Not sure where to post this question so you may see it in a couple different forums.

Just wondering what your experiences are about barrel length on a 7mm08. I've got 708's with 20 and 24" barrels. So my question is...So for hunting purposes, is it worth the extra length to put a 24" barrel when building a new 708??

not to me.....

Agreed. I'll take a little velocity loss to keep it short and handy

I have a 20" Mossberg 100ATR that my son and I won at a church trap shoot. It's nice, light and handy. The 20" barrel works great while hunting from a blind.
With 6.5 StaBall, I've got some extremely good velocities while staying within book loads. Took a nice whitetail buck with it last fall.

AZmark: I do NOT mind longer barrels in any way shape or form - in fact I prefer them - for reasons I won't take up your thread for now.
My 7m/m08 (Remington 700 Mountain Rifle) has the 22" barrel barrel and if "I" were building a custom 7m/m08 I would definitely choose the 24" barrel length.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Yep 22, 23 or 24 would be my preferences depending on the rest of the build

Hunting out of a blind in the woods I like short handy rifles with 20" barrels but hunting out of a box stand on a field length isn't a factor.
I would like a 24" on my 7-08 for sure.

Same.

This is Long Range Hunting..free velocity I like. 24 for me.

You have both..what do you like?

My preference is for 22". Others mileage may vary..

This 7mm-08 is short and handy, 20"

I think you're talking minor velocity differences when you discuss one or two inches of barrel length. Stating the obvious, when you start comparing a 24 inch barrel to an 18 inch barrel then you have to start making decisions on how much velocity difference you're willing to accept or attain. This thread is already a classic example of different strokes for different folks. To me, 22 inches is about the sweet spot for a 7mm-08. As this is the Long Range Hunting sub-forum, if I were building for that stated purpose, I would think the 24 inch barrel would be my preference if that were my allocated use; however, 22 inches would work for me in that scenario.

Just posted on this subject recently. Of all the common hunting rifle cartridges I’ve chronographed over the past 40+ years, the 7mm-08 generally shows the least velocity loss with shorter bbls.
Personally I prefer 22” bbls because seems to me to be the sweet spot for less perceived muzzle blast vs lighter weight and portability.

To me 20" is the perfect length for a 308. I assume 7-08 will be very similar. As far as velocity is concerned you have to go to 26" or more to see any meaningful gains. In fact, my 20" Tikka CTR 308 shoots the same ammo FASTER by a small margin than either of my 308's with 22" barrels. I find 20" easy to carry through brush, but it isn't short enough for noise to be a problem. Maybe in another cartridge.

I wouldn't go any shorter, and 22" doesn't bother me either. I wouldn't pay to have a 22" barrel cut shorter. I might if it were 24". But if building I'd want something shorter that 24" with a little meat in the barrel. Split the difference and go 21"

Yup...22” inch is a nice place to be for a 7-08...IMO




🦫

22.5" works pretty good

I like 22”. I could suffer a 22.5”. But no longer than that for a 7-08.

Nice goat! Oregon?

Silvies

Very nice rifle Beaver.

Mine is just a plain jane Tikka:

It works great. I have a 6.5 superlite and a 308win, but I always grab the 7 for some reason..??

I have 7mm-08's with 22" and 24" barrels not much difference to me.

22 is your huckleberry

Its quiet and deadly.. Shoot them behind the ear..

I had a 20” 7-08 in a factory Model 7 LSS. That rifle became my beloved .358.... my 22” 7-08 is a M700 mountain rifle which I have lightened about as much as one can. The whupass/weight/recoil ratio is pretty amazing. 7-08 is a great cartridge, and I gotta think it would be a hoot in a medium-weight 24” or even 26” target type rig. But for hunting I just cannot abide anything over 24”.... and there needs to be a good reason even to go 24”. Like being a 7 WSM for example.

Cut a 700V and a 700 BDL SS to 21" - both had OEM 24" IIRC.

Chrony showed 2960 with 139/140s with Varget and 4064. Partial sized brass. Safe in MY guns.

HOW I hunted and rifle BALANCE would dictate choice. A longer sporter will yield more speed and less blast.

FWIW, same loads produced 2850 in a 20" M70 Carbine ...........I never felt handicapped. When you get to a longer distance, Shooting skill will change the outcome more than 100-200 fps.........IMHO.

Lastly, heavier bullets LOSE LESS MV than lighter bullets, as you go shorter on barrel length. To me the round melds well with the 140 AB and 150 BT. Others do fine also. The 21" above........gave 3050 with 120s if one is interested. Varget.

