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14 years 7 months ago #3476 by silver78
Replied by silver78 on topic Re:Hey Everyone
Guys - I know there are a lot of people who like the shorter barreled 308s. And I recognize that the shorter barrels are popular so they are working for a lot of you. One thing I have learned over the years is that if something is working for a lot of folks it must do something right. However, it does puzzle me a bit. Look at the most popular bolt action hunting rifle in the USA - the Remington 700. Most of their rifles in 308 have 24 inch barrels. The shortest one I could find on their website has a 20 inch barrel. I have been reading 24hourcampfire for years and I do not recall anyone saying that they wanted a shorter barrel Rem 700 to hunt with than the 20 inch minimum currently offered. If they are field hunters who carry their rifles around a lot, they are more concerned with overall weight. And in this respect, the AR-10 platform even with a 16 inch barrel is too heavy in their book. The only place I find a lot of interest in barrels of less than 20 inches is in the AR semi-auto platforms.

So I happen to like a longer barrel on my AR-10. To be specific, mine has a 22 inch barrel. Works for me. It's certainly not considered "long" when compared to most Remingtons. As I said before, because of the average barrel lengths of over 20 inches in the Remington 700 and most other bolt action rifle brands, I do think that most ammo makers are focused on longer barrels when they choose their propellents for the 308 round. So if you want to go with a 16 inch barrel, you may want to consider reloading for best results. I don't reload. So again for me, this tips me towards a longer barrel for my 308 caliber. One more advantage to the longer barrels on the 308 is that they have longer gas systems.

Now someone mentioned the need for a 20 inch barrel on the 6.X platforms to really get the velocity up. Well that is true for the 6.5, but not the 6.8. The 6.8 was developed with 16 and 18 inch barrels in mind. If you do not reload and you want a compact lighter AR platform rifle with a 16 inch barrel, consider the 6.8. The 6.8 ammo is set up for shorter barrels.

In the end, many of you will read this and decide on a 16 inch barrel 308. Clearly this will work fine. I just want to make the case for the longer barreled 308 set-up or alternatively, the 6.8 as an even more compact AR platform for hunting.

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14 years 7 months ago #3478 by Bodenjager
Replied by Bodenjager on topic Re:Hey Everyone
Ok, look. I verry much understand that to maximize performance you need a longer barrel. This is an accepted wisdom. With .308 you have so much excess power that you can get away with a short tube, and get the job done. All I'm saying is get the rite tool for the job. You wouldn't go around with a 8" barrel on a ccw pocket pistol because it maximized velocity would you? It would most definitely improve performance, but it would be hard to conceal. The same principal holds true here. As far as factory loads there's several out there to choose from most tatical loads are loaded with hunting bullets, and fast burning powder for short barrels. With concern for the handy little 6.8 spc it is a good round. The trouble is it barely makes it into medium game performance bracket so it can't afford to loose any velocity. That is why I sed it would need a 20" barrel. In fact most companies that chamber 6.8 for hunting use 20" tubes (Stag 7). The whole reason for this forum was to get the best AR package for ground hunting in the 450 yard bracket, and nothing in the market fills this role better than a short .308. In fact some companies chamber the .308 class AR in 14" tubes. Several militarys around the globe have proven the short .308 to work. In fact the same principles that make the 6.8 short barrel friendly also apply to .308. If you keep an open mind you will understand the principal of the short, light, and handy carbine.

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14 years 7 months ago #3483 by BUILDING MY SASS
Replied by BUILDING MY SASS on topic Re:Hey Everyone
OK, after reading these last posts, I think I will chime in on something..regarding barrel length....
For the record, when I got my A4 CB, I had full intention of it being a "dual configuration" rifle...Meaning it was..IS...set up for CRE...(close ranger engagement, there is no CQB with an AR-10) and also mid range engagements as well....being out to 5 to 600 yards, I have only shot 400 so far...I am still planning to try 1K at some point just to see if I can do it with a 16" barrel...but anyway, I am planning eventually to get either an A4 or "T" or a SASS upper for longer ranges and possible match shooting...Or have the MASTER MSH build me one... ;) B)
So all this talk about the length on the barrels is somewhat all up to the intended purpose...out to 4 to 500 yards, a 16" is more than adequate for hunting...and ZOMBIE DESTRUCTION...or just general shooting...if you are wanting to range out, then I would get the 20" barrel, and for 1K and then some...(for the Pro's) then the 24" would be the ticket....just the view of one of the peanuts in the gallery... :lol:

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14 years 7 months ago #3494 by MikeS.
Replied by MikeS. on topic Re:Hey Everyone
Well the AR-10 I bought 2 weeks ago has a 24" barrel. My main shooting range is limited to 200 yards. There is a place I've heard of in the area that goes to 400. I'd rather have a 16 or 18" barrel. So I've already started thinking of a new upper in that length.

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14 years 7 months ago #3496 by littleBIGgun
Replied by littleBIGgun on topic Re:Hey Everyone
Anything under 18" in NY would have to be registered as a pistol I believe. For my application, I think 18" for average shots at 150 yds would suffice for me. Anything less then .308 is not going to offer me the knock down power that I need for big game such as deer, bear, and hopefully bull elk this year at those distances.

Quite honestly, I'm more of a Bowhunter then gun hunter, however I do shoot game inside of 10 yds with a pistol during rifle season when a scope is useless as well as my compound bow when up in tree shooting steep angles. The ar 10 is something I've always wanted to build and take game with rather than my 303 enfield.

20+" barrel is not out of the question for me. Not 100% certain at this time.

Thanks gentlemen for all the info. Very informative.

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14 years 7 months ago #3497 by Bodenjager
Replied by Bodenjager on topic Re:Hey Everyone
I'm not shure of NY specific laws. Under ATF code 16" and longer don't require special tax stamp, or registration. Under 16" it can be registered as either a short barrelled rifle requiring a tax stamp, or registered as a pistol with no tax stamp. WARNING if it is registered as a pistol it is illegal to affix a shoulder stock to the rifle. It is better to stick with the 16" or longer rifle and keep the shoulder stock. Check with local laws reference the shortest legal barrel length as it is possible that NY could have special rules regarding use. IE hunting and other uses. I haven't heard of any but that don't mean they aren't there.

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14 years 7 months ago #3498 by Bodenjager
Replied by Bodenjager on topic Re:Hey Everyone
I'm not shure of NY specific laws. Under ATF code 16" and longer don't require special tax stamp, or registration. Under 16" it can be registered as either a short barrelled rifle requiring a tax stamp, or registered as a pistol with no tax stamp. WARNING if it is registered as a pistol it is illegal to affix a shoulder stock to the rifle. It is better to stick with the 16" or longer rifle and keep the shoulder stock. Check with local laws reference the shortest legal barrel length as it is possible that NY could have special rules regarding use. IE hunting and other uses. I haven't heard of any but that don't mean they aren't there.

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