bolt 308 with 20 inch barrel

[sisu]

I was thinking I would like to get a bolt action 308 with a 20 inch barrel.  I would also like it to have a magazine.  I would also prefer a barrel that was not too skinny.  I find the Remington model 7 barrels a bit on the thin side.  Any suggestions?


Thanks

[james]

I recommend a Remington 788 but they were made in 18" and 22" barrels.  I bought a 22" in 1972 and it is very accurate.   But so are a .223 and .243,  (788) I acquired so the .308 wouldn't get lonely.  The mags rattle but I wrap mine with electricial tape if I am hunting.  The .308 with an aftermarket synthetic stock is my go to gun if the weather is bad or I am backpacking.   I've taken mule deer, bear, antelope, coyotes, groundhogs, and too many whitetails to count.  Most of its life the rifle wore a Weaver 2x7 but in later years it got a Burris 3x9 with mildots when hunting in WY and MT.

[Harry Snippe]

Well have a look @ the tikka Battue . Nice to carry and ready to shoot once scoped .
Then there is the scout  that Savage made, as well as Rugers new gun .
Have a look and see what comes up for you and the weight you desire .
I lik e the short tikka's since They carry like a lever , able to put the barrel down and not plug the end of the barrel . Great BUSH gun .
 
Then it might not fit you all that well It has to fit you , instead of what suits me .
 
I do agree a 20 Inch 308 makes a fine gun .

[Swampman]

I was thinking I would like to get a bolt action 308 with a 20 inch barrel.  I would also like it to have a magazine.  I would also prefer a barrel that was not too skinny.  I find the Remington model 7 barrels a bit on the thin side.  Any suggestions?


Thanks

I bought the Ruger Gunsite Scout.  I also thing the new Savage Arms Hog Hunter is interesting but it doesn't have a magazine.  The Weatherby Vanguard Carbine is also nice and very accurate but also doesn't have a magazine.

[Lloyd Smale]

I like james suggestion. The old 788s werent pretty but they shot like a house afire!

[Swampman]

They have gotten expensive for what they are.  A .308 will go about $450.00 around here.

[Mikey]

Well, a 308 with a 20" bbl is about the most middle of the road medium bore rifle you can get.  Magazines can malfunction or drop out/disconnect.  Bolts are neither quiet and all that quick.  If you are looking for a 20" bbl, think of a lever action, either a Winchester M94, a Marlin 336 or a Mossberg 464, and all in 30-30.  If you think you need more than a 30-30 for what you want, you can always go to the Leverution (sp?) ammo that makes you think the 30-30 is more than it ever needed to be.  As for accuracy, all my lever action rifles are at least as accurate as my bolts.  You have lots of choices.

[Nobade]

I build them like you describe pretty frequently. Rem 700, your favorite synthetic stock - usually McMillan, Manners, or HS. Badger M5 trigger guard or PTG (just as good for half the price) to use AI mags. Medium or light palma barrel, Kreiger or Brux. Most guys that run suppressors go with 20" or less barrels so the whole thing doesn't get too long to use. You give up some velocity but not accuracy, they still are normally 3/8 MOA or less guns with good ammo. Makes for a nice all round rifle, and still very competitive but you'd better be a good shooter to keep up with the guys shooting 6.5mms since they're so much easier to shoot at longer ranges.

[eastbank]

i bought a rem youth 700 short action sps left hand in 7-08 when they first came out and put a recoil pad to give it a longer pull, it is also made in right hand in 308 and i think their under 550.00. the rifle shoots. eastbank.

[Bingo]

  I have an old Rem. model 600 in 308. It is the only rifle I have ever seen with a ventatlated rib. If you find one, You may find it fits the bill even though it is top fed. Mine has a Richards Micro Fit stock under it and is the prettiest gun in the cabnet.
   My son dropped his first deer withit at 264 yrds. using reduced recoul loads. I think a friend of mine may have an action at the gun shop if you're interestd I could ask him.

[nomosendero]

  I have an old Rem. model 600 in 308. It is the only rifle I have ever seen with a ventatlated rib. If you find one, You may find it fits the bill even though it is top fed. Mine has a Richards Micro Fit stock under it and is the prettiest gun in the cabnet.
   My son dropped his first deer withit at 264 yrds. using reduced recoul loads. I think a friend of mine may have an action at the gun shop if you're interestd I could ask him.

