Barrel Length / Velocity and Trajectory

[flip1]

I have a beater 300WM with a 24" barrel.

I am interested in turning it into more of a "scout" or carbine configuration by shortening the barrel to either 20" or 18".

Any thoughts or experience as to what I will lose in longer range trajectory?

I know that right now, for hunting purposes sighted at 2" high/100 yards, I am on at 200 yards and about 6" low at 300.

JB

 

[blargon]

lose 50-100fps per inch, and gain a ####load of muzzle blast

 

[jiminthecorner]

All my hunting rifles 284 win,9.3x62,358 win, have 19" bbls. Muzzle blast be damned!! I just like the "carbine"look and feel. Plus they are handier in the bush,just my 2 cents...JITC

 

[p-17]

Magnums suffer disproportionately when you cut the barrel back.

If you chop a .300 Winchester back to 18 inches, you will have a loud, mean, hard-kicking .30-06.

My hunting rifle is a Sako .300 Winchester Magnum with a 22.5 inch barrel. That's about as short as I would go with this cartridge, and that barrel length wasn't my first choice. I'd prefer 24 inches. Having said that, I managed to work out a load that still cracks 3,050 f.p.s. with a 180-grain Accubond, but it wasn't easy.

In my opinion, if you want a "scout" type carbine, go with a scout type cartridge like a .308 or 7-08. I suppose you could even try one of the short magnums.

 

[Barracuda]

lose 50-100fps per inch, and gain a s**tload of muzzle blast

50 to 100fps is a little excessive, actuall velocity loss is less then most people think and normally one can make up the loss by hand loading to acheive near factory ballistics. the real question is how much muzzle blast do you want to contend with as the short pipe make big noise
I love carbines they are so handy and fast handling that i can forgive its bark

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_barrel.htm
http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/October05.htm

interestingly professionals are turning to shorter barrels also

http://www.tacticaloperations.com/SWATbarrel/

 

[jethunter]

I have a beater 300WM with a 24" barrel.

I am interested in turning it into more of a "scout" or carbine configuration by shortening the barrel to either 20" or 18".

Any thoughts or experience as to what I will lose in longer range trajectory?

I know that right now, for hunting purposes sighted at 2" high/100 yards, I am on at 200 yards and about 6" low at 300.

JB

I'd say you will lose 20-40 fps per inch you cut off. Roughly 100-150 fps for 4 inches. That will basically change your 300 into a 30-06.