7-08 isa fine round but will never be a speed demon, If I am in open country, I would most likely go 24" if I am hunting thick cover, most likely go shorter.

You’ve bumped your head too many times……

Seriously a 1/2”…..?

I have carried long and short barrels. I have never felt like long barrels in close cover was a hindrance. I would always go with a 24. I don't hunt from a ground blind, which would be one argument for the shorty. Velocity losses are irrelevant, unless you are talking extreme ranges.

Would rather have a lighter, shorter, handier rifle especially for alpine hunting. In real world hunting terms at 400 yards it is miniscule. With 20" @ 400 yards you’re 23" down, 7.7" WD and 1,700 ft-lbs of energy. With 22" @ 400 yards you’re 21.5" down, 7.4" WD and 1,800 ft-lbs of energy. With 24" @ 400 yards you’re 20.8" down, 7.2" WD and 1,875 ft-lbs of energy. No one should lose any sleep over such a non issue, especially for a hunting rig

Yes, me too.

Ack- yes, I have bumped my head too many times and yes, I’d slum 22.5” but only if’n I was forced to.

SB, man, couldn’t agree less. I’ve hunted in thick stuff a lot and barrel length is a big deal, for me. My 20” .358 is a joy. 22” works. 24” in a short action is doable. 26” in a long action SUCKS.

I’ve put my money where my mouth is... I have a really good-shooting M700 XCR in .338.... those were 26” barrels. I hunted it that way (elk) a few years but it’s just never felt right. But the damn thing was so flippin’ accurate I was afraid to mess with it. Finally paid a smith to shorten it to 23” (this was before I was doing my own work).... Somewhere there’s a thread about this. Long time ago. It still shoots great.

My belief the 7mm08 is a great round and better stand in for the 308 for most general applications! The 22" really is a good compromise with the 20" perhaps a close second. For a lot of carrying in relation to shooting & not really reaching out, a 20" would seem fine. Also, almost a dying subject but if anyone besides me yet uses open sights, sight radius could dictate toward 24".

My only 7mm08 is a Win 70 med length action c.2000 and a really nice rifle in "Custom Compact" Model w/20" bbl. In terms of length, for me, the most important factor isn't barrel length, but of stock length. 14"+ is good for me. Such with 24" barrel, great canoe paddle too!
Best!
John

You are not differentiating a 1/2” without a tape measure in your hand……….

Lol!!! My bad
22” is what I meant. Best of both world when it comes to velocity and handy in the field

It sure is. Ha ha.

John, you got a good one. Thanks for sharing buddy.

If it was one I put together for myself...

24 inch.... same with the 260 Remington...

I prefer the long barrel... if I can't hump it out in the wilds, then its time for me to just quit hunting...

Although If I didn't have a couple of 260 Remingtons, I could see a Winchester Featherweight in 7/08....

but then my Featherweight in 7 mm Mauser would get jealous I bet...

When Winchester came out with the featherweight in 1952, the barrel length they chose was spot on. Been great ever since too. Even works on the 7mm08. Mausers can get jealous all they want..

He was referring to the real nice gun with a 22.5” inch barrel. If you read the post right above his I think it will clear up all the 1/2” confusion for you.

Haha... yeah.

It’s true, I probably couldn’t differentiate between 22 and 22.5” without a tape. But here’s the thing. 22” is “perfect”, and so any deviation from perfect, isn’t perfect.



Pretty much just kidding around... my .223AI is some wacky random length. I think I started it at 22”. I liked it that way, but when I made a brake for it, I didn’t want it to be longer, so before I threaded the barrel I shortened it. I think it’s something silly like 20.5” plus the wee little brake, so like 21-1/4”. I LOVE the brake BTW. From prone, the rifle barely even moves. Super easy to see my shots at longer ranges, which was the notion.

When I had my .338 shortened I agonized (this is me we are talking about here after all) and ended up compromising at 23”. 🤷‍♂️

why does an anti gun idiot like you, who doesn't even hunt, post on here ?

I've never had a 7-08 shorter than 14"(XP-100),nor longer than 26"(VLS). That being said,with lotsa 18,20,21,22,23 and 24's in the fray in said chambering,I'm happy performance wise at 21". Not that an 18" can't do nice thangs,they're just louder. Hint.

While these Fhuqktards muse "performance",nary a one stipulates the schit that fhuqking matters most,which is RPM/Throat Geometry/COAL. Hint.

I'll happily gun a "lowly" 21-incher wearing 8" RPM,with .796 BC 180 ELD's,at a 2.950" Square Smooch. Hint.

