All things .308 Win

[PKR]

How much speed did you lose going from 24" down to 18"

I need to thread my 308 for a suppressor. Wondering if I should cut it down as well. I believe it is a 22" barrel right now.

Can’t say, didn’t own a chrono before the chop. Would’ve been cool to see though.

 

[mtwarden]

This will give you a pretty good approximation; not as much as I would have thought (ditto on 6.5's)

https://rifleshooter.com/2014/12/30...ato-barrel-length-versus-velocity-28-to-16-5/

 

[sdupontjr]

How much speed did you lose going from 24" down to 18"

I need to thread my 308 for a suppressor. Wondering if I should cut it down as well. I believe it is a 22" barrel right now.

If you handload, you may not loose anything. I have both a T3 308 with stock barrel and a 20" CTR 308. My load for 155's in my T3 is 47g of varget at 2862 with an ES of 11 and SD if 8.8. My CTR allowed me to go .5 grains more at 47.5g of varget (lots of crunch) but shot little biddy groups with similar ES & SD at 2840. Due to the load being compressed, I switched the CTR load to 8208xbr and it really woke up this 20" barrel. Now my 155's are loaded with 45.3g of 8208 xbr, CCI-200, R-P brass and run them at 2880 avg with ES & SD in single digits. It is on the hot side, but I don't shoot this load when its 95* outside.

So depending on if you handload, you may not see anything different depending on your powder, primer, load combination.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

If you handload, you may not loose anything. I have both a T3 308 with stock barrel and a 20" CTR 308. My load for 155's in my T3 is 47g of varget at 2862 with an ES of 11 and SD if 8.8. My CTR allowed me to go .5 grains more at 47.5g of varget (lots of crunch) but shot little biddy groups with similar ES & SD at 2840. Due to the load being compressed, I switched the CTR load to 8208xbr and it really woke up this 20" barrel. Now my 155's are loaded with 45.3g of 8208 xbr, CCI-200, R-P brass and run them at 2880 avg with ES & SD in single digits. It is on the hot side, but I don't shoot this load when its 95* outside.

So depending on if you handload, you may not see anything different depending on your powder, primer, load combination.

Good info. I don't handload...yet. Been toying with the idea of getting into it. I need to shoot more to justify it.

Will just be shooting factory for now.

I ask because I want to get my Savage 11 threaded for a suppressor and have entertained cutting and threading the barrel instead of just threading.

 

[akmerle]

Went to the range last week to site in the Maven on my cut down 18”. Along with getting it zeroed I did some chrono and shot for groups to see what it liked.
Heres the ammo I tried with speeds using a Diligent Defense STI sporting a recoil X brake.
165 SST Superformance @ 2681
168 black AMax @ 2530
168 ELDM superformance @ 2684
178 ELDM @ 2481
View attachment 881649

Out of the 4 the 178 grouped the best. Everything shot was around 1” but I would’ve never tried this round had I not read others recommending it. I will say I’m not always the best a shooting groups, when it starts looking real good I have a tendency to pull a shot. Most 3 shot groups were good but when I went to shot 4 and 5 they opened up. The 165’s have always hit good in this gun prior to cutting it down and they still do. The 168’s were last.
View attachment 881651
The 178 were the slowest but I liked shooting them the most. The recoil impulse was more of a push and less snap. With the BC and speed this puts them at around 1850fps @ 500 yards, 3,300’ elv.

After shooting the 5 shot group I went right out to 500 with it and was smacking steel. I believe it’s about a 10” and was happy with the hits.
Here’s the rifle
View attachment 881652
(I’m messing around with the krg adjustable height pad to see what I like the best).

Thanks for the report. How did those 168 ELDM Superperformance group? I have a couple boxes of those that I am curious about.

On my Sig Cross with Banish 46 can it prefers the 178 ELDX Precision Hunters, with the 150 SST Superperformance a close second. Have not tried the 178 ELDM's.

Here are my velocities with 16"
178 ELDX Precision Hunter: 2450fps (94.2% of box)
150 SST Superperformance: 2775fps (92.5% of box)
168 AMAX Black Box: 2540fps (94% of box)
168 ELDM White Box: 2540fps (94% of box)

 

[PKR]

Thanks for the report. How did those 168 ELDM Superperformance group? I have a couple boxes of those that I am curious about.