I had one of the Mohawk variations, nice rifle.

[RaySendero]

I was thinking I would like to get a bolt action 308 with a 20 inch barrel.  I would also like it to have a magazine.  I would also prefer a barrel that was not too skinny.  I find the Remington model 7 barrels a bit on the thin side.  Any suggestions?


Thanks

Well...Here it is:
 
http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/700pltr.htm

[mannyrock]

Ray,
 
  I'm not sure how you arrived at the 20 inch figure.  In a .308, it creates lots of flash and muzzleblast.
 
  As to suggestions, I suggest you get a basic Howa, with detachable mag, in .308, with a standard weight 22 inch barrel.  Then, have the barrel shortened to 21 inches and see how you like it.  I think you will be very pleased.
 
  The Howa can now be outfitted with both 5 and ten round detachable magazines.
 
  You are correct about the Remington Model 7.  The barrel is way to light for my tastes.  If you fire about 3 shots within say 2 minutes, most of them open up to 2 inch groups, or larger. Just my experience.
 
Regards, Mannyrock

[charles p]

I've got a Mod 7 in 308 with a 20" barrel.  Nearly all my shots are at last light and I don't recall seeing a flash.  Mine is drop dead accurate and great to maneuver inside a box blind.  Made a one shot kill in the high 200s last winter and the next day my neighbor borrowed it and took a deer at 350.  That's about as far as I shoot.  I use 150 grain CoreLokts or handload something similar.

[mannyrock]

 
Yes Charles,
 
  I am fully familiar with the Model 7, since I hunted deer with one for 3 years.
 
   Nobody said that they were not accurate for the first shot.
 
  Don't see a muzzleflash.  Have someone fire one at twighlight, while you watch.  :-)
 
 Best, Mannyrock

[Swampman]

Test have shown that a 19" barrel is the most accurate length for a .308 Winchester.  The 20" barrel will be more accurate than a 22" barrel.

[Nobade]

Test have shown that a 19" barrel is the most accurate length for a .308 Winchester.  The 20" barrel will be more accurate than a 22" barrel.

Better tell that to the Palma and F-class shooters, it's something they would surely like to know.

[Swampman]

They need all the barrel they can get to push the puny .308 that far.  Out there it's really struggling to stay supersonic.

[RaySendero]

Ray,
 
  I'm not sure how you arrived at the 20 inch figure.  In a .308, it creates lots of flash and muzzleblast.
 
 
Regards, Mannyrock

 
Manny,
 
LOL - Your addressing me as the OP
 
Not me - I was simply showing the sisu exactly what he was asking!
 
 

[nomosendero]

I guess I am still reeling from the news that a 20" is a blowtorch but you can shorten a tube to 21" and not have a flash problem. I do wonder why a 20" 308 with 44gr. of Varget would flash so much more than a 30-06 with 57 gr. of 4350 (23% more powder) or a 24" 300WM with 75 gr. of RL22 (42% more powder) , hmmm
 
I have shot a Browning 20" 308 a good bit & now own a SPS Tact. 20", havn't had a flash issue with the powders I have been using, mainly Varget & 4064.
 
I did shoot a DPMS 16" that I thought had plenty of flash though.
 
 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got a model 7 with a 18 inch barrel and a dpms ar with a 16. Ive also got a 700 rem with a 22 inch barrel. I dont see a big differnce between them for noise and muzzle flash. A guy usually shoots with hearing protection anyway so how does it really matter. By the way out of the three the ar is hands down the most accurate.

[Don Fischer]

If you can find one, 660 Rem. No detachable magazing but a super rifle. No qualms about the 788 either. My old 660 in 308 mnow lives with my son and I recently was given a 788 in 308 but 18" barrel. Someone said something about slow cycling of the 788, if you need faster than any bolt can do, you need an auto loader.

[nomosendero]

ive got a model 7 with a 18 inch barrel and a dpms ar with a 16. Ive also got a 700 rem with a 22 inch barrel. I dont see a big differnce between them for noise and muzzle flash. A guy usually shoots with hearing protection anyway so how does it really matter. By the way out of the three the ar is hands down the most accurate.

