Barrel length based fuzzy requirements

[muddywings]

I panic bought a Mega Arms upper/lower combo as it was on my to-do list anyway.
It will be a slow build, maybe one major component a month type of project. I have most of the lower parts available/on order. Next month will be a magpul PRS stock but after that I will probably get the barrel and need to figure out 18" vs 20" based on my fuzzy set of needs/wants what this build will be.
So with that, i'm building this to be a bench/prone shooter with the possibility of hunting with it (probably not me, but my step dad will probably borrow it). Not a run-n-gun 3 Gun/Heman type so 16" is out. I also need to keep in mind long term wants such as a suppressor for it, because, why the hell not!
From what I'm finding is 18" use mid-length gas system and 20" use rifle. Initially I was thinking 18" just due to the suppressor option and lugging it around hunting to save some length and weight but with the gas system, I'm back leaning towards 20" to get a softer shooter with a rifled gas system and accepting the longer length and weight.
(I will also be getting a bipod for it if that helps complete the picture of what I'm thinking about)

So instead of building it an asking how did I do, I figure I would get some opinions before I commit on the barrel length (and next the rail length).

any opinions will at least be read...thanks!

[CS1983]

caliber?

Unless the caliber demands 20" due to performance concerns, I'd lean 18".

[muddywings]

oops-good question.
standard .308
know there are better ballistics options for ar10 but i'm going vanilla with this one.

[Hoser]

Get an 18 with rifle length gas.

My OBR is an 18 and I wish I had ordered a 20.

[muddywings]

Get an 18 with rifle length gas.

My OBR is an 18 and I wish I had ordered a 20.

Come on...you know it is easy to confuse me!

[SA Friday]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/...barrel-length/

http://www.guns.com/2012/02/16/the-m...velocity-loss/

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_barrel.htm

[muddywings]

^^^thanks but more concerned with gas system length as it pertains to a longer distance steel pinging/hunting setup. If 18" came in rifle gas length I think it would be a no brainer for me.

[CS1983]

you mean like this one?

http://aeroprecisionusa.com/308-18-c...le-barrel.html

[muddywings]

you mean like this one?

http://aeroprecisionusa.com/308-18-c...le-barrel.html

very

ETA: my googlefu is weak lately

[ray1970]

Just my personal opinion based on nothing factual.

Personally, I wouldn't want a 308 with a barrel less than 20" long. No reason other than that is my personal minimum barrel length for that caliber.