20 or 26 inch barrel

[g+16]

Sitting with some shooting buddies yesterday subject of barrel lenght for 308 distance shot came up. I say a properly set up rifle will a 20 inch barrel will reach a 1000 yd target. Couple of them say you need at least a 26 inch barrel. All of them have more rifle experience than i do. I was always the pistol man. What do you guys think?

 

[Leadeye]

You can reach a 1K target with a 45-70, has a trajectory like a rainbow, but it will get there. I think 308 will get there regardless of barrel length, you might have to adjust powder types between the two barrels lengths for optimum velocity.

 

[VERT]

I have seen a guy hit 10x10 steel plate with a 16” LWRC REPR out to 800 yards. His bolt gun has been cut down to 20” and will perform even better. A 20” gun will reach the mystical 1000 yard mark.

 

[Hawkeye7br]

Last month I shot a 500 meter match with 2 pistols, each with 14-15 inch barrels. One was a 6br. The bullet will get there, it's just a matter of velocity and how many minutes of drop.

 

[avboiler11]

Too many factors...bullet, velocity (powder), density altitude.

But yes, a 20" 308 pushing a 175gr Sierra Matchking @ 2550fps will "get" to 1000 yards. Of course a better bullet at higher velocity will do it 'better', ie. less drop and drift, making hit probabilities higher.

My favorite 308 bullet is the 168gr ELD-M...but then again I don't own any 308s.

I do own a 20" 6 Dasher tho...

 

[blacknwhite]

Will 20" make it, yes but it's not ideal. 26" would be much better in terms of ballistics. If it were a dedicated long range rig. The longer the tube the better.

 

[g+16]

I thank you, gentlemen