Thread: 308 barrel length velocity loss

Hi folks.

So my beloved 308 is currently a 20".

I'm getting 2680fps with 168gr TMK.

I love it the way it is but I can't help thinking if I lopped 4 inches off how much handier it would be.

Realistically I keep most of my general hunting sub 300y but I'd like it to be able to still give a red a solid tickle at 475y which isn't a hard shot with this old vanguard of mine.

So the question is what sort of velocity loss would one expect going from 20" to 16"?

16.5 inch 168 eldm 2540fps validated

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16" 168ELD-M @2505 chronographed (and exactly what GRT predicted).

Yep.

Not suprised by the numbers.

Sounds like my 308 will be heading off for a barrel chop, half cock installed.

Cheers team!

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

Yep.

Not suprised by the numbers.

Sounds like my 308 will be heading off for a barrel chop, half cock installed.

Cheers team!

Just make sure not to dock 4" off your other barrel,or you will indeed be spending the rest of your life half cocked

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Just make sure not to dock 4" off your other barrel,or you will indeed be spending the rest of your life half cocked

Assuming that it started at 8". By the law I think that it's actually unlawful concealed carry of a piss-tool...

Tikka t3, 16"
speer 165gr @2530
NBT 150gr @2720
Pretty hard justifying the other rifles in the safe with the hunting I do really....

Rule of thumb is 50 fps per 1 inch chopped off

Tested and pretty close

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Howa 1500 .308 chopped to 14" because I'm that guy and someone's gotta do it.
Fiocchi 150gr chronographed at 2490fps.

Originally Posted by HNTMAD

Rule of thumb is 50 fps per 1 inch chopped off

Tested and pretty close

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Figures I keep seeing is more like 25-30fps per inch. And over the 3 rifles I own that is about the norm.

Obviously there is a point where it's short enough to show dramatic drops in difference but that seems to be calibre dependant.

Originally Posted by HNTMAD

Rule of thumb is 50 fps per 1 inch chopped off

Tested and pretty close

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As above,iv had several tikas of different barrel lengths over the yrs in 308.With factory Hornady Superformance 165gr you loose about 50ft/s per inch of barrel length chop.

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

Hi folks.

So my beloved 308 is currently a 20".

I'm getting 2680fps with 168gr TMK.

I love it the way it is but I can't help thinking if I lopped 4 inches off how much handier it would be.

Realistically I keep most of my general hunting sub 300y but I'd like it to be able to still give a red a solid tickle at 475y which isn't a hard shot with this old vanguard of mine.

So the question is what sort of velocity loss would one expect going from 20" to 16"?

Gunna ask....what do you mean by handier?

I see guys chopping for ease of shorted and less tangles in the scrub etc....but really.....guys chop a std no suppressor barrel and suppressor and think it's shorter and better for the scrub....all you do is chop 4 inches and add it back on.....

So why change what's working



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Originally Posted by HNTMAD

Gunna ask....what do you mean by handier?

I see guys chopping for ease of shorted and less tangles in the scrub etc....but really.....guys chop a std no suppressor barrel and suppressor and think it's shorter and better for the scrub....all you do is chop 4 inches and add it back on.....

So why change what's working



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Your Ears my friend

Originally Posted by Kelton

Your Ears my friend

I get that, but some are saying they are chopping for easy of handling based on being shorter....when they are not lol

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Originally Posted by HNTMAD

I get that, but some are saying they are chopping for easy of handling based on being shorter....when they are not lol

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DPT add f-all weight and length, but very effective sound moderation.