21" more accurate than 16"

[lbthedragonslayer 0]

i just recently bought a saiga 7.62x39 and was going to trade it in for a .308. how much more accurate is the 21" than the 16" if any?

[bboyce 0]

The longer barrel isn't any more accurate than the short one. The only advantage with the longer barrel is a bit more velocity (around 100 FPS or so depending on the ammo).

 

Ben

[Bossman 1]

Actually from my experience and that of quite a few others it seems that the 16" is just a tad MORE accurate than the 22"

Maybe it`s the barrel harmonics, who knows but my 16" is a fuzz more accurate than my 22".

With a red star trigger and carefully tuned handloads my 22" would do 1.25" at 100 yds from the bench, my 16" shoots 1" with handloads and once in a while if I hold my mouth just right and I didnt drink too much coffee that morning I can squeeze in a sub MOA group.

Funny thing is, both rifles shot their best with 125 gr. ballistic tips, 150 gr. bullets in both gave ho-hum performance and 168 gr. bullets truly sucked.

You`ll lose about 150-200 FPS from the short barrel but gain handiness and a bit of accuracy, nothing I`m planning on shooting will notice 150 fps. so I like the 16"

Your mileage may vary.

Bossman

[jakemccoy 0]

Which is more accurate without a scope?

[Bossman 1]

Probably the 22" due to the longer sight radius.

[bboyce 0]

Which is more accurate without a scope?

 

 

The shorter barrel will still be more accurate, but the long barrel may be easier to shoot accurately because of the longer sight radius.

 

Ben

Edited January 14, 2008 by bboyce

[SaigaNoobie 66]

Yah but the 22" LOOKS like a sniper rifle. And you can always cut'n'crown the 22 down to 16 if you want it shorter... hard to cut the 16 to 22"

[bboyce 0]

Yah but the 22" LOOKS like a sniper rifle. And you can always cut'n'crown the 22 down to 16 if you want it shorter... hard to cut the 16 to 22"

 

 

Better yet, buy one of each and then you can have your cake and eat it too.

 

Ben

[BobAsh 582]

^^ Ben FTW!

[DLT 1,646]

I own the 223 in 16" and it shoots pretty damn good. But after this weekend, I'd have to say that the 22" should be more accurate due to the longer sight radius. Okay, you want to really make your rifle accurate? Get some peep sights.

[fossten 1]

I own the 223 in 16" and it shoots pretty damn good. But after this weekend, I'd have to say that the 22" should be more accurate due to the longer sight radius. Okay, you want to really make your rifle accurate? Get some peep sights.

Or a scope.

[Cobra 76 two 2,677]

I believe the shorter barrels tend to flex less when heated up.

[uglyrussian308 0]

Actually from my experience and that of quite a few others it seems that the 16" is just a tad MORE accurate than the 22"

Maybe it`s the barrel harmonics, who knows but my 16" is a fuzz more accurate than my 22".

With a red star trigger and carefully tuned handloads my 22" would do 1.25" at 100 yds from the bench, my 16" shoots 1" with handloads and once in a while if I hold my mouth just right and I didnt drink too much coffee that morning I can squeeze in a sub MOA group.

Funny thing is, both rifles shot their best with 125 gr. ballistic tips, 150 gr. bullets in both gave ho-hum performance and 168 gr. bullets truly sucked.

You`ll lose about 150-200 FPS from the short barrel but gain handiness and a bit of accuracy, nothing I`m planning on shooting will notice 150 fps. so I like the 16"

Your mileage may vary.

Bossman

 

Interesting you should mention your experience with the 125 Ballistic Tip. My 16" barreled Saiga 308 also likes 125s. It shoots hand loaded 125 Remington Corelokt SP bullet very well. 1.5" - 2" groups off the bench using the iron sights are not uncommon. I haven't clocked them yet but I sure they are screaming. The 150s, 165s and 175s are ok but don't seem to group as well. I have shot several of our local 150Lb deer with this 125 grain 308 load out of my bolt gun and its perfromance on game this size has been great.