Is an 18" Barrel Too Short for a Bolt Action 308?

[calicojack]

Been thinking about getting a second 308 bolt gun but something smaller and handier than the norm. I like the idea of an 18" barrel but am wondering if that will create a lot of flash and loud muzzle blast as compare to a 20". I guess if i ran it with a can all or most of the time it would not matter much. I know that ballistically 308 Win is pretty good out of an 18" barrel. Not much difference between 18 and 20.

Thoughts?

 

[Gcs7th]

If you’re building a smaller lighter hunting gun why not?

 

[gwchem]

My Ruger American predator is an 18" .308 barrel.

It definitely loses some velocity to a 20" or longer barrel. Fgmm 175 grain Chrono's at just over 2400 fps. I've been using the Hornady superperformance 150 grain for deer, at 2800 fps.

 

[4g64loser]

Nothing wrong with an 18" 308.

I had a reflex suppressed 14.5" at one point. Great out to 300 or a bit over.

For long range, it's a turd but that doesn't sound like what you are looking for. For long shots with a 308, do a 13 twist 30" pipe and sling 155s at high speed.

 

[steves1911]

You won't be giving up much with 2" in a 308. It's a very efficient cartridge. My 16" gives up on avg about 120fps to my 20".

 

[Melnic]

I have a can for my RA 308 but never did hunt with it. did not use a break either. I have only hunted out to 100 yards with it.
At the range, was good to 200 yards. I recorded the drop by distance w/ my reloads.

 

[alucard0822]

With a can, short 308s are awesome, plenty of power for most things.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

I used to have a Winchester Model 70 Carbine...18" barrel in .30-06. Let's just say it was "stout"! I also had an original Savage Scout in .308...lightweight with the then standard Savage poorly design stock...it could be painful to shoot.

 

[Biggfoot44]

You won't be giving up much with 2" in a 308. My 16" gives up on avg about 120fps to my 20".

Pretty much sums it up .

.308 is medium capacity hull , and reasonably efficient . and moderate case expansion ratio . You can't escape the physics of internal ballistics , but is 50-75 fps a meaningful thing * for you * in the context of typical .308 velocities ? Heck , variations in chamber , throats , and bore can make more difference than that between two specific bbls of the same length .

Don't routinely shoot any .30 cal centerfire w/o ear protection . But at typical .308 muzzle pressure levels . the difference between 18. & 20 inches isn't significant .

The default answer probably 99% of the time is to choose your bbl length for .308 class rifles on the basis of offhand balance and overall handiness as top two priorities .

16inch vs 24 inch. - Could be meaningful . 20 in vs 18in , or 20in vs 22in - not really . .300 Ultra Mag class ctg instead of .308 , would have a different mental calculus .

 

[Boats]

I have a 16" bolt action .308. Shoots great. It is a heavy barrel so recoil is not bad, and muzzle flash isn't bad either.

I lose about 100fps versus an 18"

 

[Bertfish]

Remington 600 disagrees with your assessment

 

[John from MD]

Been thinking about getting a second 308 bolt gun but something smaller and handier than the norm. I like the idea of an 18" barrel but am wondering if that will create a lot of flash and loud muzzle blast as compare to a 20". I guess if i ran it with a can all or most of the time it would not matter much. I know that ballistically 308 Win is pretty good out of an 18" barrel. Not much difference between 18 and 20.

Thoughts?

Not if you want a flamethrower.

 

[erwos]

18 vs 20 is no big deal. 18 vs 24 and you're shooting it past 900, bigger deal. But that doesn't sound like what you're doing per se.

 

[ZachW]

I have a Remington 700 with a 18in barrel that stacks bullets at 200 yards. I've never shot further then that.

 

[holesonpaper]

308 is a damn fine round. For a second bolt, I wouldn’t have a problem with 18”.

 

[calicojack]

Good - maybe Santa will bring me one.

[EDIT] This is the short list:
1. Bergara B14 Ridge
2. Bergara B14 Wilderness Ridge
3. Ruger American predator
4. ATA Turqua
5. CVA Cascade

 

[Russ D]

I have a 16” Ruger compact in .308. I really wish it was .243. It’s light and kicks like a mule. It’s a great deer rifle but otherwise there’s no reason for it and I don’t hunt anymore. It’s the one rifle I have that I would sell. Which is a shame because it’s a Beaty in stainless/laminate.

 

[Reloader]

My ruger gunsite scout in 308 is the favorite in the safe. I put a EER scout scope on her and couldn't be more pleased.

 

[Sam Salvati]

Been thinking of getting a savage axis in .308 and cutting down one of the spare stock barrels I have to 16.25” and swapping it for the axis.

 

[Trumpet]

Is an 18" barrel too short?

Nope.