308 barrel length

[SNEAKS]

I was told today at a shop that the ideal barrel length for a 308 is 18". Anything longer than that causes drag on the bullet slowing it down. Anyone ever hear that?

[highpower790]

Sounds like someone is trying to sell you a "18 barrel.

[postal]

Longer barrel = higher velocity.

18" is great for unsupported positional shooting, but the bullets are slow and your max range is reduced.

24" is standard, and 26" is very common.

Some people go out to 28-29-30.... and get even higher velocities.

I used to run a 26, then a 24.

[Josh3239]

Ideal is 18"? That's a new one.

[CK_32]

Lol that's a first.


Like above. Sounds like someone needs to push a 18" barrel on you.

[toby]

That's funny!

[Xtracrispy]

Technically too long of a barrel can slow it down.... But it's a lot longer than 18" whatever length it may be.

[postal]

Technically too long of a barrel can slow it down.... But it's a lot longer than 18" whatever length it may be.

Not even 30-31....

[OverUnderClays]

Palma class rifles can use 30 inch barrels to hurl 155 gr bullets up to 1000 yards.

18" barrel? Tactical for shots under 500 yards, not meant for long range. Someone's trying to make a sale of off misleading information.

[bsumoba]

whomever told you that, don't ask them for anymore advice.

[SNEAKS]

Thanks for the info. I was at a shop looking for 308 to shoot in the range of 300-700 yards and that's what this guy recommended. It did not seen right at all to me but I figured I'd ask to verify.

[killshot44]

Salespeople......

[GJC]

Good thing you did not buy it and come here to get some real answers.

[buggsb]

While stating that 18" is optimum from a velocity perspective is obviously incorrect, "optimum" really depends on the intended usage for said rifle. In instances where maximum velocity is not a critical component of the intended usage, perhaps a shorter barrel is appropriate.

[milotrain]

So part of this myth comes up with things like the XM-3 Sniper Rifle development program where they found an 18" barrel was not in any detracting from their effective range. The reason for this is that the armed services aren't using handholds, so their limitation isn't the barrel necessarily. They also aren't competing, and in one case they stated that "even groups of 1MOA at 1000 meters were recorded with the XM-3". While 1MOA at 1k is nothing to scoff at, there are guys doing better.