I am making this post because I said I would update on my personal build or any other information regarding the 300 WSM Varminter designed by Richard Franklin.
For those who are new, the 300 WSM Varminter was created by Richard Franklin. The 300 Varminter was designed as a special long range high velocity varmint rifle to shoot the poly tipped bullets, 125grn Ballistic Tip and 110grn V-Max, at speeds of over 4000fps. The 300 WSM Varminter will push the 125grn Ballistic tip at 4065fps and the 110grn V-Max at 4140fps.
However, in order to get this type of performance out of the 300 WSM the rifle has to be built around a Tight neck .337 Match chamber for Norma brass, custom Action Nesika or Bat, 1-15 twist barrel, and Norma 300 WSM Brass.
It's VERY IMPORTANT to understand that a factory 300 WSM will come NO where near the velocities mentioned above. The "300 WSM Varminter" is a special rifle and is built specifically to shoot the 125 and 110grn .30cal poly tipped bullets.
My 300 WSM Varminter is still being built, however, I have received a ton of information from those who currently own the 300 WSM Varminter. Richard has built around 25 300 WSM Varminters during 2007. I have spoken with 10 individuals who own the 300 WSM Varminter, and they have given me some excellent information regarding pressure, velocity, accuracy, and brass performance.
The individuals that provided me with info have all had their rifles build by Richard Franklin, designed around either a Nesika or Bat action and all of them are using the same barrel which is the 30" Bartlien, 1-15 twist barrel.
Richard recommends the 300 Varminter be built with the Bartlien 1-15 twist barrel. They are all using the same powder, which is VV-N550. They are using between 73 to 75grns of N550 powder. The majority of the owners indicated the best accuarcy velocity combo was between 73.8grns to 74.2grns.
1. Regarding pressure; All the information I received indicated the 300 WSM Varminter is not showing any signs of dangerous pressure levels. Of course there is pressure just like with any other high performance cartridge, however, the cartridge is performing well and very safe. The 300 WSM Varminter is NOT showing any signs of heavy bolt lift, ect with the custom action.
None of the individuals I spoke with used a factory trued action, they all had a custom Nesika or BAT action. So I didn't get any info from those who had the 300 WSM Varminter built around a trued factory action. Richard indicates the 300 WSM Varmint will reach velocities around 3800fps with the 125grn BT and 110grn V-Max if using a factory action.
2. Regarding Velocity; All 10 of the individual who own the 300 WSM Varminter are getting over 4000+fps with the 125grn Ballistic and 110grn V-Max. The highest velocity recorded with the 125grn BT was 4065fps. All of the owners have indicated the best accuracy with the 125grn BT is when it is pushed at around 4015fps to 4025fps. The highest velociy recorded with the 110grn V-max was 4140fps. All of the owners indicated the V-Max was most accurate at around 4070 to 4080fps.
3. Regarding accuracy; All of the owners inicated that the 300 WSM Varminter is very accurate. All owners informed me they are getting accuarcy in the high .1's to low .3's at 100 yards. All the owners indicated the accuracy, at the longer ranges, is absolutly incredible with both bullets. All owners agreed the 125grn BT is performing extreamly well at short and long ranges.
All owners have shot the 125grn bullet at 800 to 1000 yards. They all reported excellent accuracy out to 1000 yards. They agreed the 125gn BT performed very well in windy conditions. Some of the owners indicated they use the 125grn BT for ranges only out to 850 yards and then switch to a higher BC set up for shots past 1000 yards. They all agreed this cartridge and bullet combo is at it's best out to 800 yards, but they all said they have had much success with many 1 shot kills out to 1000 yards. All of them agreed they would switch the a Higher BC bullet for shots past 1000 yards, so would I.
Regardng brass performance; All owners have had excellent performance with the NORMA 300 WSM Brass. So far they have had no major primer pocket problems, case stretching, ect. Some of the owners have more than 7 firings out of the Norma brass. Two of the owners indicated they had some minor problems with primer pockets loosening up, however, they also said it was after the 5 firing on the brass. The other owners said they have had no problems at all.
From what I have heard so far, it sounds like the 300 WSM Varminter is performing well for it's intended purpose which is varmint hunting out to 1000 yards. It sounds like the 300 WSM Varminter performs best at the 800 to 850 yard mark. All owners said it is an awesome flat shooting varmint set up, and it is deadly deadly accurate.
They all said it is absolutely devastating on larger varmints such as Ground Hogs and Coyotes. One of the guys said he took it on a PDog hunt this last summer, he said it was an awesome sight when he hit PDogs at the longer ranges. He also said it is his favorite varmint rig. The same individual is coming out my way, and we are going to take his 300 WSM Varminter to an area where the squirrels are out by the tons. I am looking forward to seeing how it performes in person. I will post the info, about that shoot, if the individual is able to come out.
As soon as I receive my 300 WSM Varminter, I will post the info. I will be truthful about it's performance. I should be receiving the rifle in March or April, and I will post pictures of rifle, target proof, and performance. If anyone is interested about the 300 WSM Varminter, you can see the article at 6mmbr.com at accurateshooter under "Franklin's 4000 FPS .30-Cal Varminter is a hit with Hunters". Anyhow, I am sure I will receive some comments about the post, but I did say I would post info about this build and any info I received.
