Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Short Barrel 308 Win. Speed???

Well, Sparky, my point wasn't that you should care about what someone else thinks of your noisy rifle, it's that one noisy enough to be offensive to someone down the line wearing earplugs is likely pretty hard on the ears of the one shooting it in the field, as most of us still do, without protection. Balance and looks are subjective, as is the decision to run a brake and trade recoil for more noise. Go for it.

That's close to my 20".
I'm getting low 2600s with 165 SGKs.

I was talking about your attitude, not your guns... a distinction that will certainly be lost on you.

I am aware that my response came off a bit short...and for that I apologize. I do grow tired of the "my way, or its stupid" attitude on this site at times. It seems that unless is a walnut stocked, 26" barreled .257 Bob, or some stainless something in a a McMillan, its useless.

If I remember correctly my former frontier ran 165 so at 2425 with LC brass and 42.0 gr 4895.

No worries my friend. I don't know why I got all bent out of shape about it. I'm a little thin-skinned today and it wasn't even directed at me lol.

No, they lost 32 fps going from 20" to 18", not 26" to 18".

Just for grins:

165 BT @ 2750 falls below 1800 fps @575 yards, zeroed @200 falls -23.08 @400

165 BT @ 2550 falls below 1800 fps @475 yards, zeroed @200 falls -27.38 @400

Even the slow one has over 1100 ft. lbs. at 500 yards.

This according to Nosler's ballistics app. 1800fps is an approximate velocity limit for reliable expansion. In other words, no big deal for most hunting.

I've cut both my Rem varmint 308s from 26" down to 20.5" and 22". They lost about 15 fps per inch with my warm handloads.

Going down from 20" to 16" I would expect to lose a bit more fps per inch, since barrel pressure is higher.

Losing 32 fps between 20" and 18" sounds about right to me.

Farther than you can effectively aim. No dis intended...

I have a 17 inch bbl '06 that I can and have pushed to better than 350 yards.. Knowing the range, the trajectory of your bullet, and a dead solid rest does the job.

I have never chronied the thing- just shot it at range to 300...checked the ballistics, etc.

I'll push the 27 inch heavy bbl '06 to 500, if I know the range and trajectory.. I ain't real adventuresome...

Hornady 165 SST/46.0/W-748....2730 20" barrel Remingtom LTR... 2635 18" barrel Ruger GSR

Sierra 168 MKBTHP/46.0/W-748....2715 20" barrel Remington LTR...2625 18" barrel Ruger GSR

I have a 16.5" Frontier but have never chronoed those loads from that rifle...

Bob

......Here is my answer for ya. At any hunting or target shooting distance you care to use the Ruger Frontier for.......Here is a link that will take away any concerns you have.

www.shootingtimes.com/long-guns/longgun_reviews_scout_102606/

Scroll down to the heading "Short Barrel, Long Reach" and read the rest of the article.

Much depends on the rifle as well. I only gain 100 Fps from a 26" Remington compared to a 20" Steyr.

Never any negative comments about muzzle blast when I have the Remington 600 at the range, matter of fact, people seem to be drawn to it....

Broke 2700 with 46.0 target under 168 zmax hornady in the 20" HBÇ this morning.

What brass?

Once fired FC. 2.83" coal
No pressure signs.

That would be a pretty stiff load with the lots of Varget and FC brass I've used.

46 under a 168 is the usual in WW brass weighing about 155 grains, rather than FC which usually comes in close to 180.

The Steyr's barrel are usually a bit quicker.

GM308M runs mid 2500's from the same rifle.

Slight compression at the very end of the seating stroke. Minor.
Primers slightly flattened. No cratering, no extractor scuff, easy bolt lift. Haven't mic'd primer pockets.
Not my normal load.
Loading it a bit long keeps compression down. I wouldn't run it in my M1A NM, but, its fine in the Steyr. I wouldn't use LC brass either.