Has anyone tried a 20" barrel in 8x57? How did that work out for you? Your thoughts please.

I'm considering having a barrel cut back to 20" for a handy carbine in 8x57.

KB

Kabluewy...

I THINK my Steyr Professionals both have 20" bbls, but cannot recall for sure at the moment. Still have so many unpacked boxes in the workshop I can't get to the vault door at the back of the shop to open it and measure one of them. Anyway, the 8m/m and the .376 have both worked fine for me, whether 19" or 22" or something in between.

I haven't chrono'd the 8 m/m with my handloads, as I don't care what the velocity is, but it is plenty accurate with the Nosler 200 gr. Partitions...under MOA with its favourite loads. Wish I could give you more info but at the moment am still up to my eyeballs in Alligators, Wrasslesnakes, or whatever.

I have two short barreled 8x57 scout types but right now do not know barrel length,but I have two 7x57 with 19" barrels scout types. All are fast to handle and quick to get on target. Almost like using a well fitting shotgun. Hope this gives some indication of what you're looking for. roger

Thanks roger and AC. I messed up a little and ordered a stock at 13.5" LOP, thinking that was correct for me. I was going by the measurments of some other stocks I have. The way it worked out, it is indeed 13.5 inches, measured at the trigger, but when measured from the root of the bolt handle, it isn't the same as my other rifles. It's kinda hard to explain - the measuring points and all, but the fact is that it's about 1/2" short.

However, it fits in its own way. If I move the scope as far forward as it will go, the darn thing comes up pretty quick, and my thumb is still far enough away to stay out of my nose. I think that with a hunting coat on, it won't feel nearly so short.

Thinking back, I shot my buddy's 308 Ruger compact, the one with the really short stock, like 12.5" or near that. I think it has a 16 1/4" barrel. I'm not willing to cut my 8x57 that short, but that darn Ruger compact was handy and shot pretty good. With a light recoil, one can get away with it.

So, I figured 1/2" LOP short is better that a full 1 & 1/2" short, and set up like a carbine, it might work out well. I plan on using a fixed power scope, like a 3X, and set it to use that long eye relief.

I'm pretty sure it will work out well, even if it got that way sorta by mistake.

I still have to have the stock bedded in, and was thinking of having the gunsmith cut and crown while he had it.

KB

I know when you go from @ a 24" barrel to @ a 20" barrel in a 308, you can most usually rely on the fact that you will need @ 3/4 to one moa more "UP" at 300 yards and @ one MOA UP at 600 yards.

I have not noticed any difference in killing power in a 308 between a 26" barrel and an 18" barrel out to 600 yards...

That's interesting. I'm figuring this rifle is going to be something I'll take when I don't expect long shots, but more bush whacking, and woods hunting, which really is most of the time. An opportunity for a 300 yd shot is rare for me.

KB

My Brno 21H has a 20.5" bbl. I manage to get 2500 fps with a 200 grainer. It's light and handy but I wouldn't hesitate to shoot 300 yds if I needed to. I've seen more variation in FPS between barrels of like length than the difference in this barrel and some of my other 8x57's that wear 24" tubes.

If you're wearing something heavy and warm and still want a fast handling rifle that stock of yours is going to be a God send. roger

quote:

8x57 and 20" barrel?

Use sa fast enough powder.....

That's why I think it'll work as well as a 308 with a 20" barrel. I use the same powder for each cartridge. W748 burns well in a short barrel, and is what I use in one favorate 308 load - can't remember the detail right now. Other acceptable powders are H335, BL-C(2), 4320, 4064, 4895, H380 - which are all good short barrel powders.

KB

I'm using 4350 and still get results that are nearly equal to what I'd get in a longer barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
I'm figuring this rifle is going to be something I'll take when I don't expect long shots, but more bush whacking, and woods hunting, which really is most of the time.

KB

My bushwhacker is a Ruger 77 RSI with an 18.5" barrel in 308 win. It's 38.5" overall. Everytime I pick it up and handle it I wonder why I have so many other rifles. I balances perfect.

I love my 20 inch barrel 8X57, and I think you will as well in the area you live in.

My 8x57 has a 19&1/2 inch barrel on it and it shoots pretty well. I am very pleased with it.

I also happen to buy it here on AR forums classifieds

I have shot 198g factory loads. can hit metal targets @ 200 yards with Irons all day

I have some 220g Sierra loads ready to go too

ZR1. me too.

I use 4350 in almost everything

The wife has used an 18" 243, my buddies wife use an 18" 6mm Remington. They both killed a bunch of deer, whitetail and mule deer, and antelope. I have shot a lot of game with 18 and 20 inch 308's and 18 to 20 inch 375 H&H's.

the wife and I have used longer barreled rifles in the same calibres as well.

Again I will state, we have never noticed ANY difference in killing power, or accuracy.

You will lose roughly 75 to 100 FPS and that will not make one iota of difference to the animal you shoot in the right spot.