shortest .300 wm barrel for a hunting rifle ?
- Thread starter madashell
- Start date
I think you just need to carry that rifle for a while and get used to it, take advantage of the. 300 WM out of that long barrel. Otherwise like some have suggested here, go with a 30-06 or. 308.
I have been packing an Abolt. 300 WM with 26 in barrel in the bush for 20 yrs with no issues. Just my opinion.
I have been packing an Abolt. 300 WM with 26 in barrel in the bush for 20 yrs with no issues. Just my opinion.
Mighty Peace
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Land of the Mighty Peace
On my Sako m75ss 300WM, its a 24" barrel.
Just buy a gun with a 24" barrel. Typically Browning and Winchester had 26" barrels for the 300WM.
Just buy a gun with a 24" barrel. Typically Browning and Winchester had 26" barrels for the 300WM.
There is a reason why the 300 WM often has a 26 inch barrel. 1. performance 2. muzzle blast & 3. muzzle jump. It's interesting to see the flash at the end of a 300 WM at last light of shooting time. It would surprise many who haven't seen the length of the flair of a shot out out of a 300 WM. I wouldn't be inclined to cut the barrel from a 26 inch 300 WM. If I was interested in something shorter in barrel - I'd step over to a 300 WSM which is often found with a 23 or 24 inch barrel. This fall a young hunter wanted to step up from a 270 with a 22 inch barrel that he used for deer. He was planning on going moose hunting. After some discussion I suggested a 30-06 with a 24 inch barrel. This suggestion was based on 1. performance 2, muzzle blast & 3 Muzzle jump. The other parts of the discussion was about the scope and ammo.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
When I was hunting, I went through similar debate.... my conclusion was getting to the game was my first priority and the irony of setting up tons of gear for reaching way out, the vast majority of my game were inside 250yds... well inside.
So I started to lighten the load and went from magnums to 30-06 to 308 to eventually a 19" 7-08 with a moderate load. Animals fell as well as any magnum I had. Engagement distances could easily get out to 400yds IF I had the chance. The last deer I shot was around 30yds and the 7-08 did it's job very nicely.
Whatever hunting distances mean to you, work backwards from your impact velocity and thus internal damage. There will be a bullet to suit any scenerio from slow to fast. It surprised me how close the full range of bullets expand within their operational parameters.. and what I have seen on game, the wound channels seem to agree. Now fast combos did cause more bruising which on a couple of occasions ruined more meat then I was expecting... and that moved me to "slower" options.
Jerry
Totally agree with all your points here Jerry.
I think too many guys are going too overkill on hunting loads, it's just not needed in most cases. Frankly, I don't need anything larger than a .308 with moderate loads for anything I gotta do. And that's probably the case for most.
I have no interest in WSM or even 30'06 etc. etc. for hunting. My only reason really for looking at a .300wm hunting rig is I'm in the beginning stages of a heavy barrel .300wm long range target rig and figured why not have a hunting rig in same cartridge and use some of the reloading supplies for it also. It's not all that scientific.
I think too many guys are going too overkill on hunting loads, it's just not needed in most cases. Frankly, I don't need anything larger than a .308 with moderate loads for anything I gotta do. And that's probably the case for most.
I have no interest in WSM or even 30'06 etc. etc. for hunting. My only reason really for looking at a .300wm hunting rig is I'm in the beginning stages of a heavy barrel .300wm long range target rig and figured why not have a hunting rig in same cartridge and use some of the reloading supplies for it also. It's not all that scientific.
I would think you would need to choose powder wisely with a short 300, ie faster burn. Heavy 26" barrel 300 wm is what I'm working up now with 215 bergers and H1000. So with different powders, very likely different bullets, you are wanting another 300wm to....... share dies? I like your thinking.
It's been debated many times, but extensive tests prove that the same powder that gives maximum velocity in a long barrel,
will give the highest velocity in the shorter tube as well. So, powder "juggling" is simply wasted time, IMHO. Eagleye.
will give the highest velocity in the shorter tube as well. So, powder "juggling" is simply wasted time, IMHO. Eagleye.
Well, after reading all the speculation posted here,.....
Some of you may remember the Patriot 300 Win Mag wring-out from a while back. The factory 22" barrel had no problem at all averaging 3060 fps with 180 gr bullets ahead of H450. Here's the thread, https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...ag-for-400?p=13776794&viewfull=1#post13776794
Never did shoot any factory ammo in it, and it is now in a new home far away, getting ready to go hunting.
Recently got another Patriot 300 to replicate the testing of the first one. We'll see if No 1 was an unusually fast barrel or not.
Ted
Some of you may remember the Patriot 300 Win Mag wring-out from a while back. The factory 22" barrel had no problem at all averaging 3060 fps with 180 gr bullets ahead of H450. Here's the thread, https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...ag-for-400?p=13776794&viewfull=1#post13776794
Never did shoot any factory ammo in it, and it is now in a new home far away, getting ready to go hunting.
Recently got another Patriot 300 to replicate the testing of the first one. We'll see if No 1 was an unusually fast barrel or not.
Ted
I find my 22" 270win too dang long some days. When the bush is thick, every little bit counts... (insert innuendo here)
Way back in the early 60's, I bought a brand-new P-H Safari chambered in 308 Norma Magnum. It had a 22 inch barrel.
I had it for a long time, and shot a lot of game with it. Close to the time when I was thinking of upgrading to a new
rifle, I gained access to a chronograph. It was a unit that read out a number [not fps or mps, just a number] You then looked
up the number in a book, which gave the velocity in fps.
Factory Norma 180 grain ammo gave 3020 avg, and my 180 Partition handload, using 76 grains of [now obsolete] Norma 205,
gave 3036 avg. My new 308 Norma with the 24 inch barrel made 3090 with the Factory load, and 3110 with the handload.
This was older factory Norma ammo, which was plenty warm, but not dangerous in any way. Late production Norma factory
ammo has been tamed a bit, with a 180 at right around 3000 fps in a 24" barrel. Obviously, as Ted points out, some barrels
are simply "faster" or "slower" than the average.
If one is getting 2950 in a 19" barrel, I would say he is doing very well, indeed. 'Nuff said!! Eagleye.
I had it for a long time, and shot a lot of game with it. Close to the time when I was thinking of upgrading to a new
rifle, I gained access to a chronograph. It was a unit that read out a number [not fps or mps, just a number] You then looked
up the number in a book, which gave the velocity in fps.
Factory Norma 180 grain ammo gave 3020 avg, and my 180 Partition handload, using 76 grains of [now obsolete] Norma 205,
gave 3036 avg. My new 308 Norma with the 24 inch barrel made 3090 with the Factory load, and 3110 with the handload.
This was older factory Norma ammo, which was plenty warm, but not dangerous in any way. Late production Norma factory
ammo has been tamed a bit, with a 180 at right around 3000 fps in a 24" barrel. Obviously, as Ted points out, some barrels
are simply "faster" or "slower" than the average.
If one is getting 2950 in a 19" barrel, I would say he is doing very well, indeed. 'Nuff said!! Eagleye.
