16" too short for 308 semi auto?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I prefer 18 inches for a minimum on a .308.

I have a friend with a PWS AR-10. With the muzzle device they put on it recoil is very manageable, but it will straight up blast dust off the walls. Shooting that thing at an indoor range will not make you any friends. The A2 birdcage on my dad's DPMS doesn't have quite the blast the compensated rifle has, but is still incredibly loud. Indoors, either of these rifles is like having a flashbang grenade go off 2 feet in front of your face every time you pull the trigger. It's painful and disorienting. Outside it's better, but still really loud. And regardless of whether you're inside or outside, you're still losing 200 fps of velocity. My dad is only getting 2300 to 2350 from a 175 gr bullet.

I don't think a .308 makes a lot of sense for home defense or indoors use. The whole point of packing around a 12 lbs rifle is range and power. Battle rifles belong outdoors where you won't notice the extra 2 to 4 inches of barrel length required to get full ballistic potential from cartridge. I'd recommend an 18 to 20 inch barrel on the AR-10 to prevent your ballistic potential from being wasted as blast and noise. And because this will allow you to get a rifle length gas system if you go DGI, which will further improve reliably and function while reducing recoil.
 
Never had a problem with my Armalite carbine. Muzzle device is a YHM phantom suppressor mount. Only reason I sold it was to move over to magpul mags.

I am currently building a 16" on an Aero M5 platform. I have a 16" barrel arriving Monday. It will have the same muzzle device.
 
I have 22", 20" and 18" barrels on my 308's.The 18" barrel is 50-60 fps slower than the 22" barrel. I cannot imagine 2" less barrel making that much difference.

But what you need to understand is that no 2 barrels are the same. I've seen over 100 fps difference between 2 different guns with the same length barrel. The rifle you buy with a 16" barrel could possibly shoot faster than another gun with a 20" barrel. Or it could be 200 fps slower.
 
The velocity difference with barrel length is relatively minor. I believe my 16" LMT remains supersonic past 1000y with the 155 Scenar load I shoot. Certainly it's good to 800y comfortably.

The blast isn't too bad with an A2 flash hider, but I usually shoot it suppressed.
 
Lower velocity means two things. One is you’ll have more wind deflection and drop. Two is the distance at which your bullet will reliably fragment or expand (depending on which it was designed to do) will be shorter.

So nobody here can really answer your question until you say what bullet you intend to use and how far away you intend to shoot.

If you’re going to put a red dot on it the answer might be different than if you put a 3-18x scope. Or if all you’re going to shoot is paper or steel.

But generally I agree with mtmilitia above
 
I've had 2 G3 based .308 rifles, a Federal Arms and a Spanish/Century CETME. Had a bit of a love/hate relationship with them and their short barrels. The Federal had a military "birdcage" flash hider similar to the one on your pictured rifle, the other had some US compliant monstrosity. Both had a rather unpleasant muzzle blast and flash. They were a lot of fun to shoot, for awhile, but the flash-boom got a bit old and others at the range were not big fans. Flash was accentuated with BL-C2 powder.

You're really not going to lose any significant performance at carbine ranges with the short barrel. If you like to make a lot of noise, go for it, they are fun to a point! Or find one of the G3 types. They have the added "benefit" of chucking your brass 20-30 yards and gnawing grooves into it making it rather unsuitable for reloading.
 
Barrels seem to be getting a little shorter with every passing year. A 16" .308 is considered normal these days. 16" barreled .308 rifles have been adopted by various armed forces for marksmen and snipers. About 150 to 200 feet per second drop from a 22" barrel. Personal preference.
 
There is an article online where someone cuts a 300 mag barrel down with a hacksaw 2 inches at a time from long rifle to under 18 inches Checking velocity and accuracy each cut. The differences were far less than anyone would guess
 
My 16" DPMS weighs less than 8 lbs loaded. birdcage flash hider.

I don't shoot rifles indoors. Never need face cream or had a problem with flash or blast outside.

