What cartridge will be a 1,000 yard elk/deer rifle in a 20" barrel?

[jsmitt6]

I have a Tikka magnum action sitting in a Stocky's VG Ultralite stock just begging to get a barrel spun on. I have a 20" 270ss and a 26" 30 Nosler for hunting rifles.. What should I consider? I shoot suppressed and have 30 and 338 cans, so caliber isn't an issue. Would love a shorter barrel if possible, the 20" on my 270ss is shorter than my 26" 30 nosler without any muzzle device!

I've thought about doing the Redsnake or Mountain Tactical AICS bottom metal and going to a 338 Rum, a shorty 30 Nosler that is properly throated, or something in between. What would send a bullet fast enough to maintain 1600-1800 FPS and have enough energy for elk?

 

[VLD Pilot]

300PRC fills that requirement

 

[HuntnPack]

This. . Ooops……not on a Tikka tho.

300 Norma Mag AI Shorty Build

Thought I'd start a build thread for my 300 NM 40 degree Ackley improved. My objective is to send 225 ELDMs at 2800 fps from a 19" barrel in a sub 10lb suppressed hunting setup. I went with a BAT Vesper action, Unknown Munitions bottom metal, Bix n Andy trigger, and a #4 contour 19" 9 twist...

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[Buttermilk]

I've got an 18.5" 30 Nosler. Freebore of 0.170". I get 2825 fps with Berger 210 VLDH's. I consider it 750 yds max for elk.

 

[Kirk2017]

My 300 PRC has a 24" bbl pushing factory 212 eldx's at 2880 fps…. (1690 fps and 1345 ft-lb at 1000 at my last elk hunt conditions) So makes the stated criteria above for 1000 yd elk gun but minimally. Don't get me wrong I love my 300 PRC but just think if you choose a short barrel that ya might need to go with the 225's or highest bc to maintain down range ….since your muzzle velocity will be slow.
I'd consider something bigger in the 338 size as you get more bang for your buck with larger diameter bore for shorter barrel applications.

 

[FEENIX]

I have a Tikka magnum action sitting in a Stocky's VG Ultralite stock just begging to get a barrel spun on. I have a 20" 270ss and a 26" 30 Nosler for hunting rifles.. What should I consider? I shoot suppressed and have 30 and 338 cans, so caliber isn't an issue. Would love a shorter barrel if possible, the 20" on my 270ss is shorter than my 26" 30 nosler without any muzzle device!

I've thought about doing the Redsnake or Mountain Tactical AICS bottom metal and going to a 338 Rum, a shorty 30 Nosler that is properly throated, or something in between. What would send a bullet fast enough to maintain 1600-1800 FPS and have enough energy for elk?

That's a tall order, but I think a .338 RUM/EDGE/LM/NM/improved variant propelling the 250 Berger OTM will get you there. A .338 NM pushing the 250 Berger at 2900 FPS out of 26" at my altitude is 1832 FPS/1862 FT-LBS at 1000Y. Velocity loss from a 20" barrel is ~150+/- FPS.; unsure on the KE side. Good luck!

 

[VLD Pilot]

I'd go with a solid type bullet if I were doing this project on a 20" barrel for Elk. Probably the 205 BD2 running an 8 twist barrel if it's a dedicated LR Elk rifle. Over 2k velocity and over 1900 ft lbs energy at 1000 yards with a 5K elevation. Pretty impressive and more than enough gun

 

[FEENIX]

My 300 PRC has a 24" bbl pushing factory 212 eldx's at 2880 fps…. (1690 fps and 1345 ft-lb at 1000 at my last elk hunt conditions) So makes the stated criteria above for 1000 yd elk gun but minimally. Don't get me wrong I love my 300 PRC but just think if you choose a short barrel that ya might need to go with the 225's or highest bc to maintain down range ….since your muzzle velocity will be slow.
I'd consider something bigger in the 338 size as you get more bang for your buck with larger diameter bore for shorter barrel applications.

I agree with .338 option.

 

[bigngreen]

Personally I'd probably go with a 338 RUM and the 250 Berger, I've seen that combination take deer and elk very cleanly beyond 1000 yards in the starting velocity range you'll be in.
Another would be shooting the 215 Berger from a big 300, I know it will open on elk at 1000 from a 308 so a bigger case will just be better.
I would avoid any mono bullet at those ranges.

 

[thomasbangs]

None.

 

[del2les]

While I am not a fan of short barrels for LR medium/big game hunting, if I went that route, I would go with a 338 version.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I shoot the 245 Berger from a 300 RUM. It is 27" and I get 2931 FPS pushing it pretty hard. Drop that to 22" tube and it hits 1800 FPS at 1000 yards. It is a SAAMI chamber and I am loading them to fit in the 3.85" Wyatt's box (cause I'm and idiot and didn't get the 4").
Set up right, I am sure you would beat that for sure. I have found them super easy to shoot and don't care where they are in relation to the lands...My next barrel will be in the 22" length range.

These would be even better at elk elevation I'm sure.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

6 UM. The challenge with a short barrel is getting enough speed on a high bc bullet, going up in diameter and adding mass makes that a tougher and tougher challenge.

Most high velocity, magnum class 6, 25, or 6.5s are capable of hitting 1000 yards above 1800 fps with high bc bullets and 20 in barrels.

 

[Ucsdryder]

What's your elevation? My 7saum out of a 20" barrel and my 300prc out of a 22" barrel are both capable to 1000, the prc farther, but my elk hunting elevations are 9-13k feet.