300 RUM Barrel Options

[kc0pph]

Well Its getting time that i order a new barrel for the 300 RUM I just traded for.

After doing some searching on the forums I am not sure about what to order.

First of all:
Action is a Stevens
Stock is TBD (any suggestions? Looking for something "normal" and not McMillan style (Not a big fan of the feel))
Brake will be from JE Custom
Trigger is TBD
Bullets will be the heaviest I can get (230 Berger, 220 Partition, 220/240 SMK)

I have read a lot about having a shorter barrel is better and some research i have read is stating 22-24" is the correct length for best velocity (i am skeptical about this research).

With my current understanding 28-30" is what everyone here likes and suggests. I would like to have the rifle be as light as possible but there is no set limit i am designing against.

For Length I am considering 28" unless there is a good reason to do something else.

Twist rate I hear 10 twist is a good all around twist but am wondering if a 9 would be better suited for the big bullets.

As for the rifling I have no clue as to what to pick.

Contour: looking for the lightest that i can get away with without suffering from being too light.

As for a mfg i was looking at pac-nor but dont care much as to who i order it from as long as it is the best i can get.

Any suggestions would help

 

[ultraedge]

Bartlein 5R 10 twist light palma contour, or Lilja 10 twist 3 groove Campbell contour( light palma with 5" shank) . Either one in 30" finish length. Gary

 

[Buttermilk]

"Light" in a 300 RUM means a muzzle brake for most people, but you've got that covered...

I would personally do something like a Bartlein #4 (Bull Sporter) or perhaps next contour smaller for lighter weight, such as the #3B, or #3 contour.

I'd also go 28". Lot's of powder in a RUM case. Besides, if you go shorter barrel, might as well drop back to a smaller round. No shorter than 26", preferrably 28"

 

[trebark]

J E custom will tell you that the only advantage a light rifle has is weight. All other advantages go to the heavy rifle. I'm not saying ignore the weight but it should be low on the worry list.

Length - go 28" or longer. With a BIG magnum like the 300RUM it will use all the barrel you give it.

Contour - go with the heaviest you can stand.

Twist - go 1:10 as this will even handle the 240SMK which is the biggest bullet available.

Rifling - the consensus seems to be that cut rifling is the best when building an 'accurate' rifle.

Stock - if you prefer a 'sporter' type stock, you have lots to choose from. If the one you choose does not have an aluminum chassis, be sure to bed the action into the stock.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-300rum-mcr-70809/#post494570

 

[kc0pph]

Well Bartlein Light Palma comes in the 30" for $345 and with a weight of 4.5# i can live with that. The only suggestion thus far is a 5c which i assume is a 5 groove.

I would also like to get it fluted are there any downsides to that. I would prob go with a med or heavy if i get it fluted.

Next question which is not dealing with barrel mfg but rather my gunsmith.

I see some good posts about the 215 Hybrid should i go for it or the 230? I prob will not be stretching it out past 1000 yards in the near future but it is an option possibly later on. Now depending on the bullet i should be able to tell JE Custom that i want the rifle throated for that bullet and he should be able to do that correct? Or am i missing something and i have to guess what is needed and spec that when i send the parts to him?

Lastly can anyone recommend some stocks -- it is a Savage Stevens center feed that i will be using and not looking for anything fancy and if it is in the $300 range it would be great!

 

[HARPERC]

Twist - go 1:10 as this will even handle the 240SMK which is the biggest bullet available.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-300rum-mcr-70809/#post494570

Sierra strongly recommends 1-9". Never shot them myself.

 

[kc0pph]

Wondering if velocity will make up for a 10 twist. I don't plan on shooting the smk so it's not a huge deal

 

[Edd]

Wondering if velocity will make up for a 10 twist. I don't plan on shooting the smk so it's not a huge deal

No, you can't substitute velocity for twist.

 

[trebark]

Well Bartlein Light Palma comes in the 30" for $345 and with a weight of 4.5# i can live with that. The only suggestion thus far is a 5c which i assume is a 5 groove.

I would also like to get it fluted are there any downsides to that. I would prob go with a med or heavy if i get it fluted.

