Ideal 7.62 barrel for 3gun

[GetAwayDriva]

With the caveat of "reasonably priced" since it will probably be used once a year at Heman in Raton. What would be the ideal length, twist, contour, brand? Also what kind of muzzle brake?

Thanks!

[rboyes]

If you are only using it for Heman nationals and no other hoser type shooting then I'd go no shorter than 18". Especially if using true irons. I'd lean towards a 20". Extra velocity and you aren't giving up much since there is minimal amount of close up targets requiring quick transitions. Twist depends on the bullets you want to use. Contour is also personal preference. Again, a heavier gun isn't as detrimental at that match. A few reasonably priced barrels include Black Hole Weaponry and Criterion, among several others.

[Dan Sierpina]

Look at an 18 - 20 inch rifle length gas, 11 inch twist, light contour barrel from Black Hole Weaponry. I have a 20 inch Rainer Arms Select and it does fine at He Man. I think the Black Hole is a better barrel.

[LSnSC]

I run a 20" barrel and Irons. Even if I was running an optic, I dont think I would go much less than 18" for a 308. Short barreled 308s are painfully loud.

[GetAwayDriva]

Thanks for the advice

[RiggerJJ]

18 inch rifle gas. Same sight radius as a 20 inch in 223. If going with scoped, go 16 inch mid gas, or the 18 above.

imho a JP upper will be everything you want.

jj

[PacMan]

With the caveat of "reasonably priced" since it will probably be used once a year at Heman in Raton. What would be the ideal length, twist, contour, brand? Also what kind of muzzle brake?

Thanks!

This is a decent barrel for the price. Mine is consistent at 1.5" with PPU 168 gr, haven't tried with FED Gold Match to see how much better it would do. Looks like it is made by BHW http://www.rainierarms.com/rainier-arms-selecttm-308-barrel-16-ss

[PacMan]

With the caveat of "reasonably priced" since it will probably be used once a year at Heman in Raton. What would be the ideal length, twist, contour, brand? Also what kind of muzzle brake?

Thanks!

This is a decent barrel for the price. Mine is consistent at 1.5" with PPU 168 gr, haven't tried with FED Gold Match to see how much better it would do. Looks like it is made by BHW http://www.rainierarms.com/rainier-arms-selecttm-308-barrel-16-ss

[Rick O'Shea]

On the other extreme, I just bought a DPMS LR-308 with a 24" bull barrel. I'll use it as a general purpose gun, but wouldn't mind trying HM 3-gun.

Am I crazy?

[12Bravo]

yes

[striped1]

For me it is the Stretch 16 308 barrel. Melonited. 1/10 twist, intermediate gas. sweet shooter

[Mickster]

Rick, loaded with a 20 round mag and a scope, that's a crazy heavy gun for running around with. However, mine is also crazy accurate.

There's a famous gunsmith in Houston (has the same name as a famous comedian) who cuts, threads and turns them down. It's still crazy accurate and very manageable.

Since you already have the gun, might be worth taking a look.

[Rick O'Shea]

Thanks, Mickster (and 12Bravo - that was actually the answer I expected). I have a local smith who can cut and crown the barrel if needed. I just hate to lose any long-range target ability this rifle might have.

[kurtm]

Mickster, cough, cough, Corpus Christy Texas for that famous comedian gunsmith guy.

[Mickster]

Kurtm, I've been told that as we get older we'll loose two things, one is the sex drive, and I don't remember what the other one is.

BTW, it's spelled Christi.

Did we just do a thread Hi-jack? If so, I apologize to the OP for the both of us.

GetAwayDriva, an 18 or 20 medium Criterion will get you everything you need.

[1chota]

RNT don't care bout no spelling.

[Ben Diss]

I went with the Stretch-16 .308. Gun does double duty. 3-Gun heavy metal and thermal vision hog killer.

[Rick O'Shea]

Update: I took delivery of that DPMS LR-308 with the 24" bull barrel. Holy crap, ladies and gentlemen! This thing not only weighs a friggin' ton, but all the weight is up front. Most of the gun is aluminum and hollow plastic, and then you've got this two foot, inch thick chunk of steel hanging off the end.

Let me offer some clarification here; this is my first AR of any kind, ever. I've always been a wood and blue steel guy, and I'm now having to look at YouTube videos to learn the manual of arms and general ins and outs of this thing. So here I am practicing dropping the mag, reloading, charging (which is a PITA, by the way; who thought this was a good design?), locking back the bolt, etc..., and this thing handles like the proverbial pig on a shovel.
Upside - I've read enough to believe that this configuration is a surprisingly good shooter off the bench, so I don't want to cut the barrel. I'll invest in a good trigger, and play with some handloads and see what it'll do.

Downside: If I actually want to run and gun, I need to start looking at a light-contour 18" upper.

**Sigh**