The DPMS I shot loved the 168 Bal. Tip. But it shot most bullets well & was more accurate than the other 308's I had at the time except for my 700VS, but that was a real shooter for a factory rifle.

[petemi]

I've had a 20 inch Ruger M77 MKII .308 for about 15 years.  I've made some incredible shots with it.  My wife and I call it "The Magic Rifle".  The only thing I don't like about it is the top loading hinged floor plate magazine.  I've shot all kinds of ammo at all hours of the day and night and never noticed any excessive muzzle blast or flash.  I also have a 22 inch Handi .308 and I see no significant difference in performance between the two.

Pete

[swifty22]

Sisu. My old HVA lightweight has a factory 20.5" barrel and I love it. I had both my 338-06 and my 375-06 Ackley imp. cut to the same length, Granted all 3 are not lotsa of powder eaters but that length of bbl. works and carries even better.-Muddy     

[Ranch13]

I was thinking I would like to get a bolt action 308 with a 20 inch barrel.  I would also like it to have a magazine.  I would also prefer a barrel that was not too skinny.  I find the Remington model 7 barrels a bit on the thin side.  Any suggestions?


Thanks

I won a couple of Savage Axis rifles in 308 at the local Friends of the NRA banguet last fall. While the barrel is 22 inches long, they do have a magazine, and they do shoot rather well for a rather inexpensive rifle. You might want to take a look at one of those.
Also while it's not a bolt gun the Browning BLR in 308 does have a 20 inch barrel and detachable magazine, and I know from experience both the original design and 81 steel frame editions shoot extremely well for a lightweight hunting rifle.

[eastbank]

any medium centerfire rifle fired at dawn or twilite with all but the most light load will light you up as a bystander looking at it. eastbank.

[Nobade]

They need all the barrel they can get to push the puny .308 that far.  Out there it's really struggling to stay supersonic.

That is true with 155gr. Palma bullets. But with 190gr. Bergers or other high BC bullets it's no big trick. But the point is, a good F-TR rifle can hold the 1/2 MOA X ring at 1000 yards easily if the shooter does his part. Those rifles use 30 inch barrels, or in that neighborhood. So how is a 20 inch barrel "proven" to be more accurate? How are you going to be more accurate than 10 rounds into one little dot at 100 yards or less than 1/2 MOA at 1000?

[Swampman]

They need all the barrel they can get to push the puny .308 that far.  Out there it's really struggling to stay supersonic.

That is true with 155gr. Palma bullets. But with 190gr. Bergers or other high BC bullets it's no big trick. But the point is, a good F-TR rifle can hold the 1/2 MOA X ring at 1000 yards easily if the shooter does his part. Those rifles use 30 inch barrels, or in that neighborhood. So how is a 20 inch barrel "proven" to be more accurate? How are you going to be more accurate than 10 rounds into one little dot at 100 yards or less than 1/2 MOA at 1000?

I'm just telling you it's a fact.  A 20" .308 is more accurate than a .30" .308.  A 19" .308 will be more accurate than a 20" .308.

[1armoured]

They need all the barrel they can get to push the puny .308 that far.  Out there it's really struggling to stay supersonic.

That is true with 155gr. Palma bullets. But with 190gr. Bergers or other high BC bullets it's no big trick. But the point is, a good F-TR rifle can hold the 1/2 MOA X ring at 1000 yards easily if the shooter does his part. Those rifles use 30 inch barrels, or in that neighborhood. So how is a 20 inch barrel "proven" to be more accurate? How are you going to be more accurate than 10 rounds into one little dot at 100 yards or less than 1/2 MOA at 1000?

I'm just telling you it's a fact.  A 20" .308 is more accurate than a .30" .308.  A 19" .308 will be more accurate than a 20" .308.

A bit of a broad statement perhaps ?
Not all barrels are created equal.
Surely there is an optimal barrel length dependent on twist and bullet weight ?


My .308 has a 22" barrel and 1:11" twist.
I shoot reasonably mild loads from 110gr to 185gr with good results out to 100 and 200.


I can't see it shooting any better with a couple inches lopped off the barrel.


cheers,
SS