Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Help me pick a barrel length?

Hey Guys,

Ive got a very nice older cz 550 in 308 win that id like to get the barrel cut down on and have the front sight reinstalled. I hunt in the north woods primarily and much of my time is spent in a ground blind. The current length is 23.5 and its just a bit clunky in a confined area. I also do a fair amount of tracking in the snow and the longer barrel is a challenge in the cedar swamps up here.

Other uses for the gun would include a black bear hunt every couple of years (over bait) elk every 3 years or so and at some point id like to take a northern Ontario moose.

My first thought was go all the way down to 20 inches. Ive got enough elevation adjustment in the rear sight to account for the change but what are yours thoughts?

here is a pic of the gun in question (generic pic)

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/15865182#Post15865182

In my eye, a rifle looks weird if the forend is longer than half the length of the exposed length of barrel.

Long forends on short bbls don't look right. YMMV.

Does look like a nice rifle. 20 or 21" is where I would like it. Balance would be everything, of course.

I have had 2 , 270s with 20" barrels . Now have a 7-08 with 20" barrel. They are a lot hardier in the brush than longer barrels. And killjust as much stuff.

Great Pic. Thnx.

308 & 20” = peanut butter & jelly !!

Jerry

Quak, these guys aren't making scientifically base recommendations that account for barrel harmonics. If you are fit and muscular my calculations suggest 21.674". If you're getting on in years and a little soft try 20.5985"

Yer welcome.

Pecos Kid

What jwall said.

A 20” barrel is enough to ring out all of the practical velocity from .308 Win and keep muzzle blast to a reasonable level. You could even go 18” without loosing much velocity but it will start to get loud. A 20” barrel is just right for a .308 IMO.

If it were me though rather than cut that one I’d look to but a buy a rifle with a 20” barrel.

16.25 threaded for a suppressor

Mike

I agree.

Here is a 20" .308. It had a pencil barrel on it at first but was too light in the front end to suit me, the barrel pictured is a sporter weight. Scope has also been swapped out for a Leupold 2.5-8X36 VX-3i. Length is just a wee bit more than what a M94 Winchester runs, and of course it weighs more.




Out in the field, in a stand.

Another vote for 20". I like the way it balances with a sporter weight barrel and handy in the thick stuff.

I guess I’m going to be the outlier here... for what it’s worth, I’d leave it right where it is. I have actually hunted “the thick stuff “ enough to know a couple of inches on the end of the barrel of a rifle makes little if any difference. It does, however, keep the balance where you want it for quick, smooth shooting.

I find a 20 inch.223 annoyingly loud, never mind a stubby.308.

Can't handle 23.5" stay at home and do what your wife tells you to do.

How’n hell do I hunt thick cover with my 42” barrel on the flinter?

I would go 22.
If changing the stock out to lightweight, then I would consider 21.

Have had a couple 20" rifles, 270 and 6.5x55. I do not like 20" barrels. If I was building a dedicated suppressed rifle, then I would go as short as legally allowed.

I cut my 308 700 down from 24 to 21 and it feels about perfect.

Experience says 20-22"...unless it's a flinter...

Precisely 21.0376 on a bolt rifle--unless it's a pre-'64 Model 70, which used the same action-length as the .300 H&H.

But of course yours isn't a pre-'64.

You could also cut down the buttstock, or wear thinner clothes. There are all sorts of obsessive-compulsive options!

If you like it don't change it at the risk of never liking it quite so much again.

I remember long ago the first time somebody handed me an M14. I thought it was comforting if not comfortable. Too heavy and clumsy today - me not the rifle.

As I age I find a Steyr Scout and Dragoon to be very comfortable for walking around. The lightweight low powered scope rifles are often passed over and left behind when I set out to kill something promptly.

Although I have short barreled rifles available and a double rifle that is immensely handy if heavier than the Scout, I also believe that if I am being clumsy with a longer barrel I am likely distracted and hurried. That is trying to move faster than I should. When I take my time and pay attention as I should I find a long barrel length no handicap.

My .308 is 20 inches and I'm happy with that. I wouldn't want to go shorter, especially with open sights.