How 'bout Something Shorter?

Tom1911 · Feb 20, 2006

So far, I like the look of the new Remington Model 750. I am leaning towards a .308 Win carbine with an 18.5" barrel. Since this will be primarily a deer & maybe black bear rifle for my son, I really do not need a .35 Whelen, but I sure wouldn't turn my back on one if it were to be offered to me at a great price. :grin:

The .308 Win is sort of an anomaly when it comes to hunting cartridges. Just about every loading I have chronoed out of my Featherweight with a 22" barrel has actually exceeded factory specs. I get better than 2700 FPS with 180 grain Core-Lokts! :grin: Light Magnums in 165 grain variety leave my rifle's barrel at better than 2900 FPS! Now you know why I love my .308 Win. Oh, 150 grain Core-Lokts move out at better than 2900 FPS!!! The short of it is that the .308 Win does not seem to be persnickety when it comes to barrel length.

When I researched buying a mountain rifle, I was exposed to information that indicated the .308 Win will actually out-perform the venerable '06 with bullets up to 180 grains, the greater velocity being attributed to the case length in relationship to bullet diameter. So far, I have found this to be right on target, so to write. :wink: My .308 Win does seem to keep pace with if not exceed velocities of the '06.

Okay, so here's the deal. If I were to buy a .308 Win Model 750 with an 18.5" barrel, how much velocity loss could I reasonably expect? From what I understand, with the .308 Win, velocity loss will be comparatively less that other cartridges, including the '06, when dropping down to an 18.5" barrel. Is this true???

The reason I am inquiring is because I would like to be comfortable harvesting deer out to 300 yards. And should my son want to hunt elk, I would like him to be able to out to a reasonable distance.

JD338 · Feb 20, 2006

Tom,

I think its 20fps / inch. Keep in mind that any velocity loss at
woods ranges for WT Deer and Black Bear is a mute point,
100 fps really doesn't matter.
Its where you hit them that counts.
Choose your weapon of choice, the rest will fall into place.

Regards,

JD338

Tom1911 · Feb 21, 2006

JD338,

Y'know, your answer was so obvious, thanks.

I was wondering aloud whether the .308 Win follows the formula for velocity loss whith shortened barrels.

Thanks again

JD338 · Feb 21, 2006

Tom,

Its actually a good question. The 308 Win is a very efficient cartridge and doesn't give up much to the 30-06 until you get into the 200gr+ bullet weights. The velocity loss from a efficient cartridge might be less than we think. Maybe a 308 expert (someone with a chronograph) can chime in.
I have never owned a 308 but I have shot a few. Every one I have shot or seen shot have been very accurate. Go get that 308 Win M750.

Regards,

JD338

Reloder28 · Feb 28, 2006

I quit fretting about barrel length after I bought my off-the-shelf rifle to shoot off-the-shelf ammo in 280 Remington for a go-to gun when all my other scrap iron is in the shop. I shoot cheap Remington Express ammo in it, 150 gr Core-Lokts. $11.99 a box.

After the shots I made with that cheap stuff, I really don't worry about velocity any more. If you want that gun 'cause it looks cool or whatever.....BUY IT !!!

With that 280 & its cheap ammo I made a 180 yd Trophy Mouflon Ram shot, a 180 yd Axis Buck shot, (both hanging on my wall) 200yd rib shot Axis doe, 300 yd head shot Axis Doe & a 389 yard running shot on Porky Pig, rolled him like a bowling ball.

Confidence in a firearm means a lot afield.

JD338 · Feb 28, 2006

Confidence in a firearm means a lot afield.[/quote]

Amen!

Regards,

JD338

shrpshtrjoe · Feb 28, 2006

Howdy. I have a Rem 788 in 308 with the 18 1/2 inch carbine barrel and with a 150grain bullet and a max load ( for my rifle ) of IMR 4320 had a average velocity of 2820fps :lol:
Joe

Tom1911 · Feb 28, 2006

shrpshtrjoe,

Thanks, that's good info.

Reloder28,

I agree w/o reservation. There is nothing like confidence!!!

remingtonman_25_06 · Mar 1, 2006

I have read that you lose about 30-50fps with every inch. But I'm sure that the cartridge and many other things take this into account. If most 308's come with 22" tube, and your wanting a 18.5", I would bet somehwere around 100fps would be lost, give or take 50fps. Just my opinion though.