8 twist 22” 300 Win Mag with 215 Berger Hybrids

[Ted Evans]

I am building a new long range elk rifle and I need some advice from the wise folks on this forum. First off, I'm 100% committed to using my Thunderbeast Ultra 7 can on this build. I shoot supressed on all my rifles and just can't go back to shooting without a can.

That constraint creates some issues when you consider I want to use 215 or 230 grain hybrids. Additionally, I am trying to keep the barrel (with the can) under 30" so the complete package isn't too unwieldy in the field. That forces me into a 23" or shorter barrel. I realize this hampers the 300's capability a bit, but I am curious what I can expect going to a shorter fast twist barrel and a slightly faster powder then say h1000. Possibly 4831, etc.....I will primarily use this for elk hunting, but I will shoot over 1000 yards on steel year round.

This is what I have in mind for the build, so please tell me what you think....by the way I have all these parts. The only thing I haven't done is cut, chamber, thread and crown the barrel.

Stiller predator action
McMillan edge gamescout stock
HS precision bottle metal with 3.7" mag box. Can run 215-230s at 3.6" COL
Bartlein 8 twist .308 barrel. Light Palma contour, currently uncut
Timney trigger
4-16x42 f1 NF ATACR
20moa rail
TB Ultra 7 can

Do you think I can get to 2850ish FPS with 215 berger hybrids and still have a supressed gun that is reasonably maneuverable in the field? I am 6'4", so I am more comfortable with slightly longer rifles, but a supressed 26" barrel is just too much of a good thing in my open opinion. Therefore, an 8 twist 22" tube seems to scratch the itch, but I have no experience with this combination. What do you all think?

Regards,
Ted

 

[WildRose]

I am building a new long range elk rifle and I need some advice from the wise folks on this forum. First off, I'm 100% committed to using my Thunderbeast Ultra 7 can on this build. I shoot supressed on all my rifles and just can't go back to shooting without a can.

That constraint creates some issues when you consider I want to use 215 or 230 grain hybrids. Additionally, I am trying to keep the barrel (with the can) under 30" so the complete package isn't too unwieldy in the field. That forces me into a 23" or shorter barrel. I realize this hampers the 300's capability a bit, but I am curious what I can expect going to a shorter fast twist barrel and a slightly faster powder then say h1000. Possibly 4831, etc.....I will primarily use this for elk hunting, but I will shoot over 1000 yards on steel year round.

This is what I have in mind for the build, so please tell me what you think....by the way I have all these parts. The only thing I haven't done is cut, chamber, thread and crown the barrel.

Stiller predator action
McMillan edge gamescout stock
HS precision bottle metal with 3.7" mag box. Can run 215-230s at 3.6" COL
Bartlein 8 twist .308 barrel. Light Palma contour, currently uncut
Timney trigger
4-16x42 f1 NF ATACR
20moa rail
TB Ultra 7 can

Do you think I can get to 2850ish FPS with 215 berger hybrids and still have a supressed gun that is reasonably maneuverable in the field? I am 6'4", so I am more comfortable with slightly longer rifles, but a supressed 26" barrel is just too much of a good thing in my open opinion. Therefore, an 8 twist 22" tube seems to scratch the itch, but I have no experience with this combination. What do you all think?

Regards,
Ted

There are very good cans out there that slide partially or largely over the barrel to reduce the total length. If it were me I think I'd go for at least a 24-26" barrel and a shorter can or one that slides more over the barrel rather than cutting down to 22".

With the WM you're going to loose 50-75fps for every inch of barrel so you should be able to calculate it pretty close by comparing your proposed 22" barrel to similar loads running in longer barrels.

 

[Ted Evans]

There are very good cans out there that slide partially or largely over the barrel to reduce the total length. If it were me I think I'd go for at least a 24-26" barrel and a shorter can or one that slides more over the barrel rather than cutting down to 22".

With the WM you're going to loose 50-75fps for every inch of barrel so you should be able to calculate it pretty close by comparing your proposed 22" barrel to similar loads running in longer barrels.

Thanks for the feedback, you raise some good points. Unfortunately, I don't really want to buy a new can if I don't have to. Maybe I jump up to 24" barrel? But then I have a pretty long gun with the can. I guess I really need a bull pup design to help shorten the whole package, but an 11 pound desert tech with two and a half pounds of scopeis a bit much for humping up and down mountain

 

[WildRose]

Thanks for the feedback, you raise some good points. Unfortunately, I don't really want to buy a new can if I don't have to. Maybe I jump up to 24" barrel? But then I have a pretty long gun with the can. I guess I really need a bull pup design to help shorten the whole package, but an 11 pound desert tech with two and a half pounds of scopeis a bit much for humping up and down mountain

Unless you're stalking and jump shooting I wouldn't worry too much about it. Once you settle into a shooting position put on the can and problem solved.

If you happen to jump one and don't have time to mount the can taking one shot without it isn't going to bother you much if any due to the adrenaline.

The can I ran in Africa is really long and even in the heavy brush with it mounted on the 26" 300wm I really didn't notice it being a problem, I'd just adjust how I carried it where it was more horizontal to the ground than vertical.

 

[Ted Evans]

Unless you're stalking and jump shooting I wouldn't worry too much about it. Once you settle into a shooting position put on the can and problem solved.

If you happen to jump one and don't have time to mount the can taking one shot without it isn't going to bother you much if any due to the adrenaline.

The can I ran in Africa is really long and even in the heavy brush with it mounted on the 26" 300wm I really didn't notice it being a problem, I'd just adjust how I carried it where it was more horizontal to the ground than vertical.

