Want opinions on chopping Rem 700 barrel to 16 inch

[tmjohnson]

I have a Rem 700 VLS in 308
I was thinking about trading it for another 308 that is not quite so heavy to carry
The gun is proven. It shoots a Speer 165 gr bullet in .3
Barrel is free floated and honed the trigger is all I have done.
What would be the out come if I chopped the barrel down to 16 inches and ground some weight off the stock?
Has anybody ever done this?
I know I will loose some velocity but want a rifle i can carry up a hill

[NukeRJ]

Horrible idea.

If u need a lighter shorter rifle that's shoots the same. Then buy something cheaper to chop up. As a matter of fact I'll buy ur rifle and u can build a new lighter one. They make barrels that are just as accurate but shorter and lighter. As well as stocks that are lightweight.

Cutting rifle barrels changes the dynamics of the barrel, especially in higher end guns that were designed around a certain barrel length.

Just my 2 cents.

[earplug]

People have been hauling stuff up hill with 22 inch barrels for hundreds of years.
Why risk screwing up a decent rifle to loose a couple ounces of weight. Your looking at six inches of steel with a hole in the middle.
Can't you find any other weight to lose? Big stupid knife, GPS, cell phone, couple of pairs of under garments, Big stupid scope? to many extra rounds, side arm etc. bone saw and or hatchet, range finder.
You aren't gonna die or loose many shots if you just walk a bit slower.

[HBARleatherneck]

i think, ballisticlly speaking, 18" is about as short as you want to go, for the .308.

Frank, the owner of SnipersHide reaches out to 1000 yards with the 18" barrel.

Personally, I have two .308s chopped to 20".

[NukeRJ]

i think, ballisticlly speaking, 18" is about as short as you want to go, for the .308.

Frank, the owner of SnipersHide reaches out to 1000 yards with the 18" barrel.

Personally, I have two .308s chopped to 20".

I agree with 18" being the shortest effective 308 for muzzle velocity potential. But there is a difference between reaching out to 1000 and taking out at 1000. I know that our M24's were maxed out for soft tissue at 1000 meters. They were 20". We did tests with gear and heavy clothing and actually only had 1 in 5 penetrate.

[Ah Pook]

Use a grinder cut off wheel vs a sawzall.




Or but a new "lite" barrel.

[islandermyk]

IMHO a 16" 308 is DAMN loud! I sure notice it when shooting a full length FAL and then drop down to a 16" Para. Muzzle blast is worse too.

I certainly agree that it's real freaken loud and muzzle blast is ridiculous. I can't really talk accuracy as I'm not a very skilled shooter, but I can hit targets at over 300 yards with my 16" rifle with a mounted scout scope. I shoot a SOCOM16, and it is a blast

[IlikeSA]

I wouldn't do that. Ruger has the Gunsite scout rifle in 308 with a 16 inch barrel if you are looking for a shorter, lighter weight bolt action rifle.

[Seamonkey]

I have a Rem 700 VLS in 308
I was thinking about trading it for another 308 that is not quite so heavy to carry
The gun is proven. It shoots a Speer 165 gr bullet in .3
Barrel is free floated and honed the trigger is all I have done.
What would be the out come if I chopped the barrel down to 16 inches and ground some weight off the stock?
Has anybody ever done this?
I know I will loose some velocity but want a rifle i can carry up a hill

I was looking for a lighter hunting rifle and Savage Arms has a couple in the low $300's that I was able to check out at Gander Mountain in .308 and 30-06. The SA rifles had the camo paint and came it around 6 lbs I think. If you go that route check with Panama Dave in the industry partners section.

my $0.2 - Sell the 700 and pick up a lighter SA.

[BPTactical]

I was looking for a lighter hunting rifle and Savage Arms has a couple in the low $300's that I was able to check out at Gander Mountain in .308 and 30-06. The SA rifles had the camo paint and came it around 6 lbs I think. If you go that route check with Panama Dave in the industry partners section.

my $0.2 - Sell the 700 and pick up a lighter SA.

^this- you will get a better rifle straight out of the box as well.

Optimum length for a 308 is 20-24". You want enough barrel to:
1-stabilize the projectile
2-optimize the powder burn

IIRC you lose about 100FPS for every 1" you lose in barrel length.
16" 308 is just loud and hellacious in the muzzle blast.