Gonna pull the trigger on a OBR but which length 18" or 20"?

[mstennes]

I decided over the weekend I'm getting a OBR! I just can't decided on the 18" or 20" barrel, it's going to be used on our range that can go out over a mile, but for all intents and purposes it's going to be used at 500 yards out to 1200 yards or so. It won't be used for kicking in doors or snap shooting, but for longer range target and varmiting. What does the 18" give up to the 20" at longer ranges?
Thanks

[Spiffums]

I'd vote 20 if your going to try to go to 1200 with a 308.

[aveisone]

You dont lose any accuracy with the shorter barrel, but you do lose velocity. Velocity will stabilize your bullet at longer ranges and take less interference from wind. I would go 20" or longer for 1200yd. Just one mans opinion.

[DTHN2LGS]

With your intended purposes, definitely 20".

[RyanB]

From 16 to 18 to 20 in the OBR the difference is 50 fps and a half mil of drop at 1000 for each imcrement.

[m1ajunkie]

I had a similar decision recently and chose 20" and haven't looked back. My thinking was a dedicated precision rifle should be set up to make shooting long range as efficient as possible. For me, that meant the 20" because it would get me a little more velocity to help fight wind and make it to 1k without any trouble. I run my rifle solely precision as it sounds you may do with your obr so I see no reason not to go 20", especially if you are planning to get to 1200yds.

FWIW, I have also debated swapping my rifle to 260 or 6.5 creedmore, but I am limited to 700yds and it seems a .308 will hold its own at that range.

[308smk]

If you dont have space confinements, like vehicles or buildings, definitely go with the 20" barrel. As mentioned the extra few inches will get you a bit more accuracy past 800m, where the limitations of the cartridge start to come into play.

[1stIDvet]

You wont lose much accuracy, if any, with an 18" barrel. I vote for the 18", It'll be more handier if your going to be moving and carrying it. I wouldn't want 2 inches of extra barrel + flash hider.

[mstennes]

You wont lose much accuracy, if any, with an 18" barrel. I vote for the 18", It'll be more handier if your going to be moving and carrying it. I wouldn't want 2 inches of extra barrel + flash hider.

I was just about to order the 20, and read this, it will be getting a can eventually this summer also. Damn back to square one.

[1stIDvet]

This should help with your decision. An 18" barrel will do you just fine, though in the video the rifle is a bolt action, it gives you an idea of what an 18" can do..

http://youtu.be/15qj032UJ1I