Barrel Length 300 win Mag

If it isn't broke don't fix.

 

+1

When I first read your heading I was going to say 26" min but 28" would be my pic all day long.

Why do you want a shorter barrel? If its weight get a smaller profile and keep it long.

 

+1 I wouldn't mess with it if it were me but if you must do it, go find a reputable smith and make sure he cuts the crown correctly. You're taking a chance by doing it but you can minimize the chance of accuracy loss by having it done by a good smith. On a side note, I wouldn't go below 24". Personal feeling is that if you do, you end up with a belligerant 06.

 

In the last three 300 wins we have built, we have found 27~28" to be a great length and work well with H-1000 powders burn rate. I have also seen the 26" factory barrel shoot well but with a noticable difference in velocity. For me 26 is the shortest barrel I would want for a LR rifle.

Jeff

 

I agree with the others on 26" being the shortest for the .300WinMag (for me). You're averaging 70+ grains of powder, anything shorter and a flame-thrower comes to mind.
I think I read some of the new rounds (.300RCM) were designed to provide magnum velocities/energy with shorter tubes. Might want to look in to these. Good luck. JohnnyK.

 

BGOOD,
BE GOOD to that rifle and don't touch it!

If you need a lighter, shorter barreled rifle it looks like a great reason to get a NEW RIFLE!
That's what I always do.
In the last year I have come up with 9 great reasons, of course my wife doesn't really understand them !LOL

Good news is ,she lets me keep those poor stray rifles I take in and provide a loving home for.

 

I seriously doubt you'll see 100 fps loss in velocity if you go with a faster powder burn. But what you will see is a stiffer barrel (I thinking 24" barrel here), which will aid in shot repeatability. Here's something to think about; with a #7 contour barrel 26" long (that's a pretty heavy barrel) verses the same exact barrel 21", the 21" barrel is right at 2.75 times more ridgid. So in theory you shorld see a little difference just cutting the barrel off two inches. You still should see close to 3100 fps (safely) with a 180 grain bullet and a 24" barrel. I'd also say that you'll probably see close to 2950 fps with a 22" barrel and the correct powder burn, but will probably group even tighter.
gary

 

I'm in the school of thought that simply says "you gotta hit it first." A .300 Winchester is really about the max a 30 caliber will handle effieciently, and when you compair it to the .308 Norma Mag you see very little difference between the two, or better yet compair the .300 to a .300 Weatherby in 180 grain class rounds. Untill you move up to the 200+ grain bullets; there's not all that much difference. Personally I like the Norma better than the Winchester due to the longer neck, and bullet performance with heavy bullets shows up between the two case designs.

When you opt for a shorter barrel it does change the equation quite a bit. You use different powders that tend to burn slightly faster. But on the otherhand have you ever thought about how much powder your just blowing down the barrel unburnt? Or the opposite in the idea that you burnt all the powder in the case before the bullet left the barrel? If you get similar velocity out of a 24" barrel as you did with a 26" barrel; your then left with a 26" tuning fork. But if you need the whole barrel length, then it's another story. I doubt you will see a 100 fps loss with the right kind of powder, but will rid yourself of a lot of bad harmonics going thru the barrel
gary

 

My 300wm has a 19" barrel. I load 168 Bergers just short of 3100 fps with IMR 4350 for consistent .5 moa at any distance. It's a handy hunting rig.

 

I know this is an old thread, but I found this article about barrel length, and it covered the .300WM.

SWAT Article BARREL LENGTH

 

Yes & as he stated that for hot loads with heavy bullets & slow powder, the longer barrels have an advantage with the 300 WM. But it also does a good job of explaining times when short barrels are nice, esp. with the 308.