Barrel length and weight

[rc109a]

I have been looking to replace my factor barrel with an aftermarket barrel. I ended up ordering one varmint contoured and 26" length in SS. It was longer then I wanted, so a smith suggested having it cut down. The weight is 4lbs 8oz. How much weight would I lose if I have it cut down to 20"? Would I see much lose in velocity? What about 18"? Thanks...

[Werewolf]

4lbs 10oz = 74oz/26 = ~2.8oz per inch x 6 = ~ 17oz, so since the muzzle is smaller than the chamber I would gussstimate that you would lose a little less than a pound.

as far as velocity goes, what caliber is it? High octane large cartridges lose more than smaller lower velocity ones.

wierd, my reply posted to a different thread?

[rc109a]

Sorry, had the weight wrong. I fixed it in the post. I did not think that weight would be even since there is a contour to the barrel. This is 308 caliber.

[Werewolf]

OK then say 2.5oz per inch x 6 = 15oz so you will still lose less than a pound, maybe 12 or 13oz. I was just doing a rough calculation to give you an estimate. 308s dont lose as much velocity as a magnum caliber. I think I read somewhere it was an average of ~30 fps per inch, but this can vary due to the individual nature of barrels.

[rc109a]

Thanks for the info. This is a hunting rifle, but I am not going on very long hikes. Just trying to keep it reasonable in weight...

[BoilerUP]

Its a 308? A hunting rifle you say?

Cut to 18" and call it good.

[rc109a]

Yep, hunting. Want to go to 18, but everyone thinks I am nuts going below 24".

[BoilerUP]

Want to go to 18, but everyone thinks I am nuts going below 24".

Google "short barrel 308".

You could cut that thing down to 16" and at typical hunting distances (<300yd) the loss of velocity ain't gonna matter.

[rc109a]

Read the article, thanks...

[nsaqam]

You bought the wrong contour if you're looking for light weight.

My 24" #2 Sporter contour Rock Creek weighs ~2.5 pounds and it has a 6mm hole through it rather than a 7.62mm hole.

Full ballistics, perfect balance (based on my other 24" slim contour tubed rifles) and good looking.

If speed didn't matter we'd all still be shooting the .30-30.

[rc109a]

Not really worried about the weight, just wanted to get the benefits of a heavier barrel and still not make it a ton. Cutting it down gives me some of those advantages. I really just wanted to know how much weight I could lose and would it be worth the costs. I guess it is like my bull barrel AR that is only 16". I can shoot it a bunch without resting between shots and it still keeps its accuracy without overheating. I am only shooting 400 yards and less. I am not looking for another caliber since I have this one already.

[tyler.woodard04]

All my striker barrels are under 16" and they all shoot great and will go to more than 400 yards anyday

[helotaxi]

If speed didn't matter we'd all still be shooting the .30-30.

No one said that speed didn't matter, they said that the difference in speed between a 24" and 16" barrel in a .308 doesn't matter at typical hunting ranges. The difference in velocity in a .308 between those two barrel lengths isn't that much, since the relatively small case capacity compared to the bore diameter of the .308 dictates a medium-fast rifle powder and is rather insensitive to barrel length. The pressure spikes and then drops; small case and fast (relatively) powder.

Even from a 16" barrel the .308 greatly outperforms the .30-30. Even after accounting for a difference in barrel length, the .308 brings more than 300fps to the table with like bullet weights. After the bullet leaves the barrel, the .308 offers bullets that can actually maintain their velocity thanks to a BC more than 2x better than the typical .30-30 bullet and nearly 50% better than the best the .30-30 has to offer. Assuming a 150ish grain bullet for both, the .308 from a 16" barrel (and a rather pedestrian 2600 fps MV) has a velocity at 150yds equal to the .30-30 at the muzzle. If you accept the .30-30 with 150gn soft points as a 150yd cartridge, then the .308 shooting 150gn bullets from a 16" barrel is a 500yd cartridge since that's where velocity (and energy) are equal to 150yd .30-30 numbers.

[nsaqam]

Seeing as how this is a Savage forum there is no reason a .30-30 cannot use the exact same bullets as the .308.
Neither the Savage 340 nor the Savage 99 require blunt or flat nose bullets.

QL says the .308 loses nearly 300fps going from 24" to 16".

Some folks like short barrels just fine. I'm not one of them but the OP apparently is.