Thank me later.

Just saying.

Hint................

Stick, what's your thoughts on the 162 ELD in a 20" 1:9.5 Howa Alpine? What powder would you choose? I'm thinking the 180 is a stretch for the current barrel. Next barrel will be a 1:8.

I've shot alotta 162 'Max outta a 10" RPM Liljee SALAMI 7-08,in all weathers and nary an issue. No problem with said ELD version of same. Hint.

The attraction of a Howie 8" RPM for 180's in 7-08,do appeal. Hint.(grin)



'17 is warm/fuzzy for me. Hint..................

Stick, 150 Scenars? I have a Rem Varmint Special that I want to play with at the range, but at 2.832" Looking for around 2750 fps

Skinners are Skookum and said velocity is a breeze. Hint.

I'd be powerless not to AICS binderless DBM it and be whistlin' 162's. Hint.....................

I use Varget with the 162 A-Max. I still have about 700 of them. It’s running 2612 with 39.5 grains from a 22” barrel. I’ve had it as high as 41 grains with no pressure signs but accuracy was falling off after 40.

This is the third barrel I’ve ran that combination in and they’ve all three been between 39.5 and 39.8 for the most accurate load.


The ELD series replaced the A-Max. I don’t know how similar they are in actual use. I’ll run out sometime this fall and find out.

In my opinion the 180 is too big for the 7-08 case unless you have a 26”+ barrel.

The 7-08 is a fhuqking MONSTER with .796 BC 180's and a 21" will make 2600fps easily. Vargay sucks ass,in everything. Hint...................

For me, a 162 A-Max will get about all I can want from that round, and a 150 BT and 140 NAB will do alot of killing further than most will take a shot.

Wp - re: the 180s and long barrels, bear in mind, a HEAVY bullet will lose LESS speed as you shorten the tube.......So I would not expect a big difference. For me, I tried some 160s long ago in a 20" and was not impressed. Outside of the most extreme ranges, a 140-154 will do very well.

No doubt powders MATTER, as I was not using the latest powders back then. I had a few chats with a guy in Tx who used a 17" with a can, and some heavies...180s, his speeds were not impressive. Personally, trajectory was much better and more forgiving with lighter weights for his set up...but he wanted to use the heavies and that's fine. So long as you KNOW the range and CLICK to align POA to POI, then the animal will not know. I would rather use a 140-150 if wanting a max PBR. Not run #'s, but that's my logic.

My 21" never disapponted in both the SS BDL and the V - but they were LOUD. That said, the short tube were very accurate. 100, yes even 100gr HPs shot 1/2" at 200 yds in my V, with 3 shots over Varget, and not just once Yes, I was surprised also, would give a yote heck....

A 21" 7-08 with 180's does thusly,in this morning's atmosphere. Hint.




It loses less than 1000fps of velocity,at the 1000yd line and makes 1000ft lbs of "energy" at 1000yds,if only for conversation. Simply looking through the scope,will get it past 1100yds and one can juggle 30 MPH full value winds at 1100yds easily. Hint.

Just sayin'.................

Stick if your 7-08, or at least your calculators, can achieve accuracy at that velocity then I’m impressed.

Kiss,find pressure and rock on. No different than anything else. Hint..............

A buddy of mine has an 18.5” and although it’s very handy it’s very loud. I’ve got a 20” m7 and I love it. But when I built one I couldn’t decide on a 20” or a 22”… so I went 21”. Love it. It’s a douglas and shoots 140TTSX over varget into less than .5”.

I have a Rem 700 Mountain Rifle in 7mm08 and it has a 22 inch barrel. I like that length fine, but if I were to get another I would prefer a 24 inch barrel. This is partly personal preference and partly because I mostly hunt in open country where a little extra velocity is always welcome.

The way I hunt I’d take the longer barrel for a few free feet per second and a little less blast.

22” is just about perfect for a sporting rifle

22 9/16" is the perfect length.

22" on my 7-08.

Nooooooooooooo

That extra 16th is gonna haunt me, just knowing it’s hanging off someone’s otherwise nice rifle.

Just end it JeffO.

22" on mine

Other than being a commie liberal the only thing that haunts you is a box of bullets........

This is in the long range form. So 24 is the correct answer no doubt. Actually even 26 be better.

150 eldx at 2790 can shoot a loooong way out of my 22 7/16” barreled Tikka.





P

I prefer mine with a 15” barrel

Those are pretty damned cool. Have you shot it much? Those have always interested me.

22 on mine. Pretty handy.

