Input on F/TR 308 barrel length and diameter

[tammons]

I am going back and forth between a 10 twist 28" bull barrel or a 26" varmint barrel and cant really decide.

Expect to be shooting the 178 amax at 600yds and probably the 208 amax at 1000yds.

This will not be a hunting rifle unless I park it on top of a hill and sit and wait for a long shot.

I would actually prefer it as heavy as the rules allow.
Rest of the setup will be a machined recoil lug, SSS trigger, Choate tactical stock, and so on.

[jhelmuth]

30"

[JCalhoun]

A .308 needs all the help it can get at 1k. I'd go 28 or 30 inches at stay with a 175SMK, 175 Berger or similar. Stay away from the 168 MatchKings though they are not stable at that distance.

[kelbro]

Keep tabs on your weight. 18.15# is the F/TR limit. Long fat barrel and a Choate stock may mean a very light (and very expensive) bipod.

[tammons]

Right now by my calcs I am at about 14.5# with a choate stock, 30" bull barrel and scope.

[jhelmuth]

15# exactly for HS Precision stock + Target Action + 30" Criterion Bull barrel + 10-50x 60mm Sightron and mounts. So that leave 3# + for a bipod (Sinclair Gen III = 2#) no worries on making weight!

[tammons]

Since you are using a 10-50X Sightron do you also use a spotting scope ??

[lal357]

15# exactly for HS Precision stock + Target Action + 30" Criterion Bull barrel + 10-50x 60mm Sightron and mounts. So that leave 3# + for a bipod (Sinclair Gen III = 2#) no worries on making weight!
**** you just built my rifle i use now all except for i use a 30" shilen select match bull barrel with gen3 sinclair f class bipod.

[lal357]

i can see the marking disks fine at 1000 thru the scope i do use a spotting scope for mid range mirage.

[jhelmuth]

**** you just built my rifle i use now all except for i use a 30" shilen select match bull barrel with gen3 sinclair f class bipod.

I have a Shilen Select Match for my 6.5x47L (albeit that is not F/TR) benchrest but the stock is a SSS LRBR (in tri-brown) - a bit heavier...
I have not gotten into BR competitions so that may have been an ultimately poor choice. Nice that Savages will do barrel swaps so easily. Of course, I am under the impression that in BR a Savage action is a losing proposition from the start...

[kelbro]

My Choate Tactical custom stock, Model 10 action, 25" Benchmark .308 bull barrel, NF NXS 12-42, and Sinclair G3 bipod runs just under 17.7#.

Curious as to how much weight each inch of a 308 bull adds. I may have to change over to a heavy varmint taper to get any more length.

Didn't have this problem with my 36x Leupold :) Those Nightforces add weight like banana pudding.

[tammons]

If my scales are correct.....

My 30" 308 small shank bull barrel mounted on a long action with lug and EGW base weighs 139 oz.
The barrel alone weighs around 104 oz.

There are some barrel weight calculators on line.