Short and thick ?

[meles meles]

We're thinking about a new barrel, ooman, not us !

We have a POF Enfield in 7.62x51, a nice rifle that functions very smoothly but it isn't devastatingly accurate. About 3 or 4 minutes of angle is normal for it when fired prone unsupported. It currently sports a somewhat skinny FN FAL barrel (the entire gun is an armourer's bitsa that resembles an Envoy) and though it shoots MEN surplus okay it is borderline with Singaporean surplus. At 100 mards a fair number of the Singaporean rounds will keyhole as though they haven't fully stabilised.

We think we have the following options:

1. Put it at the back of the cupboard and leave it to mature for a while
2. Sell it to raise funds towards a Merkel helix or Bergara BX11
2. Re-barrel it with a short, very thick barrel.

How short can we go, barrel-wise ? We'd only be shooting at about 300 mards with it.

[ovenpaa]

From memory the Envoy barrel is 27.5" so although you can comfortably go to 20" it would look rather odd. I would suggest around 22"/23" would maintain balance and weight and work to 300 with ease.

[Sixshot6]

We're thinking about a new barrel, ooman, not us !

We have a POF Enfield in 7.62x51, a nice rifle that functions very smoothly but it isn't devastatingly accurate. About 3 or 4 minutes of angle is normal for it when fired prone unsupported. It currently sports a somewhat skinny FN FAL barrel (the entire gun is an armourer's bitsa that resembles an Envoy) and though it shoots MEN surplus okay it is borderline with Singaporean surplus. At 100 mards a fair number of the Singaporean rounds will keyhole as though they haven't fully stabilised.

We think we have the following options:

1. Put it at the back of the cupboard and leave it to mature for a while
2. Sell it to raise funds towards a Merkel helix or Bergara BX11
2. Re-barrel it with a short, very thick barrel.

How short can we go, barrel-wise ? We'd only be shooting at about 300 mards with it.

Slight suggestion, if you're going at like this. Maybe some other mods like the ability to use FAL or M14 mags while you're at it? And maybe turn it into a scout rifle with this https://www.xssights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=8283
So its like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHwZl2Zva8I. But in 308.

[meles meles]

Oh it looks decidedly odd at the moment ooman, what with the skinny FN FAL barrel, flash hider and bayonet lug...

We were thinking of something like an 18 inch barrel, but very heavy to make it nice and stiff

[phaedra1106]

I'm almost certain there's a double entendre waiting to be made around here somewhere ...............

[meles meles]

Honi soit qui mal y pense, ooman...

[phaedra1106]

Oooh Mr Badger, I do loves it when you talks all posh like

[meles meles]

Best get back on track Phaedra afore you suggest we get a room

*shudders*

We remember hearing that some of you have been getting results from short but very heavy barrels that damp out harmonic vibrations. We're wonderin' are us if a very heavy 308 / 7.62 barrel of about 20 inches or even less might be useful at 300 mards

[Sixshot6]

Best get back on track Phaedra afore you suggest we get a room

*shudders*

We remember hearing that some of you have been getting results from short but very heavy barrels that damp out harmonic vibrations. We're wonderin' are us if a very heavy 308 / 7.62 barrel of about 20 inches or even less might be useful at 300 mards

Well the average AR10 like the SR25 and others have 20 inch barrels and seem to do alright (including being used as Marksmen rifles by the British and US armies). Others like the LMT used by the British Army have 16 inch barrels so it can't affect accuracy that much to use an 18-20 inch barrel so long as its thick enough.

And another Double Entreder is coming soon after I said that.

[DW58]

I have a bog-standard 20" Varmint barrel on my .308 Tikka T3 - it is obviously short and fat (a bit like me) and VERY accurate to 600 yards (or mards to you Mr Brock) and beyond, our standard 155gr TMK load gives 2800fps which is more than adequate.


Short and fat is accurate.

Therefore I can assure you that an 18-20" barrel will work very well.