HatchieLuvr

I'm considering a compact 7-08 or 308 & REALLY like the Compact Ruger with its lightweight, short overall length & the "idea" of that short barrel. But I wonder, how much more noise & blast comes with a 16.5" tube vs longer ones? Shortest gun I have now is my 45-70 Guidegun but obviously that slow old milk bucket bullet ain't blasting sonic booms like 2700-3k fps rounds do.

Oldtimr

I have a 45-70 Guidegun with ported barrel. I do not find much difference in noise volume than my .308 Mod 88 Win. The .308 is sharper but the LeverEvolution ammo in the guide gun make a lot of noise as well. Doesn't matter much to me, I wear hearing protection when I hunt since my ears started hissing 24/7 from shhoting without many years ago before it was common place.

nchawkeye

You couldn't give me a rifle with a barrel less than 22 inches...In fact, years ago I had my .243 rebarreled and went with a 24 inch barrel which I like much more...

My brother has a Model 7 in 7mm-08 that has a 20 inch barrel and I don't care for it, just seems too short and small...

Oldtimr

So your reason is it seems too short? Not that it affects preformance? That is illogical!

nchawkeye

To you maybe!!!

I'm 6ft 5 and weigh about 240...

I've shot my brothers many times and killed a few deer with it as well, the muzzle blast that close to your ear is awful...

I just don't care for short barrels, heck my flintlocks have 38 and 43 inch barrels...

Longer barrels also add a bit of weight which helps with some of our larger bean fields in eastern NC...

HatchieLuvr

I have PLENTY (15 & growing) of long barreled, oversized scoped rifles including a 300 Wby & a Lazzeroni Warbird. The issue isn't utmost in velocity or 3" groups @ 500yds. This rifle would be for super light & easy carry in a nice little bolt gun that's at home in my swamp at essentially "bowrange" across 1/4 acre deep woods food plots or perhaps stretched to 250-350yds in a few of my shooting houses overlooking plots & pastures. I'm likewise 6'4" 260 so the physical size of the gun isn't a physical requirement, I just like shorter, lighter, quicker in my stands after 30yrs of LONG boomers!

I spent several years hunting almost exclusively with the Warbird (hunted different land that had LONG & open shots) it has a 28" barrel (26" + a KDF brake) & I used ear plugs + muffs & eventually went to Game Ears. I know it's not good for the ol ears (neither was years of drag boats, Harley's & loud music) but honestly I HATE having to mess with hearing protection while in the woods. That's why I'm curious as to a 16.5" 7-08 vs a 18", 20" etc...

alleyyooper

I have a Remington Model 7 with the 20" barrel 7MM 08 I have set up for hunting our thick cedar swamps. I also have a Remington 700 mountain rifle in 7MM08 set up for shooting across cranberry bogs. I have never noticed any difference in the noise level. BUT I use hearing protection when shooting at my range and have never noticed any noise at all when shooting at game with any thing.


Al

nchawkeye

Sounds like you answered your own question then, enjoy you new rifle...

Bbj270

Got a 18" barrel model seven in 7mm/08 and love it it's not noticeable loud when hunting. Also have and older ruger 77 ultralight in 308 with 18" barrel pretty load its a good rifle but with thin barrel it is not a tight grouper. Have to let it cool between shots a good deer gun to carrie. The third shot always walks so have to let it cool when target shooting with it. Also have a rem 760 30/06 with 18" barrel. Differently have to ware ear muffs when shooting it. Had barrel cut down for a fast handling brush gun. My cousins brother in law has a rem 742 in 3006 that he had the barrel cut to 16 1/2". He his deadly with that gun. Never seen him.shoot it but I beat it is loud.

Nomercy448

I wouldn't expect you'll notice much difference between a 16.5" and an 18", or an 18" and a 20", meaning there isn't really some "critical length" where things suddenly get a lot louder with only a difference in 2", but you can definitely tell the difference that 4-6" or more makes for a 308 (same experience with different AR barrel lengths in 223 and 6.8).

I finally broke down not too long ago and bought another a NM M1A with a 22" tube. A buddy of mine is obsessed with his SOCOM 16, he came out with us to shoot my new one on the first trip. Our "unofficial measurement" confirmed that the M1A is F'ing loud - the SOCOM 16 is %&@#$>!~%^(@*}|<'ing LLLLOOOOUUUUUDDDDD (it's a scientific unit of measure, look it up )

On a sporter barrel, weight difference and handling won't be as much as your mind thinks it is, but the volume is definitely there.