22-24 inch work just fine on a 7mm-08

Sadly I have not had the chance to shoot it yet but hope to remedy that shortly

Post it up when you do, please.

I have 18 1/2" a 22" and a 24" in 7mm08.
The short one (rem 788) is the most accurate of the bunch. i usually carry this one when still hunting or tracking.
The other 2 i mainly use in treestands.

2670fps .670 BC 162 ELD-M 20" Smooches here. Hint.



I could give less than zero fhuqks,about another 25fps. Hint................

I got my first suppressor last week and I don’t see anything ever being longer than 21” from now on. Flutes will be what keeps them at 20-21” 223 through 300 win mag this chop and thread. If it’s a bad idea I’ll not do it again.

No thang. Hint..................(grin)

I wussed out on the starfish. Lol. I only have two so I’ll have a 19.5” 223AI and 20.5” -21” 6 creedmoor. I’m a little curious about barrel lengths anyway. 300 win will be 21”. 280AI 19” 18” 6creed and 17” 223 17-18” 243. Curious about balance too. Will see what’s what with these and go from there.

I can’t decide if I want to chop the 223 Montana’s off and keep shooting as is or wait rebarrel with 1-7” and have them threaded at that time.

Nice pic rail, Stick. Will it hold zero?

Not when you throw it down a scree slope.
Hint laffin.

Going to have to go with the 20". A model 7 swings too nice with the shorter barrel!

You are going to get a lot of answers because the crux of the question depends on the individuals wants and needs. I hunt mostly thick woods in GA, AL and PA. A shorter barrel is important to me. If I were in AZ where you are shooting in more open country/desert terrain, I would prefer a longer barrel but balance wins overall. My REM600 in 7mm-08 wears a Douglas #1 with a 1.25" shank and is cut at 21 inches with a McMillan EDGE stock. It is light, balanced and shoots well.

himmelrr, said it for me: “Balance wins overall.”

My current 7-08 is a Kimber Hunter 22” and it’s balance is just about right for me. If the choice was to be shorter or longer, I’d rather have a bit of muzzle hang than muzzle light and whippy.

Balance wins but 20" everytime....portability and handiness beats 75 fps or an additional 50-75 yards or so on mpbr for you Kentucky holdover guys...

I'm thinking I"m going to chop mine to 18 or 20 inches, and go the suppressed route. Currently it sits at 24".

Fully support....

Good to know Greg.

Hell ya!😀👍

I recently had a suppressed 19" cut down to 16" (which as everyone knows, is the shortest the law allows)

If you go 24" might as well make it 1/2" longer and chambered in 7 mm rem mag , you can allways download it to 7-08. Easier to ride a fast horse slow, than a slow horse fast...yup mb

A 22-inch barrel is my choice in a 308 Win brass based cartridge. The 7mm-08 ballistically betters the 308 Win on one end and the 6.5 Creedmoor on the other. Notice I said ballistically, as for hunting use they all have their own individual benefits.

A 20”-22” barrel with 8, 8.5 or 9 twist on a 7mm-08 may be the best carry, reduced recoil, long range payload (bullet weight, BC and WD) out there.

As others say, balance matters most (with reasonable portability, of course). Noise matters second most. Velocity is probably third, at least with a 7mm-08.

20-22" sure seems like the sweet spot. I've used a couple of 18-18.5" models and they were a bit too loud for me. I have a 20" barrel at the gunsmith right now, being cut to 16.5" and threaded for a can.

Just recently got one of those in a 6mm Creedmoor. I’ve only shot it out to 600 yards so far with factory ammo.


In terms of the original question by the OP, my only advice is choose the length that you want.

Rather than choose one barrel length, I shoot three 7mm-08 rifles: a Model 7 FS with an 18 1/2" barrel, a Howa Alpine with a 20" barrel and more recently I picked up a Remington 700 CDL with a 24" barrel.

Each rifle is set up to shoot specific bullet in different weights. For example the FS shoots TTSX pills, the Alpine Nosler E-Tips and the CDL 160 grain Barnes TSX bullets.

Being a rifle looney means you don't have to limit yourself to just one.

My go to, whitetail setup is a GAP NT 7mm-08 with a 23” Bartlein that I absolutely enjoy. The rifle balances very well. My second 7mm-08 is a REM Mt Rifle with factory 22” bbl. It’s fine and I use it occasionally, since the GAP gets the nod more.

My next build will be either a 20 or 18” to run suppressed. Considering a 7 SAW but this project is still in infancy stage.

Well it's free velocity ... a little. More important are your hunting style and balance preference. Hard to go wrong.

