I had a 22in 300 Win Mag that shot around 3100 fps. There can easily be as much variation from one barrel to the next as speed lost by shortening a barrel. The 22 in barreled gun I had was a Model 70 featherweight and was s handy little rifle.
shortest .300 wm barrel for a hunting rifle ?
- Thread starter madashell
- Start date
If you like the rifle, buy it. Lopping 2" off the barrel costs the same as recrowning or 25-30 bucks.
Since its a good idea to shoot a new rifle before changing anything you could do a before and after chronographing.
Since its a good idea to shoot a new rifle before changing anything you could do a before and after chronographing.
Or even better... take off an inch of barrel at a time, shoot the same ammo each time and post the chrono results... this whole "you might as well be shooting a .30/06" thing is a "decades-old" pet peeve and does not at all line up with my experience.
I thought of that too, but people get all weird when you suggest they take a hacksaw to the range.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Just like driving a one-ton diesel crew cab around town to get groceries. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but you're welcome to do it.
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
If you go ahead with your plan, consider that when you decide to sell it an overbore magnum with a shortened barrel appeals only to a very select group of enthusiasts. Or be prepared to take considerably less than fair value for it.
Antlerking
New member
- Location
- British Columbia
To compensate for loss in velocity and muzzle blast on a shorter barrelled rifle you could try using a faster burning powder,all though most magnums prefer slow burning powder! (Reason fo longer barrels)
they are not made for that?
Apparently powder choice has to do with case capacity, not barrel length. The highest velocities will come from the same powder, regardless of barrel length.
I suspect this is because peek pressure is realized well before the end of the barrel, so changes in barrel length do not impact where the peak pressure is, they only change how long the expanding gasses can accelerate the bullet.
The reason for longer barrels is the fact that the magnums gain more velocity per inch of barrel, so they have more to gain from longer barrels and they don't meet everyone's expectation of a "magnum" without that extra length/velocity.
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Clearly they are in Calgary. Lol
Antlerking
New member
- Location
- British Columbia
If peak pressure is not reached before end of barrel maximum velocity will not be reached! Result will be unburnt powder after bullet leaves the barrel = reason for longer barrel to have complete burn, only way to ensure complete burn in short barrel magnum is faster burning powder!
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Its cheaper than taking the Kenworth, but I guess it depends on how how much grub a guy needs.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I doubt you will find a .30 caliber rifle barrel long enough for a complete burn unless you have a 30" barrel chambered in .30 Carbine or perhaps .32 ACP. My 28" .308 target rifle still burns powder beyond the muzzle, never mind a .308 in hunting trim. The question is not whether or not a 20" .300 magnum has the same velocity as it would with a 26" barrel, but that a 20" .300 magnum will produce higher velocities than a 20" .30/06. This is the reason to consider it, just as one chooses a 24" .300 magnum because it develops more velocity than the 24" .30/06.
Lol
In BC, there was once talk about allowing you to register two vehicles to one set of plates, so you could have your work truck as well as a weekend get around car.... Never happened, but it was a novel idea. I know I'd love it, I need a truck for hunting/camping, but I wouldn't mind a small car for just getting around town, alas the gas savings won't pay for a second set of plates (aka insurance on the second car).
The fact remains. The same slow powder that gives max velocity in a 24 or 26 inch barrel will give max velocity in the shorter barrel.
Using faster burning powders will simply result in a lower velocity, even in the shorter barrel. Eagleye.
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
Hahaha, there are some good nuggets in this thread. Personally I love 30's I own a .308 w/ 18"bbl (BLR), a 30-06 @ 22" (700) and a 300 WSM at 24" (700). Barrel length matters, and of the 3 the '06 is the most pleasant to shoot. It is also the lightest... As a result I carry it the most, therefore I shoot it the most, therefore I shoot it the best...
There are a lot of good things to have doubles of. Scopes, gloves, flashlights, boots... But .300 WM's is not on that list for me!
My advice is to cut it to 22". Try it out, and then think about how much better it would be in 300wsm. Throated long (or deep?) a 22" tube will get effectively the same velocity as a WM, 12% less recoil and 25% less muzzle blast.
And all you will need is some brass.
Plus, with that little case packed full of powder, you will get the most consistent velocity you've ever seen over a chrony.
Careful though, if you're concerned with 'ES' the only thing better than a 300 WSM on a long action is TWO LA WSM's!
There are a lot of good things to have doubles of. Scopes, gloves, flashlights, boots... But .300 WM's is not on that list for me!
My advice is to cut it to 22". Try it out, and then think about how much better it would be in 300wsm. Throated long (or deep?) a 22" tube will get effectively the same velocity as a WM, 12% less recoil and 25% less muzzle blast.
And all you will need is some brass.
Plus, with that little case packed full of powder, you will get the most consistent velocity you've ever seen over a chrony.
Careful though, if you're concerned with 'ES' the only thing better than a 300 WSM on a long action is TWO LA WSM's!
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
Indeed, I think I could throw either barrel about the same speed. I'm thinking 45fps?
Peak pressure is reached before the bullet is halfway down even in short barrels. The longer barrel just wrings more velocity out of the same mass of gas and returns diminish with barrel length. Since max chamber pressure cant be higher with the faster powder you have to use less of it producing less gas. All you are doing is downrating your cartridge to a slower velocity. Magnum barrels used to be 24 inches its just a different tradeoff now the fashion is 26. I dont see why not a 22