Next question which is not dealing with barrel mfg but rather my gunsmith.

I see some good posts about the 215 Hybrid should i go for it or the 230? I prob will not be stretching it out past 1000 yards in the near future but it is an option possibly later on. Now depending on the bullet i should be able to tell JE Custom that i want the rifle throated for that bullet and he should be able to do that correct? Or am i missing something and i have to guess what is needed and spec that when i send the parts to him?

Lastly can anyone recommend some stocks -- it is a Savage Stevens center feed that i will be using and not looking for anything fancy and if it is in the $300 range it would be great!

Fluting - as far as I'm concerned, there is no downside to fluting. Both of my longrange rigs have fluted barrels. Plus they look cool especially if you paint the flutes a complementary color to the rest of the barrel.

Bullets - If your intent is to stay at 1000 or closer, look at the 208Amax, 210VLD and the 215hybrid. Although the 230 has a higher BC the higher velocity of the other three bullets overcomes this. But when the distances get long (beyond ~1200) the BC of the 230 will take over.

Throating - yes, if you can tell JE Custom the bullet you want to shoot he should be able to throat it correctly with no further info.

Stocks - the biggest issue you're going to run into is that your action is a Savage Stevens. Not sure there are many manufactures making stocks for them. Check out www.stockysstocks.com. They generally have a good selection. Alternatively, look at Sharp Shooter Supply - The Savage Specialists they are 'savage specialists' and it looks like they have some nice laminate stocks in the $300 range.

 

[kc0pph]

Well I think ill go with a [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bell & Carlson Medalist stock as I think they look nice and have heard of other people using them.

As far as fluting I like the idea with the paint but unsure if ill have it painted.

I have heard nothing but good news about the 215 and the A-MAX so ill have to figure out which one is better.

[/FONT]

 

[kc0pph]

Well here is the current shopping list for the rifle i plan to buy everything here in the next 2 months and have it sent off to JE -- after that i can let the pocket book recover and buy the Scope and send it to have it installed. I also plan to get a pelican case for it to sit in

 

[Wachsmann]

If this helps at all I shooting the standard rem sender, 1-10 twist, 26 inch, 300 RUM. I shoot the 230 bergers at 2950fps with 89.3grn of retumbo. I'm past mag length so I single feed it. they shoot fine in this rifle. Been shooting out to 750 right now busting milk jugs. Its been bedded and has a break. The break is great. Its night and day without it. When ever the barrel wears out I plan to go to a 28 to 30 inch barrel myself and have the action blue printed and have the large mag box installed. Hopefully will be able to use the same stock though.

 

[Tarheelpwr]

Just some input to clarify some things for you. I think the 24-26" length was in reference to tactical applications with the win mag. 22" was stated to get pretty much complete burn and be adequate for a tactical (LE sniper) application. Same article also recommend 24" if you plan on an heavy bullets and slow powder. Much different requirements that LR hunting where you want to squeak every last bit out.

As to bullets, I would def recommend the 230 Berger over the 215, esp for 1000 or less. Seems counterintuitive but the lower muzzle velocity is a good thing. Broz did a GREAT write up on the Berger bullets and at higher velocity, you get REALY big exit holes, almost too big. My personal take is that I'd rather have less velocity in the 230. Everything else is about equal. the 200FPS speed advantage of the 215 gives less drop and the energy is about the same at a given distance. BUT, I'd rather have the slower speed to control exits.

my 0.02

 

[elkaholic]

I've had 3 300 RUMs and they are hard on shoulders and barrels! The brake is a good idea. I would go with the 3 groove Lilja if I were you. The wider lands lasted well for me and accuracy was great. You will increase velocity about 35'/sec. for each inch barrel length. Melonite treating your barrel is a little extra, but I think it is well worth it. They are supposed to last longer (jury is still out on that) and they do clean up nice and easy and are impervious to everything. I would go with at least a #5 contour and it might have to be that large to flute a 30? The light Palma would also be good. Even though a 10 twist will handle most bullets, my next build will probably be a 9 1/2. Bullets are getting longer all the time and the extra twist may even help at extreme ranges. (velocity makes VERY little difference in twist needed. good luck with your build.......Rich