16" too short for 308 semi auto?

Ballistically, I think 308 still performs well enough in a 16" barrel to justify it. But I personally don't like going under 20" for any 30-06 class cartridge, just because of the aforementioned blast and noise.

I’m not too big on the idea myself but a really neat 16” CMMG MK3 came up at a good price and I am buying it. I can always put on a longer tube if I don’t like it.

I have a Savage Striker pistol with a short barrel. It’s a hoot to shoot, but I always wear ear protection. It’s also capable of 1 inch groups. 16” isn’t to short if you’re willing to live with the noise.

No

Riomouse911 said:

I saw that Mosin pic and shuddered, my friend has one we dubbed “The Tsars’ Thunderstick” because of the report...and even in broad daylight the communist 7.62x54r ammo will send a fireball downrange almost 3’ with every shot!
Stay safe!

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YES! I have a couple of M44s, and used to shoot them a lot when commie ammo could be had for pennies a shot. They were really fun with the Hungarian yellow/silver tipped heavy ball steel core. BOOM-FLASH CRACK when we fired them into heavy steel plate at 200 yards. One guy at our club set up an M38 carbine with a Dragunov style flash hider/muzzle brake. Talk about a dust and flash signature when he set one off from prone. Definitely a fire and displace type of weapon! Apparently the Communist Block was not concerned with low-flash powders. IMR 4064 tames the flash considerably in a mosin or .308 short barrel.

I had a 16 inch FAL with muzzle brake. That thing was loud. It was really really LOUD on an indoor shooting range.

I like 18 inches for 308 and have that in my M1A Scout.

I fired I think 5 different loads through my Remington for testing.
All commercial, all under a shaded canopy at a state-owned rifle range.
As in- in the shade.

I noticed no muzzle flash whatever.
Can't say if it was objectionably loud or not, I double plug under that canopy.
Plugs AND headset.
Did not notice any difference in sound levels over other rifles I've done there.

Same deal with the box-stock 16-inch Rem 783 in .308.
Same range, same ammo.
Denis

I think it’s much more about what you put on the end of the barrel than the difference of a couple inches of barrel.
I have sensitive hearing and I hate the concussion from brakes so I don’t use them. A 16 bbl is fine if you don’t use a brake, totally moot point with a surpressor.

Random 8 said:

YES! I have a couple of M44s, and used to shoot them a lot when commie ammo could be had for pennies a shot. They were really fun with the Hungarian yellow/silver tipped heavy ball steel core. BOOM-FLASH CRACK when we fired them into heavy steel plate at 200 yards. One guy at our club set up an M38 carbine with a Dragunov style flash hider/muzzle brake. Talk about a dust and flash signature when he set one off from prone. Definitely a fire and displace type of weapon! Apparently the Communist Block was not concerned with low-flash powders. IMR 4064 tames the flash considerably in a mosin or .308 short barrel.

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If that was the ammo with the copper-colored cartridge cases that came in a spam can then that’s the same stuff! To make such a daylight-visible fireball like that I swore they used old pennies pounded flat to make the cases and dumped stale fireworks powder and gasoline down the spout to charge them.

We will often shoot in a box canyon area when we all get together and the BOOM!! Rattles the walls with every shot .

Stay safe!

I had a Savage Stryker bt action pistol, 14" barrel in 300WSM. Kille deer enty dead at 100+ yards.

My 16.5" .308 ar10 is one of my favorite guns, and it is bar none my go to hunting weapon. it has killed feral hogs, a lot of coyotes, and a few missouri white tail deer. with 175 grain SMK I can shoot 800 yards at the range and ring steel no problems. while hunting it will launch a 150 grain soft point, nearly flat enough I dont have to worry about bullet drop out to 300ish yards. I always hunt with a suppressor so a long barrel was out of the question when I was shopping for a semi auto one tool does it all hunting rifle. Now on the other hand, my dedicated prairie dog ar is sporting a 24" barrel also suppressed and that has never bothered me lol. explain that

If you handload you can mitigate some of the velocity loss with faster burning powders. The faster powders also reduce the muzzle flash. I would stay with 18 inch for a minimum if I could. Do not know the Op’s Plans for the rifle.

This:

Or a CMP Service Grade M1 Garand.




GR

.308 barrel length vs. velocity:

https://rifleshooter.com/2014/12/30...ato-barrel-length-versus-velocity-28-to-16-5/



I've personally been happy with my 20" but get in where you fit in

Hpi_jeep said:

I always hunt with a suppressor so a long barrel was out of the question

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Barrel length is a consideration with a traditional can, which also makes the noise/flash aspect of a shorter barrel a non-issue. I prefer "telescoping"/reflex suppressors that extend over the barrel, almost all the way to the gas block with a 20", increasing overall length by 5" or so. The one I'm currently using is on the .308 AR is a 10" OAL Jaki Super Classic, 7-10dB+ more effective than RCC, A-Tech, Sonic, Brügger & Thomet etc. suppressors of similar size. HK M15x1 spigot threads also allow me to replace it with a G28 flash hider if need be.

I'd still recommend a somewhat longer barrel. 16" is a great choice for a suppressed rifle but it has some drawbacks if you shoot unsuppressed.

billet upper/lower receivers, faxon 16.5" barrel, adjustable gas block, fail zero BCG, hydraulic buffer spring, cmc trigger, magpul ubr stock, ergo grip, some random free float tube, vortex hst 4-16, vortex cantilever mount, silencerco harvester .30 cal can.

I'm curious.

Unless you're going into combat, why would you care about flash?????

Your typical zombie attack occurs after dark. When they storm your home at zero dark thirty, you don't want to be blinded by the first shot and miss the rest. Yummmm, fresh brains!


.

cheygriz said:

I'm curious.

Unless you're going into combat, why would you care about flash?????

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For the most part, unless you're in a defensive situation at night, a civilian would mostly just be concerned that the flash represents wasted ballistic potential. If you give the .308 another couple of inches of barrel, it will turn that flash into the range and power that justifies carrying a 10+ pound rifle.

Honestly, short and suppressed is the only kind of .308 that interests me anymore. If I ever buy another .308, it will probably be 16", 18" tops.

Gtscotty said:

Honestly, short and suppressed is the only kind of .308 that interests me anymore.

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In that case, how about fully suppressed, ie. integrated barrel/suppressor combo? Shooting a relatively short-barreled rifle caliber gun without a suppressor isn't necessarily the best idea so there isn't much to lose by a commitment like that.

25-20 WCF said:

Your typical zombie attack occurs after dark. When they storm your home at zero dark thirty, you don't want to be blinded by the first shot and miss the rest. Yummmm, fresh brains!.

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Yeah ... but wouldn't it be so coooool if the last thing Negan saw was the muzzle flash of a .308?