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I'm in the "planning" process of having a .300 Magnum Rifle made. I have corresponded with 2 gentlemen, each of which has far more hunting experience than I do (or ever will for that matter), who are have an exact opposite view in regards to 26" barrels. One states "I don't want any part of one", the other "it's the only way to go". I have narrowed my choices to 300 Win/.300 H&H, which are fine with a 24" barrel, and a 300 Weatherby, which I think needs the extra 2 inches. I don't think in western hunting it would be too much of a burden, but I'd hate to make an expensive mistake for the 2-3 times I might take it to Africa. Is the extra 2" a real hinderance in the bushveld? For that matter, is the extra 150fps of a Weatherby needed? I'm leaning toward a 300 Win, but like the fact that as a "lefty" that you can't buy the other two calibers off the shelf, and that with a custom rifle, it would be nice to have a caliber that is semi-custom as well. hmmmmmmmmmmm Jeff | ||
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I built a VZ24 in .458 Win Mag. My thinking was I could squeeze out .458 Lott performance with the longer barrel. I am 6'7" tall and anything less looks like a carbine in my hands. The proof is in the pudding. I'll post my pictures some time after the 26th after I return from Chewore North...... Have fun! | |||
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Any one of those calibers would be fine. Get it made at 26". If the balance doesn't feel right you can have the 2" cut off. It really doesn't matter either way. All of them will do a good job for you. You don't need the extra speed of the Weatherby. If you want it, go for it. I went with a 300 Win mainly for an excuse to buy some more Lapua brass. It is all about what caliber excites you the most. If you don't reload you will have the best selection of bullets with the 300 Win. If you dote on the history of this stuff, the 300 H&H has it in spades. Chuck Yeager shoots a 300 Weatherby, and you can too. Just pick whichever one you want, and don't look back. JCN | |||
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At different times I've used a .300 Winchester and a .300 Weatherby, both worked fine and they had 26" barrels. I found the 26" barrels a bit awkward at times, but not enough to be any problem in the bush. | |||
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I've carried bolt guns from 21" to 29" and was just thinking the other day that I'm about done with anything over 23" or 24". For me the hassle of catching limbs and brush when slung upright at port arms while stalking and sticking the muzzle in the dirt and mud while slung upside-down, etc., etc..... the slight ballistic advantage isn't worth the trouble in my mind. Twenty-three inches has seemed like a good compromise for my stumbling 6'4" frame in most of the areas I've hunted. I'm not going to saw off any of the long barrels I currently own but I don't have a hankering to collect many more. Take care, Kyler | |||
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This is something you really need to discover for your self...I like 23 to 26 generally. | |||
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FWIW, I have most of my hunting rifles built with 26" barrels. (Target rifles are usually more like 28"). The extra length has never been a hindrance, and you get "free" velocity without going to a bigger case (and needing more powder to fill it...). | |||
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Jeff, How tall are you? This is to me a factor. Also, as far as Western hunting goes, a 22" barrel slicks out of a scabbard easier than a 26" I'm 5 ft. 10 inches. I like a 22 inch barrel because it's lighter and never touches the ground when I carry it one handed. Doesn't catch on (as much) brush. I tolerate a 24" in my .375 H7h and .458 Lott but got rid of my .300's. 24" is the max for me and I prefer a standard caliber with a 22" barrel. Rich Elliott Rich Elliott | |||
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I've always thought it funny that a 26" rifle barrel is only good for open country hunting, in other words you're going to snag it on every branch if you take it into heavy brush. Yet a pump shotgun with a 26" barrel is a great grouse gun for close cover - i.e. heavy brush. With that said, IMHO the extra 150 fps of the Weatherby is not worth it at all, and a good 24" barrel .300 Win. Mag. is about as practical a rifle as you can find for game around the world. | |||
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Jeff Alexander A long barrel is great for off-hand shooting on moving game. And if you are using open sights then an extra couple of inches is also an advantage. You might consider making the barrel contour step if you want to have a real long barrel and want to avoid heavy nose on the rifle. Harald Wolf made a 29"(75cm) 8x68s with a contour steep barrel and it looks real nice. The step is where the foreend ends. I am in the process of having a longrifle like this made with the same contour steep barrel so naturely I like it. Cheers, Andr� | |||
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My .300 Weatherby has a 24" barrel. Using IMR 7828 powder, I get an honest 3200+ f.p.s with 180 gr. bullets and and an honest 3000+ f.p.s. with 200 gr. bullets. With RL22 powder I get a bit less velocity -- maybe about 50 f.p.s. less -- and somewhat better accuracy. I don't see how a 26" barrel would improve things very much, and I do see how it would be more awkward and hard to carry. Who needs that long barrel? | |||
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I had my .300 Win built in 1987 when ammunition and cases for .300 Weatherby were much less available than today. In today's world, I'd say either caliber is a good bet. The rifle has a 26" barrel because its' main mission is long range shooting. I've taken it to Wyoming, Quebec, and South Africa, where it performed well. If I rebarrel this rifle, I will stay with 26". When walking through cover I unsling the rifle and work it through as I part the cover for myself. If the cover is really thick then any barrel over 18" is a pain and it's time to use a different tool. Good luck | |||
