22"308Win vs 18.5"308

[hansg/Ups]

How much muzzle flash and velocity/effective range loss could one expect from a 18.5"barreled 308Win vs the same in a 22" barrel?
Thanks

[Dave in WV]

Different variables. One is the type of powder you use in a short barrel. Some have more flash than others. The difference in velocity will vary too. If you want a shorter barrel than the standard 22" go for it. The noise difference will be the most noticeable.

[tacklebury]

If you're going to use factory ammunition, I'd say look at the gunsite Ruger..  It's got a shorty barrel and there are many reviews including at Gunblast site.  IF you reload, simply move up the burn rate chart a bit and if you have quickload or access to someone with it, it'll tell you % of burn. 

[LanceR]

As written, muzzle flash may or may not show a noticeable difference.  Likely none outside of shooting during twilight or darkness.

Expect roughly 100 FPS less muzzle velocity over a 22" tube per Lyman's and Remington's data. For most hunting it just won't make any difference.  In fact, if you use a 150 grain Partition spitzer at 2900 FPS or a 180 grain one at 2700 FPS and and zero them 2.7" high at 100 yards and then pull that roughly 100 FPS off of each load all four loads will be within an inch (or just a wee bit more) at 200 yards.  That's in both elevation and windage with a 10 MPH side wind.

Change the bullet or velocity range and the trend will remain pretty constant.

A lot of folks needlessly stress over the practical effects of a couple of inches of barrel length.  No big game animal will every know the difference or live on it.

Get whatever brightens you smile...

You don't explain what you are referring to with "effective range"  Have you got any particular thing in mind?

Lance

[hansg/Ups]

I'm debating about shortening a Savage 16 bolt action 308Win barrel.Those of us cursed with glaucoma/catatarracts,have slower recovery times from bright flashes of light eg muzzleflash,I am considering adding a flash suppressor to reduce the muzzleflash and using low-er flash powders.Here in the East,rifles good out to ~250 yards will suffice in most instances,                                                      This is why I raised the question.
With a: shortened barrel,adjustable iron sights,Weaver pivot scope mount and low power variable scope, -left hand and stainless- barrel/action,this will be an "ersatz"scout style rifle[the Ruger isn't availble in stainless].
Thanks.
 
 
 

[tacklebury]

250 shouldn't be any issue at all.  I think the Ruger is Parkerized, however even finding one in stock somewhere is quite an ordeal.  I don't think that there's any std. front sight available for a Savage std. taper barrel, but you can probably get acceptable close in accuracy with a barrel band style front Ramp soldered on for your front and if Andy with Skinner sights gets it into production, one of the winged rear tactical sights for the 464 might fit the bill for the rear.  Or you can probably use one of the lo-pro peep sights as well.
http://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/index.html?welcometonecg.html~maindeal
http://www.skinnersights.com/mossberg_464_11.html

[LanceR]

If you are using a scope your line of sight is far enough above the bore that you are very unlikely to have an issue with muzzle flash in any case.  The exception might be if you shoot (as I usually do) with both eyes open and even then you'll only see it with your non-shooting eye.  I'd hold off on the suppressor until you see if it is needed.  It would only serve to re-install more length to the barrel you just whacked off shorter.

Shorter barrels with iron sights mean a shorter sight radius and the result is that any error in sight alignment will result in a larger error in impact point downrange than the same alignment error with a longer barrel.  Especially if you are concerned about vision issues you will be putting an added premium on proper (read perfect) sight alignment.  Iron sighted competition rifles tend to have long barrels or even barrel extensions (bloop tubes) for this reason.  If you really think you'll ever need the iron sights you might be adding a handicap by shortening the barrel.

Any of he loads I mentioned in my last post will get you to 230 yards or more with the bullet no more than 3" above or below the line of sight.  Put the aiming point in the middle of the heart/lung area and shoot.

If you don't mind, why do you want the shorter barrel?  While I have a CZ 550 with a full stock (20.5" barrel) partly because I hunt from stands and blinds a lot I sure never had any real issue swinging my 24" barreled 30-06 in the woods or a stand either.

in any case I hope you enjoy the result and get a lot of use from it.

Lance

[hansg/Ups]

I,initially,thought that a shorter barrel would be lighter and handier in brushy areas.With further research,I'm leaning towards the rifle being handier in the brush,but not necessarily lighter[weight of iron sights,flash suppressor,scope mount]. Having hunted with traditional muzzleloaders, long-er- barrels are the norm and can be used[....course one can use a  large bore pistol in the thick stuff]. Long story short,I'll see if I can't just a flash suppressor and adjustable iron sights installed on the existing 22" barrel,if not :I'll get the barrel shortened to accomodate the flash suppressor.A 2-7x scope with heavy duplex on a Weaver pivot mount ought to complete the package.Lacking a detachable magazine , is to me,the only difference between a "formal"scout rifle and my project,and its a difference I can live without. Trying to keep costs modest in the end.
 

[Ranch13]

Absolutely no experience with an 18.5 inch barrel, but I can tell you there's no muzzle flash from the 20 inch barrel on my wifes blr, and the chronograph doesn't  show any appreciable loss over the longer barrel of my savage 99.
You may want to really think thru whether that 3.5 inch shorter barrel is going to do anything for the handling quality of the rifle when stacked up against the cost of getting the barrel properly shortened.