Thanks for all the input. After shooting my 10/22 bull barrel off-hand this weekend, I can only imagine shooting a 308 heavy barrel off hand would be more Difficult
I have been researching a bolt action myself, with going suppressed later. The 16.5 makes a perfect host.
I concluded that for shots under 500 yards the. 308 was a good candidate. Ammo was readly available to amd can be gotten at local resources. A 20 inch suppressed barrel is just to long for me. The 16.5 while losing 200 fps wont effect the shooting I plan to do with this platform.
Its also a cool looking little rifle. I gave the 16.5 inch rifle points just for being different than all the rest.
If I want to take a shoot above 500the yards I will get a 6.5 caliber platform. As the 6.5 cals. are running away at the matchs. Its hard to beat their ballistic coefficients and they shed such less energy than the. 308's.
OP also remember this. Once the special run of 16.5 are gone they are Gone.