CharlieSisk,
Based on your observations, and experience what would be an optimal barrel length for both the .308 and 30-06 cartridges, if the person was building a precision-oriented hunting rifle with longer shots expected due to the terrain/environment?
What I do on my own rifles is this....I build leaving the barrel at the 28 inch blank length. Then finish the rifle, add scope, and dummy rounds in magazine. Then throw it up to my shoulder. Then cut off a bit. Throw it back up. Cut a little more until it feels the way I want. After that, I don't measure.
Charlie