300 PRC barrel length?

[Emine]

I'm thinking about rebarreling one of my guns to a 300 prc. I'm wondering what everyone recommends for ideal barrel length. I'm thinking 24"? It's gonna have a suppressor but I want it for long range elk gun so I'm ok with some length

 

[WeiserBucks]

20"

 

[Dean2]

There are 2 dozen barrel length discussions in the past month alone. I try to answer these in a helpful way, but it gets tiresome trying to help people who won't even use the search function.

This one is currently active -at least take the time to read what is already here and in the 200 other threads on barrel length.
If you have specific questions after that, guys will be happy to try and help.

Post in thread '270 Win - 22" vs 24"'

May 30, 2026

I pick barrel length based on the use the rifle will be put too. Longer barrels for open country, and heavier rifles I don't have to pack far. Target rifles, usually longer barrels. My favourite all round hunting rifle is a Melvin Forbes made NULA in 308 Win. With Swaro Z5 scope, 4 in the mag and sling, 6lbs 3 ounces. It has a 20" barrel because that lines up with Ultra light, handy and easy to pack. It will still spit out 130 grain at 3150 and 150 grain at 3100 fps. A longer barrel would get me more velocity, but the trade offs aren't worth it to me.

I think that is what the OP was...

• Dean2

• 

 

[Casscade]

24 min imo, why go after performance then cut the wheels, just run a hot 06, or any of the tons of other 30's that do the same thing. For me a can and handy doesn't go in the same sentence, I may pack one but it's never attached most times. So either you want performance or you don't, it's why most 7mms along with various other cartridges lately with the 18-20 inch bbl's suck on getting what they should be getting, especially for the powder spent. Idk though, some like shooting a full house 357 in a 2 inch bbl, so each their own.

 

[jseandsje]

I'm thinking about rebarreling one of my guns to a 300 prc. I'm wondering what everyone recommends for ideal barrel length. I'm thinking 24"? It's gonna have a suppressor but I want it for long range elk gun so I'm ok with some length

Do not own any suppressors, but I wonder how much of that 80-85 grain of powder remains unburned at the end of a 20" barrel. Is this ok for the suppressor?

Just seems like 24" wound be better. With suppressor attached may be a little long, but maybe you don't plan to stalk through the timber with it.

 

[ARlife4me]

30-36" w/o a can. -8 w/can

 

[Emine]

There are 2 dozen barrel length discussions in the past month alone. I try to answer these in a helpful way, but it gets tiresome trying to help people who won't even use the search function.

This one is currently active -at least take the time to read what is already here and in the 200 other threads on barrel length.
If you have specific questions after that, guys will be happy to try and help.

Post in thread '270 Win - 22" vs 24"'

May 30, 2026

I pick barrel length based on the use the rifle will be put too. Longer barrels for open country, and heavier rifles I don't have to pack far. Target rifles, usually longer barrels. My favourite all round hunting rifle is a Melvin Forbes made NULA in 308 Win. With Swaro Z5 scope, 4 in the mag and sling, 6lbs 3 ounces. It has a 20" barrel because that lines up with Ultra light, handy and easy to pack. It will still spit out 130 grain at 3150 and 150 grain at 3100 fps. A longer barrel would get me more velocity, but the trade offs aren't worth it to me.

I think that is what the OP was...

• Dean2

• 

Yea sorry. I did some searching but didn't find much specifically on the 300 prc and length. I have a 6 creed in an 18" and a 6.5 prc in 24".

 

[Eagleman Long Range]

 

[Dean2]

Yea sorry. I did some searching but didn't find much specifically on the 300 prc and length. I have a 6 creed in an 18" and a 6.5 prc in 24".

The exact cartridge is not a major factor, except that the more slow burning powder a cartridge uses, the worse shortening the barrel affects it. Short 20 or 22 inch barreled Rums, Noslers etc. that use 95+ grains of powder are in my mind just silly. Huge muzzle blast, short barrel life and poor performance for the amount of powder being burned. You want a Ferrari for long distance, give it aat least a 26" barrel and put a good brake on it, wear top notch ear protection when hunting. My 7 Rum set for hunting is 26" and no brake, use the brake at the range. A moderator on a long range rifle seems kind of redundant to me and really make a long barreled rifle even more unwieldy.

You want short barrel with or without a can, get a cartridge that uses less than 60 grains like a 308, 280AI, 338-06, or 30-06 and use it within its range limitations.

Have a read through the threads immediately below. They discuss a lot of the issues.

 

[MagnumManiac]

16".

Cheers.

 

[cradel54]

I have a 20" 300 PRC, for reference I have 190 LRX going just shy of 3100 with no pressure signs and 225 ELDM Factory loads are going about 2750.

 

[waveslayer]

Go 22" and get a TBAC Ultra 5. Throw a rexoil X brake on it

 

[JamesWilson5]

26 inch if u want most of it's potential. If u want a very short barrel u are headed into 30.06 country

 

[Dacedom90]

First, forget the internet lore that says you need 26" minimum. That's benchrest thinking. For a long-range elk gun that's going to wear a suppressor, 24" is absolutely the sweet spot.