20" vs 22" for a 308

[RunRabbit]

I'm looking to get a howa 1500 purely for hunting deer in state forests. I've not fired a 20" 308 and was wondering how much different it would be to a 22". I'm assuming it would be minimal but I might be wrong.

I've got the option of Cerakoted with a Kuiu stock, Blued with a Kryptek stock or Stainless with a black Hogue stock.

They're all pretty cheap so the cost isn't too much of an issue but I don't want to start tinkering with it yet so the package will be what I'll use for a while. Anyone had experience with those stocks and have feedback?

[Shootermick]

What barrel profile? Heavy or sporter?

[flutch]

unless you're looking for some micro increase in speed and accuracy or loading specifically for a shorter or slightly not so shorter barrel I wouldn't even label it with that much importance. the twist rate and profile will matter more as well as action type/make...

[RunRabbit]

I was looking at the sporter barrel.

[SCJ429]

You will probably loose less than 50 fps with the 20 inch barrel. All things being equal a shorter barrel is stiffer than a longer one. If you like them short then get your gunsmith to knock it back to 18 inches and you will have a nice handling rifle.

Or if you are handy with a drop saw you could do it yourself.

[in2anity]

I’ve shot comp-winning groups with a 20” 308 at 600m.

Given you said specifically it was for hunting, forget the 24”. As SJ said, for your application I’d seriously be considering going sub 20”...

[straightshooter]

For a rifle that you may be carrying around a lot a short but practical length and weight barrel is quite sensible.
Muzzle blast and flash are far more noticeably intrusive with a 20" barrel compared to a 22" barrel in a 308. Far more than the step from 24" to 22".
In my opinion, for a 308, 22" is near enough to the happiest compromise length where, shooting offhand, a rapid follow up shot may be necessary.

[bigpete]

I've had one with a 16" barrel before. Never again. I much prefer a longer barrel. My shortest currently is my 20" 458wm. I wish it were 24"....

[southeast varmiter]

I deer hunt with 308 ruger gunsite. 16” barrel with one exception. I use it the way it was intended, with heavy bullets.
I use 220gr round nose pushing out at 2200 fps.
The shorter barrel doesn’t lose as much velocity with lower capacity powder charges, this will be same for 20”
What makes shorter barrel length an issue is load efficiency. The quicker the powder fully burns, the less muzzle flash and lost fps.
I chronographed my gunsite with 150gr loads. It lost 200 fps from box value. Same for 220gr loads and only lost 80 fps.
For thick bush and short range deer hunting, never take a 22” again.

[SCJ429]

I've had one with a 16" barrel before. Never again. I much prefer a longer barrel. My shortest currently is my 20" 458wm. I wish it were 24"....

What weight of projectiles were you using? The muzzle blast is usually less with lighter pills and faster powders. I have a 18 inch barrel on a 45/70 and it is quite pleasant to shoot, as much as a big bore can be.

[bigpete]

87gn and ar2206h. I hated it. Yet the same load in a 20" barrel was fine

[SCJ429]

87gn and ar2206h. I hated it. Yet the same load in a 20" barrel was fine

You were using a 87 grain bullet in a 308?

[bigpete]

Yes. The bullet factory used to make them

[SCJ429]

Wow that is light, did you try any in the 130 to 150 range?

[bigpete]

Yes

[SCJ429]

Did you find them better to shoot, if not, what did you object to? Too noisy, lack of accuracy or speed?

[bigpete]

Too damned noisy

[SCJ429]

I wonder how much muzzle blast you would get using a faster powder like 2207. I have seen an 18 inch barrel shooting 125s over 2207 and I didn't think it was overly noisy. Much better than anything you would get if you used a break. I would not say it was any worse than a 24 inch barrel shooting a load of 2208.