]

I hunt whitetail in a state and area that has equal parts <100 yard dense hardwood forest and >300 yard agg fields. I had been carrying a 16" 6mm creedmoor and a 16" 223 for the last 4 years after buying into the suppressor trend.

I wanted to try 130 ttsx loaded in 308 (vortex's Ryan M got me). Keeping velocity in mind with the ttsx for shots up to 300 yards, I kept my 308 barrel 20" (varget got me 3025fps).

However, after carrying it with a 6+ inch can, I'm over it. 16" max for anything with a 6" can for still hunting or stand hunting in the woods is my new limit.

Anyone else come to the same conclusion?

Once you go short, you never go back!

 

[voltage]

Once you go short, you never go back!

Thankfully, my wife agrees.

 

[Nine Banger]

I'm ready for 14" 22 creed and 6 creed.

I had to go 22" on my 308 project to reach a very specific goal.

You have to go 18-20" in 223 to get Quick Drop with the high BC heavies.

 

[RocketRob16]

I cut my 223 barrel down to 16" and my 6.5 CM barrel to 20". Suppressor length is 6" on both. I haven't really noticed the difference yet honestly. Is it hanging up on brush or just too unwieldy in a stand for you or something else?

 

[dårlig jeger]

I cut my 223 barrel down to 16" and my 6.5 CM barrel to 20". Suppressor length is 6" on both. I haven't really noticed the difference yet honestly. Is it hanging up on brush or just too unwieldy in a stand for you or something else?

All of the above. It sticks up above my head and catches brush when slung and when field carried it just seems like it takes more maneuvering. In the stand it just feels heavy and awkward.

I used to hunt with a 24" barrel + brake and I never gave it a second thought. But after being spoiled with 16" the last few years, 20" plus a 12 ounce can seems unwieldy.

 

[flyfisher117]

Nah 20” is great

 

[RocketRob16]

All of the above. It sticks up above my head and catches brush when slung and when field carried it just seems like it takes more maneuvering. In the stand it just feels heavy and awkward.

I used to hunt with a 24" barrel + brake and I never gave it a second thought. But after being spoiled with 16" the last few years, 20" plus a 12 ounce can seems unwieldy.

I’ve got a little over a season of use from my 16” and 20” and haven’t seen a difference yet but I am mostly using them in open environments where snagging on brush isn’t much of an issue. In the stands, however, I haven’t gotten that feeling of it being a detriment but my stands are pretty roomy. It sounds like you might need a bigger deer stand!