16" suppressed .308 as a long range setup

[m1ajunkie]

I have been running a 20" .308 barrel on my mws for the past 6 months with great results. However, I am now looking to suppress my rifle and think a shorter barrel would be nice again. Max range I can shoot on a regular basis is 675yds, with the occasional 800-1000yd shot in various competitions I try to shoot in.

With a 16" barrel and suppressor, will I retain enough velocity to make the 800+yd shot on occasion?

Does any one have any velocity numbers for 175gr smk's out of a 16" barrel with suppressor?

In addition to the 16" .308 barrel I am thinking of going with, I am planning to add a better caliber for long range shooting. Thinking of something like a .260 barrel, or having a 7mm-08 barrel made in about 20" to shoot less often. Any input about which other long range caliber you prefer is welcome. Looking at the 7mm-08 has really got me interested in it. High bc's and nice mv's make it seem like a solid caliber for my mws if I can get a barrel.

[post tensioned]

Out of my 16" EMC I average the following velocities:

M118LR - 2495
168gr Fed GMM - 2434
175gr Fed GMM - 2429
Custom 175gr SMK w/ 44.5 gr of Varget - 2523

Note, these are without a suppressor, but you won't see much of a difference. I have shot it out to 1018 yards, and I can hit 10" steel frequently, depending on how hectic the wind gets.

For this type of distance, I really recommend 260 Remington, it does a great job of bucking the wind, uses the same bolt and magazines as a .308 and has less recoil, less than half what it does to a .308. In fact, when I shoot out the barrel in my 20" SR-25, GA Precision is going to re-barrel it in 260 Remington for me.

[m1ajunkie]

Thanks for the velocities, thats exactly what I am looking for.

My plan is to get both the 16" .308 and .260 barrels. I will be running the .308 almost all the time because my closest range is 675yds and that is no problem for the .308.

I plan to have the .260 around for the match's I shoot in, and when I get the chance to get out to 800+yds.

[a1fabweld]

I remember last year one of the guys in our club brought out a tight chambered 18" Remmy .308 bolt gun with a brake. He was shooting hot 175grn loads & his rounds were keyholing at around 800yds. He quit at 900 & didn't bother with the 1K line.

Based on this, which I witnessed personally, I can't see how a 16" gas gun would make consistent hits any extended ranges.

[C45P312]

I've banged plenty of 12x12in steel out to 1048yards with my 16in OBR with the surefire brake.

[KJDrake]

I shot the Oregon Sniper Challenge a few weeks ago and I used my LMT MWS with the 16" CL bbl and a Surefire suppressor. We did shoot out to 800 yds. I made half the points there without confirmed data...just used what my ballistic program said. Finished 9th out of 56 competitors. Not bad for the first time competing with the LMT.

I shot factory loaded Hornady 168gr BTHP at 2550fps. That was on the ragged edge for 1000yds shooting...depending on the elevation above sea level and baro...

Respectfully,

--KJ

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

You can not compair a 16" gas gun to a bolt gun.

If it were me in your shoes I would say you are more than fine shooting the suppressed MWS with a 16" barrel to 1k provided you have a 1-10 twist and your shooting a high BC bullet (and the 168g SMK isnt that bullet).

[a1fabweld]

Another guy who shot with us a few times used to shoot his HK91 with handloads. He also ran out of steam at about 800 yds. I hear stories of short barreled gas guns shooting long distance, but I think I need to see it to believe it.

[m1ajunkie]

Thanks for the replies.

Like a1fabweld, I would love to see it to believe it. Problem is, most people I am shooting with are running bolt guns. I am almost always the only ar type rifle, or one of the only ar types so I only have internet data to go on.

I have read about the obr making the long range shots, and I feel if a 16" obr can do it my 16" mws should be able to do the same assuming the shooter is capable.

I am planning to run either the 175smk, 178 amax, and may even try the new hornady 178 bthp. I have had great success with the first two out of my 20" so surely the 16" would be the same. I see a lot of people shoot 155's out of the short barreled rifles, but I have never tried the lighter bullets due to my success with the 175's and 178's.

KJDrake, which suppressor are you running? I have a 762ss ordered and can't wait to try it out. Would like to hear your experience suppressing the mws.

[Ironman8]

How do you think the 16" LaRue PredatAR would fare?

I will probably only shoot out to a few hundred yards on a consistent basis, but would like to have 1000 yd capability...