Not worth it me in a short action cartridge like 7/08
I have a hells canyon speed with a 22” and that is as long as it needs. I run 140 partitions at 2922 fps with big game powder. If you don’t mind the longer rifle, shoot a 280. That may give you what you want if you feel 7/08 is not gonna get the job done

Yessir, that's good medicine too.

A 20 barrel seems a little jumpy with a 308. But if I were to choose a 7-08 it would be for it’s efficiency and ability to be less jumpy with a 20 inch barrel. Something like a Micro Midas maybe.

....although this isn’t likely what I’d choose for a dedicated “long range” hunting rifle, I do think it would be acceptable out past 250 yards a bit.

+1

I like less concussion at 24", and I have never felt like it swings slow. I prefer the 150g ElD x for the short range stuff, throated properly. As range gets extended, I then bump up to the 280 Rem with 180g ELD m at 2700(smidgen of powder), throated to match said bullet. Thanks, Stick!

Some things you just have to see to believe, 180g ELDM, .796 BC....impact velocity will make a true believer out of you!

I agree with this for a whitetail blind rifle. Barrel contour about #3 or a Rem mag. barrel profile to about 21" would seem a perfect build to me.

If I was worried about velocity?

It go 24 with a bigger cartridge.
Ya gotta decide.

Why worry about trivial velocity differences when the STW, Ultra, or
Nosler....exist.



20 would be great.
18" would be ok. But loud(er).

I had a 7mm/08 built a few years ago. I opted for a 23" bbl and have no complaints. The rifle was originally a 1984 Rem 700BDL in 243.

What's your average time to buff and polish that scope?

Yeah BABY!!!!

Either is fine. You can guess around 30-35 fps per inch.

Will that make a difference for your max distance for the game you are hunting.
If not, go with the shorty

What makes this post more interesting is that it's in the LR forum. There are some of us that must navigate nasty brush and be ready to shoot long range. I've done it with several rifle lengths, and shorter is better for sure. Compounding the challenge is the fact that I don't like to carry the rifle outside the pack. So, my 24 inch Tikka is really not fun to pack. One upside is that I move a lot slower and more quietly
Anyway, I'll vote for the 20 incher on a 7'08. And concur with the chorus here, or at least Stick (The One Man Chorus? ) -- the 160-180 grain low drag bullets in an 8 twisted rifle with a good chamber matched to the magazine is the epitome of rifle craft. For many years it took a custom rifle to bring those elements together. Now we're in gravy.

No charge for the Thanksgiving pun.

If I had to pick one platform, that is a question with an easy answer.

1980s and early 1990s Rem 700 Mountain Rifle with the Laminate stock in 7/08...
or a Model 70 Featherweight in 7/08...XTR with laminate stock
Or either rifle in 7 x 57...

I have hunted in a lot of thick forest. The long barrel is not a hinderance. I will take less muzzle blast and more velocity every time. The “need” for a short barrel is nothing but the perception of the user. If it makes you feel good, then use a short one.

Actually just the opposite IMO. The need for a longer barrel and extra 100fps is nothing but perception. A 140 AB running 2700, or 120 BT runing 2925 are both killing machines.

LOL.

You have never shot anything at LR.

Why do you think your lack of experience on the subject requires a post?

I don’t care if you hunt with a 6 inch barrel or a 26 inch barrel. As long as you can cleanly kill an animal at whatever distance you are hunting at and it’s legal, go for it!

All I’ll say is whatever floats your boat is what you should go with. This is all personal preference and that’s it, nothing more nothing less.

I am nobody in the big picture of the world. Just a working man that likes to hunt. With that said, I have toted a 24” tubed 7-08 for the last 19 years all over North America. From my local deer stand, 5 provinces in Canada, 7 western states and up to AK. Shots from 6 feet to 525 yards resulting in dead critters. I think I am comfortable in saying that I have never felt that a 24” tube was an impedance on any hunt, including back pack goats in BC. Others mileage may vary and that’s all good . As I said all that matters is what you like because your the one humping it .

22 is optimal

Mine(stock 700 Mtn Rifle) has a 22” and I’ve always thought it was a nice length, it balances well and shoots fine. Shot a buck with it at 430ish this fall with a lumbering slow 162 ELD-M.

If I ever shoot it enough to rebarrel it’ll be 19 or 20”….

And have a can on it….


Ben

This

A 22 barrel? Yah, got that covered with a Kimber Classic Select shooting very well - better than the MOA guarantee.

That's nice!
Would like to find one of those.