Thread: Seeking advice re barrel length for a .308 and 7mm-08

I've come to ask advice from the many minds on here who know much more about shooting than myself.

I have a .308 and a 7mm-08 which I want to suppress and am considering chopping barrel lengths at the same time. I'm thinking of sending them off to Kaimai Suppressors to do the work. Ideally I want to buy a single 30 cal suppressor to use on both rifles and get a rear bushing to suit each rifle.

The .308 is already factory threaded and has a 20" barrel. The 7mm-08 is not threaded and has a 22" barrel.

Currently I use both rifles for the bush. I haven't done any shooting beyond 100 yards with either rifle, but I don't necessarily want to rule out being able to use one of them for longer range shooting either.

Few options I'm considering:

• Not shortening either barrel. Maybe it's not worth bothering?
• Making the .308 a dedicated bush gun and shortening it as much as possible so that the suppressor fits up against the forend while leaving the 7mm-08 length alone to keep it for longer range work.
• Shortening both as much as practical for each calibre.

I'm not into reloading so need to stick to factory ammo. I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice you may have around practical barrel lengths for these calibres.

Personally option 2 would be my choice.
Then perhaps rechamber the 7mm08 to 284win, although reloading would be an advantage there.

agree option 2...OR go the other way and leave 308 long and shorten the 7mm-08

Option 2.

Option 2 all the way

Given your 308 is already short-ish, then dock that to 16 or 18in and leave 708 unmolested

Option 2 is pretty much what I have done. Nice short supressed 17inch 308 for bush hunting and kept my 7mm-08 at 20 inches with a more forward supressor for open tussock hunting when i don't want to take out the 300wsm.

Right well this has been conclusive. Option 2 it is.

Thanks for your help everyone

As you already have 2 rifles

Option 2 is what I'd go. But I'd chop the 308 down to 16inches
In saying that my 18inch tikka 7mm08 was my do everything hunting rifle.

Leave the 308 alone, cut the 7mm08 to 16" and thread it, put DPT on.

308 at 16" tooooo noisey,cut to 18" and leave the 7m 08.

You have two rifles that do basically the same thing now. If you shorten one , you will get a long shot and wish you had the other. Or take the longer one and only get close shots. Choose what you will do most and sort one rifle for that and sell the other. I'd probably keep the 308 and maybe shorten it a wee bit as it can do what the 7-08 can and more ,with better off the shelf ammo options as well. Out to 3/400yrds there's probably not going to be too much in it. If you want to get out further then get a bigger 7mm or the like that can shoot the heavy high bc projectiles fast enough to take advantage of that higher bc. 280, 7rem mag, 7prc, 3006, 300mag etc

Shorten and thread .308, sell the 7mm08.

Originally Posted by r87mm

You have two rifles that do basically the same thing now. If you shorten one , you will get a long shot and wish you had the other. Or take the longer one and only get close shots. Choose what you will do most and sort one rifle for that and sell the other. I'd probably keep the 308 and maybe shorten it a wee bit as it can do what the 7-08 can and more ,with better off the shelf ammo options as well. Out to 3/400yrds there's probably not going to be too much in it. If you want to get out further then get a bigger 7mm or the like that can shoot the heavy high bc projectiles fast enough to take advantage of that higher bc. 280, 7rem mag, 7prc, 3006, 300mag etc

The 7mm-08 is a bit sentimental to me and I don’t really want to sell it which is annoying because I agree with you and logically I should sell it.

The main reason I got the .308 was for ammo availability. Although recently the 7mm-08 situation has improved.

If I don’t thread the 7mm-08 for a suppressor I can see myself barely ever touching it when the suppressed .308 is right ready to go.

Sell the 308 and buy the 284 listed in the buy/sell section, the 708 will stay in good condition and protect its sentimental value as the 284 will do everything from near to far

Alternatively sell the 308, ream 708 to 284, shorten and suppress, I run mine at 19"