What custom barrel for Tikka T3 Varmint 300wsm?

ryanvalin

ryanvalin

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Hey guys. I'm working on improving my T3 Varmint in 300wsm, and am looking for recommendations for a custom barrel for it. The stock barrel has a rate twist of 1:11, which seems a bit high for 200gr ELD-X bullets, especially in colder weather, according to the Berger calculator. I haven't shot it enough to test that for myself, but the accuracy isn't as good as expected, and nowhere near my tikka t3 270 win. I am going to bed the rifle, and have purchased a Lumley kit that includes a titanium recoil lug. According to the Berger calculator, the 200gr ELD-X bullet at 2820 fps recommends a twist of just under 1:10. I was thinking about going with a custom fluted barrel, at 1:9. Thoughts?
 
ryanvalin said:
Hey guys. I'm working on improving my T3 Varmint in 300wsm, and am looking for recommendations for a custom barrel for it. The stock barrel has a rate twist of 1:11, which seems a bit high for 200gr ELD-X bullets, especially in colder weather, according to the Berger calculator. I haven't shot it enough to test that for myself, but the accuracy isn't as good as expected, and nowhere near my tikka t3 270 win. I am going to bed the rifle, and have purchased a Lumley kit that includes a titanium recoil lug. According to the Berger calculator, the 200gr ELD-X bullet at 2820 fps recommends a twist of just under 1:10. I was thinking about going with a custom fluted barrel, at 1:9. Thoughts?
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I have a 308 Norma Magnum, built on a Santa Barbara Mauser action. It has a 1-9T Benchmark, and it really likes the heavier pills. Even the 220's shoot well in it.
Most 1-10T barrels shoot that ELD-X bullet OK though. the 1-9T would give you a buffer, of course. Dave.
 
Thanks very much for the information guys! I see that Benchmark offers a 3 groove 9 twist, or a 5 groove 9.5 twist. What number of grooves is recommended for shooting a 200 gr ELD-X at approximately 2800 fps (maybe 2850), at a maximum of 800 yds?
 
I have a 30-06 and a 300wm with 1:11 twist barrels.

The 30-06 at 2700fps and a 200gn Accubond shoots well at hunting distances to 500m. The slower twist does reduce the effective BC though, G7 0.273 is effectively reduced to 0.268.

The 300wm does well with a 208 A-Max, can keep in the 0.4 moa on a good day out to 1000+ yards.

Ideally, enough twist rate is all that is required, too much has deleterious effects down range.

At barrel replacement time I'll be going with something <10 twist so I can utilize the 230gn class bullets. Just as Dave and Todbartell have stated.

The 11 twist is not a handicap at 210gn or less.
 
I had a 300WSM that shot 208 Amax and 215 Hybrids in a 10 twist.
But I would go 9-9.5 as said above for the versatility to go heavier if you want
 
I had a long talk with Gary from Bighorn Sales today about this. Very knowledgeable guy, and great to talk to. Probably spent 45 minutes on the phone with me today. He is not recommending going with a 1:9 or even the 1:9.5 with only a 200 gr bullet as they are much harder to tune. He is recommending a 1:10 on this setup. He mentioned that he has found that the optimum twist rate is usually slighly slower than what the Berger calculator says. I am going to wait until after Christmas to order, but will definitely order the barrel from him.
 
The most accurate barrel I have is a JC customs. And I have others by Kreiger, Benchmark, Shilen. Short wait time, great prices and supporting Canadian which is a bonus.
 
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