By the way, that is a ridiculous sable!! Beautiful animal!

 

[nbowlin]

I did a load for an employee of mine on a cut down tikka...22". With 200nabs at 3020fps with rl16 on a 300wsm. You should be close.

 

[Ted Evans]

I did a load for an employee of mine on a cut down tikka...22". With 200nabs at 3020fps with rl16 on a 300wsm. You should be close.

Wow, that is hauling ***! I have two 300 wsm's and The fastest I can get with 200 ELDX's is about 2825....I have one with a 24" tube and one with a 22" barrel inch tube. In reality I think the 300wsm is better suited for 180s and below. Not enough magazine space for the longer pills. Thus the reason for me building a 300win mag with an extended mag box.

 

[notahd]

I am building a new long range elk rifle and I need some advice from the wise folks on this forum. First off, I'm 100% committed to using my Thunderbeast Ultra 7 can on this build. I shoot supressed on all my rifles and just can't go back to shooting without a can.

That constraint creates some issues when you consider I want to use 215 or 230 grain hybrids. Additionally, I am trying to keep the barrel (with the can) under 30" so the complete package isn't too unwieldy in the field. That forces me into a 23" or shorter barrel. I realize this hampers the 300's capability a bit, but I am curious what I can expect going to a shorter fast twist barrel and a slightly faster powder then say h1000. Possibly 4831, etc.....I will primarily use this for elk hunting, but I will shoot over 1000 yards on steel year round.

This is what I have in mind for the build, so please tell me what you think....by the way I have all these parts. The only thing I haven't done is cut, chamber, thread and crown the barrel.

Stiller predator action
McMillan edge gamescout stock
HS precision bottle metal with 3.7" mag box. Can run 215-230s at 3.6" COL
Bartlein 8 twist .308 barrel. Light Palma contour, currently uncut
Timney trigger
4-16x42 f1 NF ATACR
20moa rail
TB Ultra 7 can

Do you think I can get to 2850ish FPS with 215 berger hybrids and still have a supressed gun that is reasonably maneuverable in the field? I am 6'4", so I am more comfortable with slightly longer rifles, but a supressed 26" barrel is just too much of a good thing in my open opinion. Therefore, an 8 twist 22" tube seems to scratch the itch, but I have no experience with this combination. What do you all think?

Regards,
Ted

 

[notahd]

 

[notahd]

215s with H1000

 

[Phillygunner]

I am building a new long range elk rifle and I need some advice from the wise folks on this forum. First off, I'm 100% committed to using my Thunderbeast Ultra 7 can on this build. I shoot supressed on all my rifles and just can't go back to shooting without a can.

That constraint creates some issues when you consider I want to use 215 or 230 grain hybrids. Additionally, I am trying to keep the barrel (with the can) under 30" so the complete package isn't too unwieldy in the field. That forces me into a 23" or shorter barrel. I realize this hampers the 300's capability a bit, but I am curious what I can expect going to a shorter fast twist barrel and a slightly faster powder then say h1000. Possibly 4831, etc.....I will primarily use this for elk hunting, but I will shoot over 1000 yards on steel year round.

This is what I have in mind for the build, so please tell me what you think....by the way I have all these parts. The only thing I haven't done is cut, chamber, thread and crown the barrel.

Stiller predator action
McMillan edge gamescout stock
HS precision bottle metal with 3.7" mag box. Can run 215-230s at 3.6" COL
Bartlein 8 twist .308 barrel. Light Palma contour, currently uncut
Timney trigger
4-16x42 f1 NF ATACR
20moa rail
TB Ultra 7 can

Do you think I can get to 2850ish FPS with 215 berger hybrids and still have a supressed gun that is reasonably maneuverable in the field? I am 6'4", so I am more comfortable with slightly longer rifles, but a supressed 26" barrel is just too much of a good thing in my open opinion. Therefore, an 8 twist 22" tube seems to scratch the itch, but I have no experience with this combination. What do you all think?

Regards,
Ted

 

[Ted Evans]

215s with H1000

Wow, that's a shooter! What barrel length and twist are you running? What is the COL?

 

[Phillygunner]

Ted,
That's a great collection of parts. The 1-8 twist will probably help you get where you're going. Obviously the 23" barrel is what you're concerned about. I think you'll probably get very close with the 215's, but the 230's are probably not going to cooperate with the velocity you're seeking in that combo. I would bet you'd be closer to 2750-2800 with the 230's. You didn't say at what altitude you'd be shooting these primarily. But, if you're up high, you won't notice it as much. The effect will be mitigated some. But, even down at sea level. It's still a 300 wm and will accomplish 1000 yard shooting with no real problems I would expect. I shoot a 26" 1-10 twist 300wm with 215 and 230's out past a mile without much problem. At that distance your caliber and barrel length are not your problem.... It's the darn wind! I would work on finding an optimal load for each bullet and then just shoot the rifle. I bet it will be a beast when it's assembled. Oh btw, my 300WM precision gun is built on one of Russ's TAC300 actions. Works well.

 

[Ted Evans]

That is great feedback, thanks for the response. I live at 6000 feet and shoot between 6000 and 10000 feet depending on where I go. I suspect I could probably get away with slower twist barrel but I selected an 8 twist on the chance I wanted to play with 230 Berger's or the new Sierras. Also, if I cut the barrel to 22" I figured that fast twist would help stabilization in a short tube.

You are correct about my concerns about having too short of a barrel. I guess I am weighing the trade off between maneuverability and bullet speed. It's kind of hard to get both with this build so I'm trying to find the sweet spot. I'm leaning towards cutting to 22"