The little carbine fills my needs nicely. I'm not planning on shooting any .308 past 300 yards, (except my match grade M-1) so the loss of velocity is not noticeable.
 
Not a 308, but my 17" 303 Brit No4Mk1 is a great shooter. It's my go to deer rifle and while folks standing next to the muzzle may find it painfully loud, when behind the muzzle, ie shooting it without protection when hunting, I don't find it to be any louder that my 8mm Mauser, Mosin or any other hi power rifles I shoot. It is quick, handy and deadly on deer.
 
Last edited:
mshootnit said:
There is a 16" carbine calling my name, but before I pull the trigger, how bad of an idea is 16" barrel for a 308? I mean would it be practically useful in many situations, or just too much muzzle flash and velocity loss? Thanks
https://ruger.com/products/sr762/models.html
Click to expand...

Why anyone would select a .308 rifle w/ a Bbl shorter than 18", w/o purpose, is beyond me.




GR
 
Garandimal said:
Why anyone would select a .308 rifle w/ a Bbl shorter than 18", w/o purpose, is beyond me.

My 16" clocked in at only 50 fps shy of 18"..and by the time I added a suppressor, 2" barrel length>50fps. Was not worth the weight/length for minor velocity improvement for me.
Click to expand...
 
Hk thought it worthwhile to offer the G3K with a 12.8" barrel, and when they developed the 417, they had a 12.5" barreled version as well.

I have a G3K "clone", why? I dunno, I guess I just like the way it looks, it is a little lighter, and with the telescoping stock makes for a pretty small package that can still reach out with some authority, further than I typically practice. I've mostly shot the cheap ZQ1 in the rifle, and only notice muzzle flash if I'm shooting near dusk, perhaps flash depends as much on ammo as barrel length? I started doubling up on ear protection after I got this rifle, its a good habit with any firearm, but I won't shoot the G3K without doubling up.

I understand(have experienced) the cons of a short .308, especially 12", so I get a lot of folks wouldn't be interested, but I fail to understand why everyone freaks out to the extent they do every time a 16" .308 thread comes up. As they say, YMMV.
 
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!

Another buddy had a SOCOM 16 (M1a) that would loosen fillings with the blast if you were standing next to it...it was ripped off in a home burglary so it’s gone (crooks took angle grinders to his safes and stole 43 guns :fire:)

It’ll kick up some dust and noise, but the 7.62x51 will do quite well for you in the 16” AR 10 configuration.

Stay safe!
 
Well it looks like it would be 24 gr. heavier and 250 fps faster than a 7.62X39 at 16" so that is something.
 
This year I had a 16-inch .308 semi-custom Rem 700 built.
It's not objectionably loud & it'll do anything I want it to out to 600 yards.
It can go farther effectively, but I have no need to take it any farther.

The .308 is one caliber that isn't as sensitive to barrel length as some others are.
Denis
 
mshootnit said:
I mean would it be practically useful in many situations, or just too much muzzle flash and velocity loss?
Click to expand...
Incidentally my son asked this question a couple of months ago. If you don't mind ear-splitting report and blinding muzzle flash, go for it. He placed an order for a 20" shortly afterwards. Smart kid.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
SA Socom 16 and 16" barrel for .308 questions
Replies
10
Views
745
elmerfudd
E
C
  • Locked
Flash Suppressor important on .308 16"?
Replies
8
Views
916
Ian
I
Snowdog
  • Locked
What's the appeal of a short barrel with flash suppressor (to avoid SBR designation)
Replies
16
Views
3K
Float Pilot
Float Pilot
Rule3
  • Locked
Semi Auto 308. SA SOCOM 16 , M1A or AR10???
2
Replies
46
Views
4K
Rule3
Rule3
D
  • Locked
Adding M1A Short Muzzle-Brake/Upgrading Trigger
Replies
2
Views
616
geekWithA.45
G
Back
Top