On my Sig Cross with Banish 46 can it prefers the 178 ELDX Precision Hunters, with the 150 SST Superperformance a close second. Have not tried the 178 ELDM's.

Here are my velocities with 16"
178 ELDX Precision Hunter: 2450fps (94.2% of box)
150 SST Superperformance: 2775fps (92.5% of box)
168 AMAX Black Box: 2540fps (94% of box)
168 ELDM White Box: 2540fps (94% of box)

The 168 Super were around 1.3". I only shot one 5 shot group with them so I may have not given them a fair shake. Interesting to see you put a percentage on your speeds and how consistent they all fell.

I'll have to try out the 178 eld X.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Thanks for the report. How did those 168 ELDM Superperformance group? I have a couple boxes of those that I am curious about.

On my Sig Cross with Banish 46 can it prefers the 178 ELDX Precision Hunters, with the 150 SST Superperformance a close second. Have not tried the 178 ELDM's.

Here are my velocities with 16"
178 ELDX Precision Hunter: 2450fps (94.2% of box)
150 SST Superperformance: 2775fps (92.5% of box)
168 AMAX Black Box: 2540fps (94% of box)
168 ELDM White Box: 2540fps (94% of box)

That Superpermance is cruising!

I would use that.

 

[akmerle]

That Superpermance is cruising!

I would use that.

Indeed it is, but had the biggest % drop from box velocity (92.5% vs 94.2% with the ELDX), and the 178 ELDX grouped a bit better. The 178 ELDX also retains velocity / energy better.

The ELDX also makes holdovers VERY easy for hunting. With a 200yd zero it’s basically 1 mil for 300yds, 2 mil for 400yds, and a little over 3 mils for 500yds.

500yds is the max I’d be shooting an animal with anyhow, and still has me above the ELDX minimum expansion velocity threshold (1735fps vs. 1775 with 150 SST), and still at almost 1200ft-lbs of energy vs. 1050ft-lbs for the 150 SST.

It’s why I’m intrigued by the 168g ELDM Superperformance since it would push that threshold to 600yds.

My practice range is only barely 500yds tho, so still don’t think I’d ever push ethically shooting an animal that far away. But would be nice to have the extra velocity / energy for <500yds.

 

[SkeeterMcgiblet]

This will give you a pretty good approximation; not as much as I would have thought (ditto on 6.5's)

https://rifleshooter.com/2014/12/30...ato-barrel-length-versus-velocity-28-to-16-5/

Very interesting, what's the group-think consensus on 308 barrel length? I have a 22" on the T3x but I'm very tempted to chop shorter (18") and upgrade to the Unknown reflex suppressor for a very handy package

 

[PSDBowhunter]

Very interesting, what's the group-think consensus on 308 barrel length? I have a 22" on the T3x but I'm very tempted to chop shorter (18") and upgrade to the Unknown reflex suppressor for a very handy package

I'm interested in the same. Getting ready to thread my Savage 11 that has a 22" barrell. Contemplating chopping to 20" or even 18". Will be getting an AB-10 suppressor at first, but may upgrade to a Unknown suppressor down the road.

 

[blackhawk219]

Very interesting, what's the group-think consensus on 308 barrel length? I have a 22" on the T3x but I'm very tempted to chop shorter (18") and upgrade to the Unknown reflex suppressor for a very handy package

I chopped my T3x from 22" down to 18" with my Dead Air Nomad Ti XC and I've never looked back. I get an average of 2465 FPS with Federal 180gr Partitions (I don't have time or the commitment to reload). I have yet to chrono any other loads as I just got the suppressor before hunting season and I had a bunch of the 180gr partitions.

I was able to get a mule deer with it last year. Shot within 50 yards so muzzle velocity didn't matter too much. He only took a few steps before dropping.

It's a neat little rifle.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Very interesting, what's the group-think consensus on 308 barrel length? I have a 22" on the T3x but I'm very tempted to chop shorter (18") and upgrade to the Unknown reflex suppressor for a very handy package

I'm interested in the same. Getting ready to thread my Savage 11 that has a 22" barrell. Contemplating chopping to 20" or even 18". Will be getting an AB-10 suppressor at first, but may upgrade to a Unknown suppressor down the road.

