“Short” Barrels, why not?

thinhorn_AK

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My main hunting rifle right now is a 20" .308 with a 7" can. I thought about going 18", but I'm real happy with it as is. I think 20" is a good compromise. I just shoot soft bullets to compensate for the low velocity. I'd like to have the same setup in 300WSM someday.
How low of a velocity are you talking about? How much did you lose compared to using. 22” barrel?
 

49ereric

WKR
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Jun 21, 2022
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My Remington 722 was shortened from 24” to 18” by someone probably when it was reamed to .308. Woods-brush gun it is ideal but loud.
my 6.5 rremington mag came with a 16” barrel,never made sense to me. Bought it used from an older friend years ago. Jap type 44 action but with the Remington barrel.
must have been cheap way to go.
 

Marbles

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178gr ELDX at 2590
168gr AMAX at 2610

Factory loads
As Hornady lists the 178 gr ELD-X 308 Precision Hunter at 2600 fps from a 24 inch barrel, sounds like you do not loose much from a 20 inch barrel.

The 168 gr AMAX Hornady Black is listed at 2700 fps from a 24 inch barrel, so that loading appears to loose a bit more.

Of course that assumes those are the factory loadings you are referring to, and a test barrel is not a true reference point to judge change off of.
 

Antares

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Yeah that sucks.

Agreed, hence my interest in switching to 300WSM someday.

That said, it still works good. I have to add an extra click or two of elevation and try to keep shots a little closer, but I've tipped over a lot of blacktails with shorty .308s.
 

thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
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I’ve shot 300 mags that were way short. 18” is about where I would generally stop. 18-20” is a good place for magnums.
Have you ever cut a 30-06 back to 18”? Would you expect the same ~20fps/inch of velocity loss for that particular cartridge? I have a tikka 30-06 on the way as a project gun, I plan to chop it, do a few other small mods to it and put my suppressor on it. Doubtful I’ll do much shooting past 3-400yds.
 

CoStick

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May 18, 2021
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Have any of you actually chopped a .270 win? I am close to committing going from 24” to 20”. If it only loses 20 fps an inch, no brainer for sure. Ordering a ultra 7 for it next week. Thank you
 

SBR Sarge

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Jul 5, 2022
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My deer hunting is in wooded areas and the longest shot I’ve ever taken was about 105 yards, so long range performance is not a concern.

I like short, handy guns and my current is a 12” 350 Legend with a can on it.
 
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Most of the tests I have seen on short barrels are without a can...A can does increase velocity, last testing I saw for a .308 was about 20FPS, just something keep in mind.
 

SBR Sarge

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Most of the tests I have seen on short barrels are without a can...A can does increase velocity, last testing I saw for a .308 was about 20FPS, just something keep in mind.
I can’t find my data, but I seem to remember that on my suppressed guns I get a modest (10-20fps) boost from the can too, long with some degree of POI shift.

It is definitely worth chrono-ing and POI testing both with and without the can
 

PanhandlePilgrim

Lil-Rokslider
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Feb 22, 2018
Messages
206
Just got this back from the Smith. 22" Barreled 30 Nosler. I got 2850 with 215 Bergers and 2780 with 225 eldms before sending off to get a Plus P Chamber.
 

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