300WM and barrel length

[Aussie Wanderer]

Hi guys, I have a 300wm in a heavy, 26 inch barrel that I am not overly fond of. It tends to be a safe queen due to its weight. Does anyone have any real world experience in the different barrel lengths as they pertain to this cartridge. A lot of the magnum rifles have 24 inch barrels. All thoughts welcome.

 

[SJB358]

I’d chop it in a heart beat myself. Even at 22” you’ll still get a 200 grain bullet up to 2800 or so with the right powders and a long heavy barrel isn’t any good if you don’t like it. A 24” barrel is about as long as I want most of the time anyhow. I have a couple that’ll remain 25 and 26” just cause of the guns but I’d never build one again with such a long barrel.

 

[salmonchaser]

I would guess most data generated for the 300wm is done with a 26 inch barrel. Cutting to 24 would cost a little in velocity but it would still be shooting flatter than a 300 HH or a 300wsm. Two inches of barrel isn’t going to reduce the weight to any appreciable degree but might help keep the muzzle out of the snow if you are vertically challenged like I am. My 338 Jarrett has a 26 inch barrel, my brothers know when they cut my tracks elk hunting because they see barrel trace in the snow.

 

[JD338]

I'm guessing you would loose 25-40 fps per inch. A 24" would certainly make for a handy rifle. Are you looking to cut and recrown or replace with a new barrel?

JD338

 

[TackDriver284]

I have 26 inches on my custom 300 WM Rem 700, its a bit on the heavy side with the ATACR 5-25 MOAR reticle, but I like the speed I'm getting out of it, with the 200 grain it approaches 3000- 3080 fps safely and with the 180 its around 3150 -3250 fps depending on type of powders. Like the others mentioned a 22-24 will do just fine for hunting even in a box blind. With my 26 inch, I need to be a bit careful to bring it up to the windows of the blind to avoid tapping the sides and making noise. With that kind of weight, I'm getting a pretty good exercise lugging that around. I should have cut down the weight in the first place and go with 24 inches.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I bobbed a 26” .300 Win Mag to 24” years ago. It was a model 70, and though not overly heavy, years of 24” barrel sporters in various calibers made it unwieldy to my hands. Sure I lost some velocity but was still able to get 3100 fps with 180 grain Accubonds and stout handloads. It shot best with 180 Gamekings and 68 grains of IMR 4350 which clocked about 2920 fps.

Point is, a couple inches of barrel really doesn’t matter that much.

 

[xphunter]

AW,
Get the barrel length you want!
For the majority of hunters, even a 18" barrel would give you enough velocity to hunt the way you want to.
I have a 16.5" center-grip XP-100 in 300 SAUM.
150 grain Cutting Edge ER Raptors run at 2886 fps. Since it's minimum impact velocity is 1500 fps it gives me plenty of range, and the Cutting Edge all copper bullets perform like a much heavier traditional bullet.

A long time ago, I had a 15.75" XP-100 in 7.82 Patriot (Before there was a 300 WSM or the 300 SAUM), and I ran 150 NBT's at 3001 fps, and 180 grain Game Kings at 2750-2775 fps. I don't remember the exact velocity with the 180.
I killed multiple elk with both bullets over 350 yards.

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

I'm guessing you would loose 25-40 fps per inch. A 24" would certainly make for a handy rifle. Are you looking to cut and recrown or replace with a new barrel?

JD338

Replace with a new rifle. Move this one on and get something that is likely to make it to the bush.

 

[NYDAN]

Replace with a new rifle.

I like the way you think! We here on the forum are good at encouraging other members to buy a new rifle.

 

[Cneelk]

I have 2 a bolts a Christensen Mesa and browning bar. They all have 24” tubes. Bolts shoot 180’s and 185’s at 3k. Bar shoots 200’s @2850 . I would lop 2” off and not worry about it.

 

[RL338]

I guess I’m the odd guy. Each barrel I’ve replaced lately has been long and heavy.
340 Wby 28” HV contour

375 Wby 25” Sendero contour

 

[TexasLife]

carbon fiber of the same length and save a pound or 2 depending on profile? i have 2 110's in 300wm (24" stealth, 26" ba/le) and 1 custon build 30" cf that only saved me 14 or 15 ozs compared to a 32" ss barrel. to me a 22-24" is good with a 180-200gr range that still gives good velocity and decent range to hunt with. so, what does the gun weigh that haves you not wanting to shoot it? 10# for hunting shouldn't be so bad, but a 15# might not be as fun when trekking.

 

[Thebear_78]

I recently replaced my Seekins havak with a beretta brx1 because of barrel length. The Seekins was one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned but it’s 26” barreled when combined with a9” supressor was just too unwieldy. The brx1 has a 22” barrel. Matting that up with a6” supressor makes for a much handier hunting rifle. Velocity loss between them was just over 100fps.

I currently picked up a 26” barreled weatherby weather mark in 340 weatherby. As soon as I get my hands on ruggeds new 360 AK TI it will be getting cut down to 22” also.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

If you like everything about your rifle except the barrel length than cut it. If not than move it for something that you like better. Me, I like different lengths for different applications. A short barrel can be used anywhere. A longer barrel gets used more for stand hunting. Friend and fellow range member shot a antelope in WY couple weeks ago using his 30-06 with a 20 in Hart barrel that he uses primarily for stand hunting. The short barrel did not handicap him, range was 687 yds using a Berger 168gr bullet. So do what works best for you. Dan.

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

The vast majority of my hunting is done on foot with a pack. The terrain is steep but not crazy steep and mostly shots are inside 300. I have a tikka ember in 223 that shoots lights out that also comes in a 300wm. I don’t mind the look of the new xbolt speed too. The crazy thing is I actually don’t need a 300wm as I have the RUM version, it just really peaks my ocd having a rifle in my safe I just can’t build a relationship with…if that makes sense.

 

[NYDAN]

it just really peaks my ocd having a rifle in my safe I just can’t build a relationship with…if that makes sense.

I understand completely! Your OCD is telling you to sell one and buy another. Sometimes you just need to listen to that little voice inside.

 

[Slimfinn]

I would question, Is it the rifle as a whioe or just the heavy 26" barrel that's on it? Now knowing you also have a RUM there would be no reason not to cut the barrel down to 22" or even less, if that helps you build a relationship. If that doesn't work, it's time to trade her in on a younger, lighter, better looking model

 

[walkinhorseman]

Cutting 2” off the barrel is not going to result in much more than a few ozs of weight savings. If you like everything else about the rifle, rebarrel it to a different contour. A 24” barrel would be the minimum for me with that 30 caliber case capacity. If rifle OAL is a consideration, I would move to a medium action caliber because I sling muzzle down [vertically challenged human].

 

[Ridge_Runner]

how much will shortening the barrel 2" lighten it? every oz. off the muzzle will make it more butt heavy, which IMO makes them more diffacult to shoot well from field positions.

 

[PJGunner]

I have 5 rifles in .300 Win. Mag. all have 26" barrels. One is a Winchester M70 push feed and that other 4 are different versions of the Ruger #1. The barrel on the longer M70 hasn't been a bother so far. I have no problen running the 200 gr. Speer Hot Core or 200 gr. Nosler Partition at close to 2900 FPS from any of those rifles.
Paul B.