How long is too long for a .308 Win barrel?

[Charlie98]

Not many 308 loads that are loaded to reach 1,000 yards have this problem so I don’t understand what your point is. Even moderately loaded, factory loads in .308 are supersonic past 1,000.

Keep the OP in mind. He’s talking .308. Let’s not let this devolved into “X cartridge is better than Y cartridge” crapfest, OK?

I'm not doing that at all. I love the .308. And, no, not all .308 bullets are still traveling supersonic at 1000yds. The OP's point that he's buying a 24" barreled .308 suggests he might be, eventually, shooting it at longer ranges... at longer ranges barrel length DOES make a difference. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Nature Boy]

I'm not doing that at all. I love the .308. And, no, not all .308 bullets are still traveling supersonic at 1000yds. The OP's point that he's buying a 24" barreled .308 suggests he might be, eventually, shooting it at longer ranges... at longer ranges barrel length DOES make a difference. That's all I'm saying.

Agreed. It does make a difference

 

[Jim Watson]

this rifle I'm considering would be strictly for bench work.

What range? 100-300 yards you get into the "short and stiff" category; long range benchrest to 1000 yards calls for a longer barrel for best velocity.
The 11 twist was considered the sweet spot for M14NM firing 168 and 175 gr boattails.

My FTR rifles have 28" barrels. Why? Because that was the longest at the makers' base price; longer cost more by the inch.

Whenever there is a discussion of velocity vs barrel length and it involves different guns, I just move on. There are too many differences in bore and chamber between guns to assume that any difference in velocity is due purely to length. I have one pistol with a "fast barrel." It gives highter velocity than others of the same caliber and length. Enough so that I load specific ammo for it so as to stay at the power factor I want.

The debate should be carried out with a hacksaw.

 

[cougar1717]

is 24" wasted on, or even detrimental to the .308 Win cartridge?

This is not meant to be disrespectful to the OP, but I just had to sit back after I read the question.

My thought was: Gun enthusiasts have been tactically conditioned to the extent that the defacto standard sporting rifle barrel length has now become a question.

It is true that at 24" AR-10/LR308 is not fun to carry at all. However, as many have written, 24" does not come close to wringing out every last fps for the powder capacity of the 308Win. People may choose shorter lengths for form factor reasons, but not for performance reasons.

 

[bikemutt]

I'm not sure what "tactically conditioned" is, maybe I have been and just don't realize it. In my limited experience so far, every cartridge seems to have it's sweet spot, or sweet range of barrel length. I'm mostly familiar with 300 BLK and 6.5 Creedmoor which seem to have "settled" barrel lengths where they perform best. 300 BLK of course is a bit of an oddball since barrel length is dependent on sub or supersonic.

I don't know enough about 308 to conclude if 24" is outside the range, which is why I asked the question. The question has been answered to my satisfaction and, as always, I'm grateful to the kind members at THR for sharing their thoughts and expertise on the matter.