16.5" vs 20" barrel .308

[MarkV]

Is there any difference in the 16.5" vs the 20" barrel? I got the remington 700 sps tactical AAC-SD .308 but it is the 20" barrel. I was really wanting the 16.5 but long story this is what I got. Is there any significant difference in the 2? I have thought about just having this one cut down and re threaded or just selling it and then going to buy the 16.5' one but figured I would see what is the best option. Thanks

[txsteele]

I'm no expert and someone else will surely correct anything I might get wrong but....unless you need the shorter barrel maneuverability I'd stay with the 20" because you will get more velocity and better ballistics with a longer barrel.

Hell......I have a 26" Rem 700 .308

[Kruzifux259]

I'm no expert and someone else will surely correct anything I might get wrong but....unless you need the shorter barrel maneuverability I'd stay with the 20" because you will get more velocity and better ballistics with a longer barrel.

Hell......I have a 26" Rem 700 .308

+1

[lilbradford]

+1

+2

Can cover my 100 yard 3 shot groups with a dime. Factory, no changes made, just a vortex viper scope.

[Dave]

.308 really doesn't loose much dropping from 20 to 16 inches. You still have plenty of energy at 300 yds to do anything you would need to.

If you ever want to suppress it then the 16 barrel with a suppressor get's you back to 22 or 24 inches overall length.

[trophy8]

Either will work. Both will be slow. If you want to sell the 20" message me.

I want one to suppress.

[Mike D]

16.5" vs 20" barrel .308

Personally I think you will give up too much performance in a 16" barrel. I'll run some numbers on Quickload tonight for comparison.

FWIW, my 20" 5R Milspec runs 2830fps with a fairly mild load with 168 grain Barnes bullets.

I think you will be able to expect in the neighborhood of 2500fps with a 16" barrel and traditional rifling and while that may work up close, most bullets are designed to expand RELIABLY at 2000fps+ so you will hit that threshold pretty quickly with the shorter barrel. IMO.

[duckmanep]

Is there any difference in the 16.5" vs the 20" barrel?

3.5" I believe.


Using it for hunting or wanting to do some long range shooting? In to see MikeD's numbers on fps lost...

[MarkV]

.308 really doesn't loose much dropping from 20 to 16 inches. You still have plenty of energy at 300 yds to do anything you would need to.

If you ever want to suppress it then the 16 barrel with a suppressor get's you back to 22 or 24 inches overall length.

This will be suppressed as soon as I get my suppressor in which should be 4-5 months.

Personally I think you will give up too much performance in a 16" barrel. I'll run some numbers on Quickload tonight for comparison.

FWIW, my 20" 5R Milspec runs 2830fps with a fairly mild load with 168 grain Barnes bullets.

I think you will be able to expect in the neighborhood of 2500fps with a 16" barrel and traditional rifling and while that may work up close, most bullets are designed to expand RELIABLY at 2000fps+ so you will hit that threshold pretty quickly with the shorter barrel. IMO.

The gun is a 1 in 10 twist but will be very interested to see what numbers you come up with.

im glad I asked on here. May just save the money from getting it cut down and re threaded and may just have the stock bedded instead. Thanks for the help

[Mike D]

Just as I suspected. 168 grain SMK over 45 grains of Varget:

20" barrel - 2618fps

16.5" barrel - 2503fps

This is what that looks like on a drop chart. 20" first, then 16.5".

[Cajun Blake]

for every 1" of barrel, you either gain/lose approx. 30 fps

this can be made up with faster powders yet you have to be careful with reloading pressures

[NMStickFlinger3]

Great info from everybody who already replied!! I really think it depends on what you want the gun for. I pick up my 16" guns most of the time when it comes to hunting out to 400yds, but if your looking for a tack driver out to long ranges, Id go with the 20"

[MarkV]

Really not going to do much shooting over 400 yards. This will be my hunting rifle with a yhm ti phantom suppressor on the end of it when it comes in (hence the reason wanting a shorter barrel for overall length). I also will be shooting factory loads for now as I dont currently reload.

Good info mike and I appreciate everyone's help.

[Dejashoot]

I have the 16.5 700 AAC. Was concerned with velocity but I'm going to run it with a can most if not all the time. Velocity out of a 16.5 plus can should be better than without.

I'll run the can on my 14.5+FH POF and see how that works.

[LWD]

for every 1" of barrel, you either gain/lose approx. 30 fps

this can be made up with faster powders yet you have to be careful with reloading pressures

And the drop per inch will become greater at the shorter barrel lengths though the .308 is pretty underbore. The effect is much more pronounced with over bore cartridges.

LWD