I ran an 18 inch 308 suppressed for 8 years and shot several thousands rounds through that platform. Hands down one of my favorite rifles ever.

 

[TheM1DoesMyTalking]

Very interesting, what's the group-think consensus on 308 barrel length? I have a 22" on the T3x but I'm very tempted to chop shorter (18") and upgrade to the Unknown reflex suppressor for a very handy package

I have a 308 cut down from 22" to 16". With Hornady 168 AMAX it went from 2650 fps down to 2500 fps. So the barrel lost 25 fps per inch. Stopping at 18" would have worked as well, especially with a reflex suppressor like you're thinking. But I have no regrets with the 16" and a 7" Ti suppressor.

 

[Lastnline75]

My wife got me this for my birthday today. I went with the 308 instead of 6.5 creedmoor. I put subs in it this afternoon with the supressor and my 6 year got behind it and was shooting good groups in the bullseye with it. Love this gun. Planning on him getting his first whitetail with it this winter.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Very interesting, what's the group-think consensus on 308 barrel length? I have a 22" on the T3x but I'm very tempted to chop shorter (18") and upgrade to the Unknown reflex suppressor for a very handy package

My 308 has had the barrel cut back to 18”, I get over 2700fps with my 165g accubond load, and right around 3000fps with the 130g ttsx load. Both shoot great,

 

[Stinky Coyote]

kids used my sako 90 peak 308 and took 2 black bear boars last week, 168gr eld-m factory hornady white box match that launches 2592 fps from the 20" barrel, 150 and 225 yards, the 150 my youngest hit a bit back of middle broadside and caught him with another at 175 in the rump as it was lumbering away over a lip, it was down 20 yards over the lip still breathing so he got a finisher into him as well, surprisingly caught that quartering away finisher under the hide with a 2560 fps impact and about 90 gr left with a huge frontal area and some of jacket curled right around the very short boat tail,

the 225 yard 2256 fps impact quartering away was drt on a beautiful cinnamon, caught that one under hide also, in front of rear leg, caught in front of opposing front leg (same with one above), bullet looked about same as the point blank but didn't come as far down the shaft but still likely around half way or bit more, huge frontal area and part of jacket curled behind boat tail again, it weighed 117 grains, the bullets look nearly identical, just one pushed back to hardly any tail left on the bullet and the other around halfway back or a bit more, first murders I've caught from this rig

308 continuing to earn it's stripes

 

[TxxAgg]

I have a 308 cut down from 22" to 16". With Hornady 168 AMAX it went from 2650 fps down to 2500 fps. So the barrel lost 25 fps per inch. Stopping at 18" would have worked as well, especially with a reflex suppressor like you're thinking. But I have no regrets with the 16" and a 7" Ti suppressor.

My 16” Tikka shoots the factory 168 AMAX 2525 so right on par with yours.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I chopped my T3x from 22" down to 18" with my Dead Air Nomad Ti XC and I've never looked back. I get an average of 2465 FPS with Federal 180gr Partitions (I don't have time or the commitment to reload). I have yet to chrono any other loads as I just got the suppressor before hunting season and I had a bunch of the 180gr partitions.

I was able to get a mule deer with it last year. Shot within 50 yards so muzzle velocity didn't matter too much. He only took a few steps before dropping.

It's a neat little rifle.

View attachment 882768

View attachment 882767

How do you like that nomad ti xc? I have one on the way and it will primarily be used on my 18” 308.

 

[blackhawk219]

How do you like that nomad ti xc? I have one on the way and it will primarily be used on my 18” 308.

I absolutely love it. Take it with a grain of salt though as this is my first suppressor and I've only had it since last fall. So I don't have any experience with other suppressors to compare against, and I don't have that much shooting experience with it. But going from unsuppressed to suppressed has been game changing for me, and I don't see ever going back to unsuppressed again.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I absolutely love it. Take it with a grain of salt though as this is my first suppressor and I've only had it since last fall. So I don't have any experience with other suppressors to compare against, and I don't have that much shooting experience with it. But going from unsuppressed to suppressed has been game changing for me, and I don't see ever going back to unsuppressed again.

Absolutely, after getting into silencers, shooting without one just isn’t appealing.