Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 18.5" vs 20" Barrel

I have a couple of 700s that I am going to have chopped. They are in .243 and .308. I cant decide if I want to go to 18.5 or 20. Is there a big difference in muzzleblast? Any one have pics of theirs?

Short barrels are quite loud!

There is a '62 Rem 700 308 in the Classifieds with a 20" barrel. I would have already bought it were it not for the short barrel.

20

Having used 243 and 260 in both 18.5 and 20 inch, the muzzle blast difference is remarkable. I will never get another one under 20" if I don't have to.

If it were my call, I'd say 20".

Thanks all 20" does sound normal compared to 18" I think you might have saved my ears.

I've got one of my SPS tactical 308's cut to 18", no change in accuracy but I also use a can on mine so I can't advise on muzzle blast

20" is ideal in my biased opinion

I've had .308s rifles in 16.5" and 20", and the 16.5 was LOUD. I presently have a .243 with a 20" tube, and I don't think I would want to go any shorter.

I had a Lone Eagle in .308, and that thing was obnoxious, also.

22" is also noticeably easier than a 20" on the ears, at least in a 243.

Huh? Lol. I have Tinnitus, no more needed, but Love short rifles, in the 308 a 20 will do fine, had a 600 Mohawk 18.5 243, handled and shot great, was a little loud, but I believe the dude at the range once with the same gun in 308, it was like a cannon. I know, same capacity. 20 is as short as I would go in those rounds, but I would happily run both in 20, and would prefer neither over 22.

OP - what is your starting length now? A 22 as DD says is def easier on the ears. My last 2 243s however were 20, Ruger #1 RSI, and an XCR M7. Both loud but tolerable, I use plugs + muffs, at bench, plugs in field.

Yes it is.

They are both 24" sporters. I want more manuvarability thus the 20".

Get a set of electronic ear pro and chop the barrels as short as you can. Shot a buck with a 16" 308 Saturday.

If you cut the barrels back, you'll change the balance of the rifle and being a little "butt-heavy" it might be handier to get through tight cover, but maybe not as quick/smooth to mount and shoot. I have swapped many of the 18.5" and 20" barrels from factory specs Remington 7s for 22" 700 MR/LSS-MR contour barrels as a means by which to improve the balance, both with factory and McM stocks.

Back in the mid-1980s, I made a few bucks cutting back the factory 26" and 24" barrels on Remington 722s to make them handier. The 722s were much cheaper and easier to find than the 600s and 660s.

Balance rules, I am fond of things in the 20-21" range. I don't have experience with a shorter 243, but 20" has worked well for me with 338RCM, 3 358's and a 308. I also have a 21" 6.5 Creedmoor and a 21.5" 250AI

If you find that the 20" is too muzzle light and edge stock will put things right.

22" minimum

I shot a 7600 carbine this past Sunday. 18.5 inch barrel and it was loud to the point of being distracting.