Short Barrel Tikka 300WM (Supressed)?

[Ranger260]

After 5 years of trying out several factory through semi-custom rifles, I have come back full circle back to Tikka (have 4 now), and a smattering of other European rifles. I've been looking for a stainless T3x in 300WSM for several months unsuccessfully, but ended up buying a 300WM when I saw a good deal. In the meantime, I picked up a Silencerco 36M for this rifle.

My initial thought was to cut the 300WSM to 20 inches for elk hunting suppressed, using 200gr AB and Berger 200.20x bullets. I plan to use a Bushnell LRHS 4.5-18x or take a Nightforce SHV 3-10x off another rifle. But since I now have a 300WM, I was wondering If I would be happy cutting it that short and whether the 300WM would shoot those bullets without having to seat them too deeply? A couple things to note here...1) barrel is the newer 1:10" twist 2) my suppressor is rated down to 20" minimum length for 300WM 3) I am not particularly recoil shy 4) I plan to shoot this rifle more often [practice] than the average hunter, but prefer not to take a beating any more than the next guy and 5) I have experience with other magnum rifles.

I thought I might just order a McGowen barrel to my specs, but I am reluctant to rebarrel a new rifle, when I could just cut/thread a 300WSM rifle and start shooting. Maybe I'm just cheap...lol! Unfortunately, the rumors I've heard are that vendors won't receive Tikkas until middle/end of summer. Are any of you running a Tikka 300WM suppressed with a short barrel?

 

[Ranger260]

No thoughts on this here?

 

[waspocrew]

My only hesitation would be whether or not the barrel (at 20") would have enough meat on it to be threaded to support a suppressor. Assuming it can be threaded properly, I say go for it! You definitely won't hate shooting/hunting suppressed.

 

[Ranger260]

I figured it would take a 1/2 or 9/16 thread, then throw a 5/8 adapter for the suppressor. Many don't recommend this, but seems many are doing this successfully.

 

[laker]

Hoping someone that's done it chimes in. Was about to make this exact same post

 

[DUCKMAN11]

If you were going to swap barrels from 300wm to a shorter threaded 300wm.....why not just have the new barrel chambered in 300wsm. It's on a tikka action right? I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the tikka 300wsm and 300wm are the same length of action with different bolt stops. You are gonna be down in 30-06 territory with a 20" 300wm but will be in a pretty happy place with a 300wsm at 20". You won't be setting any speed records with a 20" 300wm "not that you intended to or care to be" but with a short 300wsm you are not leaving as much speed on the table. I hunt with a guy who has a 18" 300wm in a ruger American. He loves the abomination and shoots it with a hyperion can 100% of the time. It's still very loud and recoils A LOT but he likes it. That rifle has a 1-8x lpvo if that tells you kinda what he uses it for. It's got "bacon blaster" wrote on the side with a paint marker lol

 

[Ranger260]

I only have a 300WM because I could not find a 300WSM Tikka Lite anywhere. I absolutely would be rebarreling to a 300WSM if I pull the factory barrel. The rumors I've heard are that we won't see more Tikkas until mid to late summer...which puts hunters behind the 8-ball to get loads worked up for fall hunts. So I was looking for info. on running a short 300WM with a suppressor, because that is now what I have.

That said, my reality is that I usually hunt heavy timber for elk and usually have shots of 100 yards or less. But I would like to be proficient at longer distance for other regions of Utah I plan to hunt as well as nearby non-resident hunting opportunities.

 

[DUCKMAN11]

My buddy shoots only factory ammo out of his 18" 300wm. He's losing 200-230fps off the listed box velocities from what we've shot over the chrono. I'd be pretty sure in saying that his max velocity would be similar to a starting velocity in a 26" barrel. It's a hammer on big hogs under 200yds and I'd assume that with the right bullet it would work great as a "brush gun" for elk. I assume you want a shorter package so that it's easier to maneuver in thick cover?

 

[Ranger260]

Good information...thank you. I'm not necessarily looking to build a "brush gun" per se as I have other rifles to fill that role. But I generally carry my guns in-hand when hunting rather than shouldering. Shot opportunities generally don't allow enough time to pull a suppressor from my pack and install. The idea of carrying a rifle that now has a 30-inch plus barrel with a suppressor seems undesirable.

 

[DUCKMAN11]

Makes sense and I assumed those were your reasons. My friend is basically getting 30-06 performance out of an 18" barreled 300wm.

 

[Ranger260]

I wouldnt necessarily complain, since 30-06 has proven quite effective in our camp. I think 18" would neuter things a bit too much...thinking 20-21" would be the sweet spot.

 

[DUCKMAN11]

If I remember right he was getting 2650fps with a 200gr.

 

[Bud LaRoche]

We've got a Tikka sporter barrel with 9\16 threads. Works great .

 

[112Savage]

I finished load development on a tikka T3x 300WSM yesterday. Using Federal brass, Sierra 180SBT, RS Hunter powder, and CCI 250's. I loaded these to 2.976 OAL (jam is 2.996"), so I will need a magazine modification, but as loaded from the factory length barrel they were clocking 3050fps. I am shooting the factory barrel length that was threaded 1/2x28 and then with a 5/8x24 bushing going to a SiCo Omega 300. If you cut back to 20" I think you would still be 2850fps or better which is still 100fps faster than most 30-06's. I say go for it. If I were to do my rifle all over again I would still do a 300WSM versus the 300WM due to magazine length constrictions in the tikka. I would also cut the barrel back to 22" and thread.