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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,124
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,124 |
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. Quak, please re-read the paragraph above. That 550 CZ is a very fine rifle, and they have been discontinued except in African calibers.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,087
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,087 |
I would do a 21 to 22.5” barrel, if I were going to have it cut. I do appreciate shorter barrels in the closer quarters of ground blinds. I have some 375’s and 416’s with 20” barrels that I frequently use in ground blinds. I currently have a 325 WSM at the gunsmith to be cut to 22’ish. I used a 23.5” for one season in a ground blind. It was a tad longer than I cared for. 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?
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,735
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,735 |
20" if I was cutting.
Which I probably wouldn't, I'd buy a carbine.
Or a beat up good old rifle to cut down, but never want to hack it!
Anyway, under 20 is short and gets louder, fast.
If you leave it any longer than 21, it's not really worth doing.
I prefer rifles around 20".
Not that a longer barrel can't be put through the same places,
But it requires more effort, and if your 24"+ plus barrel hits something,
I'll bet you a quarter it's going to be out past the 20" point.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 434
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 434 |
I've got a 7-08 I cut from 24" to 22.5". Seems short to me and very handy coming from 24". All my bolt guns have 24", including one magnum cut from 26". I don't think I would go less than 22" on any bolt gun. I do have a Ruger 1A in 7x57 -- talk about feeling short. [img] https://ibb.co/LR3MWr2[/img]
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 140
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 140 |
My bolt guns ---- two 7x57 bolt actions, one 308 Win, and an 8x57 M98 sportified Iranian carbine (made in Brno, Czechoslovakia).
Except for the the 18.5 inch carbine all the others have 22" barrels. I think that 22" is ideal for a bolt action hunting rifle. In tight quarters, like a blind a blind, I have never had a problem; especially if I remain calm ,slow down my movements, and take care.
On the other hand, most 8x57 (8mm) ammo manufactured in the U.S. is usually underpowered in comparison to some of the European ammo. If you consider that each inch of barrel length lost costs you about 25 fps of velocity, and the majority of factory ammo is tested in 24" universal barrels; I lose the equivalent of 137.5 fps velocity shooting that carbine (24 - 18.5 = 5.5 and 5.5 x 25 = 137.5 fps) . That greatly impacts the PBR and energy delivered.
Longer is better! Wait a minute, I have heard that before.
Oh! that wasn't about my rifle! LOL
Last edited by CascadeJinx; 04/19/21.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,196
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,196 |
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? They may make a pill for this condition...not sure. I hunt out of box stands elevated, and know what confinement is. Not much difference between 20-23.5", it is all in your mind. Concussion of a 20" barrel is very significant to say the least, as I found out on coyote hunting rifles that I wanted to swing faster, hearing loss and ringing ears abound. 18-20" barrels ring your bell. A guy that I hunted with's dad was a world famous ear surgeon. He was constantly scolding us on hearing loss, especially with short barrels as I had acquired two 6mm Rem Ruger compacts to day hunt coyotes with, and his son bought one of them. Pard's dad came unglued over such a short barrel. His exact words were, "DON'T BE STUPID".
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