Opinions 308 regular vs 308 bull barrel

[Bob_VT]

I currently have a 223 bull barrel and I am considering a 308.


Is there a difference between the regular barrel vs the bull barrel aside from weight?  Is it worth the extra small amount from H&R barrel program?


Thanks!

[tacklebury]

If it's to be a target gun, heavy is good.  If it's a hunting gun for carrying around, heavy is bad.  I like my 24" bull for my .223 but it's only shot from a rest.  If I had to carry that nose heavy thing, it'd get converted to a superlite really quick.     I have put 5 different barrels on my frame with no fitting and one with minor fitting.  Might just be lucky though.    If it were me, I'd buy one here and give it a whirl. 

[Spanky]

Like Tack says... if you're gonna hunt with it get the standard contour. I've had both and there was no difference in accuracy just weight.
 
 
 
Spanky

[Brian P.]

I agree with the previous fellows.  I have a 223 with a 24" bull bbl and it's too heavy to lug around so it's getting lopped off down to 19" and hopefully a lb of weight goes with it.  Accuracy is brought by the quality of the rifling, not the barrel contour.  Hvy bbl's might shoot a wider range of loads more accurately, though. 

[cwlongshot]

Something remember, the HB 308 was a survivor barrel and shorter than a STD H&R 308 barrel. (Unless there is a FL 308 HB I am unaware of...)  I doubt there is really much of a difference in weight, as std barrel is 22".

CW

[bigvarmnt]

cw, I have a 22" HB 308 Dicks special. I thought all were 22". I was unaware of a shorter 308 HB. Makes sense though as 22" HB would be very unbalanced on a survivor stock I would think. I haven't shot mine yet so don't know about accuracy. Been thinking about getting a standard someday as I think it would be better for carrying around.

[TopperT]

  "Tack' is spot on.  I have a .223 bull on the thumb hole stock for bench rest work and a super lite on a camo stock for hunting.
 
I have the bull .308 and its ONLY a bench shooter.  It too is on a thumbhole laminate and is DEADLY accurate.  Were I to hunt with .308, I would get a lighter bbl.

[cjrjck]

I picked up a 308 22 inch bull barrel in the off season. I was not planning on keeping it until a couple of range sessions. It is the most accurate big game hunting rifle I own with the possible exception of a Topper 30-30. Both are well under an inch three shot groups with hunting loads. I put the 308 on a standard synthetic camo stock set and it is still handy even for a Handi.

[OldSchoolRanger]

Depends on the type of hunting you do.  If you just walk into your stand, it don't make a difference.

If you like to walk/stalk, by all means get the lighter barrel.

[Larry L]

Barrel weight does not effect accuracy. I was playing with OAL with a 308 bench rifle when a friend came by with a new Remington 700 that he wanted me to put the scope on. Did the scope and thought while he was there we'd run a few down the barrel to see what he had. I always load double amounts of rounds when playing with OAL so I had extras on the bench. His pencil thin barrel shot a ragged 5 shot hole at 100 yds right outa the box and it still shoots like that. The heavy barrel is suppose to be more stable with the changes in temperature from shooting. They still flex under fire just like a normal barrel. Hit the right harmonics and any profile barrel will stack the bullets on the target.

[HR308shootin]

how can you tell if its a "bull barrel" my 308 is really heavy to be such a small rifle, is that a dead give away its a bull barrel? its shooting a 3 shot 1 hole group at 100 yards. someone fill me in?

[tacklebury]

Diameter at the muzzle will be over .8" typically on the bull barrels.  It's more noticable in smaller calibers, due to the smaller weight reduction of the bore.  In my .223, it is like hauling around a weed wacker for weight.  lol  My 30-30 superlight on the other hand is .69" at the muzzle and the whole gun weighs just over 4 lbs.    Not nearly as barrel heavy either.

[Bob_VT]

Thank you gentlemen for your input.  I guess I will go with a regular weight barrel.  The extra weight/girth does not sound worth it.


I bo have a bull barrel 223 and it is fine for my needs and heavy.  My lighter barrel weapons keep up fine!