Wildcat
For those who are new, the 300 WSM Varminter was created by Richard Franklin. The 300 Varminter was designed as a special long range high velocity varmint rifle to shoot the poly tipped bullets, 125grn Ballistic Tip and 110grn V-Max, at speeds of over 4000fps. The 300 WSM Varminter will push the 125grn Ballistic tip at 4065fps and the 110grn V-Max at 4140fps.
However, in order to get this type of performance out of the 300 WSM the rifle has to be built around a Tight neck .337 Match chamber for Norma brass, custom Action Nesika or Bat, 1-15 twist barrel, and Norma 300 WSM Brass.
It's VERY IMPORTANT to understand that a factory 300 WSM will come NO where near the velocities mentioned above. The "300 WSM Varminter" is a special rifle and is built specifically to shoot the 125 and 110grn .30cal poly tipped bullets.
My 300 WSM Varminter is still being built, however, I have received a ton of information from those who currently own the 300 WSM Varminter. Richard has built around 25 300 WSM Varminters during 2007. I have spoken with 10 individuals who own the 300 WSM Varminter, and they have given me some excellent information regarding pressure, velocity, accuracy, and brass performance.
The individuals that provided me with info have all had their rifles build by Richard Franklin, designed around either a Nesika or Bat action and all of them are using the same barrel which is the 30" Bartlien, 1-15 twist barrel.
Richard recommends the 300 Varminter be built with the Bartlien 1-15 twist barrel. They are all using the same powder, which is VV-N550. They are using between 73 to 75grns of N550 powder. The majority of the owners indicated the best accuarcy velocity combo was between 73.8grns to 74.2grns.
1. Regarding pressure; All the information I received indicated the 300 WSM Varminter is not showing any signs of dangerous pressure levels. Of course there is pressure just like with any other high performance cartridge, however, the cartridge is performing well and very safe. The 300 WSM Varminter is NOT showing any signs of heavy bolt lift, ect with the custom action.
None of the individuals I spoke with used a factory trued action, they all had a custom Nesika or BAT action. So I didn't get any info from those who had the 300 WSM Varminter built around a trued factory action. Richard indicates the 300 WSM Varmint will reach velocities around 3800fps with the 125grn BT and 110grn V-Max if using a factory action.
2. Regarding Velocity; All 10 of the individual who own the 300 WSM Varminter are getting over 4000+fps with the 125grn Ballistic and 110grn V-Max. The highest velocity recorded with the 125grn BT was 4065fps. All of the owners have indicated the best accuracy with the 125grn BT is when it is pushed at around 4015fps to 4025fps. The highest velociy recorded with the 110grn V-max was 4140fps. All of the owners indicated the V-Max was most accurate at around 4070 to 4080fps.
3. Regarding accuracy; All of the owners inicated that the 300 WSM Varminter is very accurate. All owners informed me they are getting accuarcy in the high .1's to low .3's at 100 yards. All the owners indicated the accuracy, at the longer ranges, is absolutly incredible with both bullets. All owners agreed the 125grn BT is performing extreamly well at short and long ranges.
All owners have shot the 125grn bullet at 800 to 1000 yards. They all reported excellent accuracy out to 1000 yards. They agreed the 125gn BT performed very well in windy conditions. Some of the owners indicated they use the 125grn BT for ranges only out to 850 yards and then switch to a higher BC set up for shots past 1000 yards. They all agreed this cartridge and bullet combo is at it's best out to 800 yards, but they all said they have had much success with many 1 shot kills out to 1000 yards. All of them agreed they would switch the a Higher BC bullet for shots past 1000 yards, so would I.
Regardng brass performance; All owners have had excellent performance with the NORMA 300 WSM Brass. So far they have had no major primer pocket problems, case stretching, ect. Some of the owners have more than 7 firings out of the Norma brass. Two of the owners indicated they had some minor problems with primer pockets loosening up, however, they also said it was after the 5 firing on the brass. The other owners said they have had no problems at all.
From what I have heard so far, it sounds like the 300 WSM Varminter is performing well for it's intended purpose which is varmint hunting out to 1000 yards. It sounds like the 300 WSM Varminter performs best at the 800 to 850 yard mark. All owners said it is an awesome flat shooting varmint set up, and it is deadly deadly accurate.
They all said it is absolutely devastating on larger varmints such as Ground Hogs and Coyotes. One of the guys said he took it on a PDog hunt this last summer, he said it was an awesome sight when he hit PDogs at the longer ranges. He also said it is his favorite varmint rig. The same individual is coming out my way, and we are going to take his 300 WSM Varminter to an area where the squirrels are out by the tons. I am looking forward to seeing how it performes in person. I will post the info, about that shoot, if the individual is able to come out.
As soon as I receive my 300 WSM Varminter, I will post the info. I will be truthful about it's performance. I should be receiving the rifle in March or April, and I will post pictures of rifle, target proof, and performance. If anyone is interested about the 300 WSM Varminter, you can see the article at 6mmbr.com at accurateshooter under "Franklin's 4000 FPS .30-Cal Varminter is a hit with Hunters". Anyhow, I am sure I will receive some comments about the post, but I did say I would post info about this build and any info I received.
Wildcat