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First, caliber choice. I prefer a conventional shoulder to the radiused shoulder of the Weatherby, and I also prefer minimal freebore to the traditional long freebore of the Weatherby chamber. You don't mention loading your own ammunition, so if you are depending on factory rounds, the .300 Winchester (which has the shoulder and chamber leade that I believe superior) is much more widely available (and less expensive) than either of the other chamberings. However, if you do go with the Winchester version, be sure to use a full length (H&H-type) magazine of 3.6" or so. This will allow handloaded ammunition to take full advantage of the case capacity and also allow you to seat your bullets all the way out to the lands, if this works best for your particular rifle/loads. Barrel length: In my experience, a 26" barrel is only a hinderance if your are doing a lot of hunting from a vehicle or from an enclosed blind. Otherwise, the long tube is no problem (and it will surprise you how much less punishing on the ears a longer tube is). On the other hand, you are not particularly disadvantage ballistically with a 24" tube in a .300 Winchester. My .300 has a barrel which measures about 24.4" and I find it about right. If I were having a custom rifle built, I would probably specify something in the 25" area, since there's no law that says barrel lengths have to be divisable by two. The observation that your height tends to influence what a comfortable barrel length is for you is largely accurate. A shorter person with shorter arms finds longer guns unweildy to hold and aim. If you are under about 5'9" and your sleeve outseam is less than 33", you may want to trim both the barrel and stock back a tad from standard. I have a friend who is probably no taller than 5'3", and he always has his barrels cut to about 20". Now, a blind or a pickup truck is no smaller for him than for me, so "convenience" is not the problem. His rifles are just better balanced for him if they are more compact. Since your gun is to be a custom gun, make it fit you, both in stock AND in barrel length. | |||
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Quote: I'm 6'4" with a 35" sleeve. I use a 14 1/4" LOP. I forgot to add that I do handload, and would be handloading for this rifle. Jeff PS Lots of good comments for thought here. | |||
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Jeff Alexander, Have a 300 WSM with a barrel not longer than 22", possibly shorter . As you are going to have your rifle scoped the longer barrel will give you no advantage on aim or swing and 22" will secure far more velocity of what it is really needed. Weatherby calibers and long barrels in the bush are just pathetic, to put it mildly. | |||
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Quote: Andrea - Been there, done that with the 300WSM. I had a 300WSM Ultra Light (since sold) that was very accurate. I took it to Zim last year and shot 8 animals with it. The thing I didn't like was that it only held 2 down with one in the chamber. I've done the "fat girl" thing....now I'm ready to go "skinny" again. Since that time, I've learned that you "never hunt with a caliber that is younger than you are". Jeff | |||
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I find the 26" barrel of my .338 to be just about right. I realize that the .338 is basically designed for a 24" barrel, and I'm sure I could have done well with it. However, I find the 26" barrel to balance better for me (and I'm only 5'11" or so). I carried it on my recent African safari and the only time is was problematic was getting in and out of the truck. For hunting in the brush, it presented no more problems (i.e. haning up, catching brush, making noise, etc.) than my dad's 24" barreled rifle. I recommend that you go with what "feels" right and call it good. Cartridge - many good comments here. In short, just get what you want as I don't think there's sufficient difference in the three to worry about in a hunting situation. | |||
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The 300 WM could really use a longer magazine box however since it's never going to have a longer neck. Then one could load the longer bullets such as 200 gr and up. If your action will handle a 300 Weatherby then it will handle a 300 WM with a longer magazine and maybe even a custom throat. As to barrel length "you have to discover it yourself" if you agree that performance wise it will not matter. But you have to like it. Order a 26" barrel and before the rifle is blued try it out and have it cut then if you want. A heavier, longer barrel is not better for fast moving game as the momentum of the heavier barrel is harder to control if the animal bounds. | |||
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Jeff, You are the same height and sleeve length as I am, so we have similar issues. What is the style of the rifle going to be? I ask because some of the old English magazine rifles had long barrels, and if you are attempting to recreate one in that style, I'd go with the 26" barrel in all three chamberings. You can always have a barrel band installed for the front sling swivel, or have the stud installed at the end of the fore-arm; this will result in the rifle riding lower than if the front sling swivel stud were in the conventional location. Even if you are building a rifle in the modern style, you can still use a barrel band or forward-mounted sling swivel stud. If those options don't appeal to you, go with 24" on the .300Win.Mag. and 26" on the .300H&H and .300Wby. You can always shorten the barrel later (are you having sights installed?). George | |||
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Quote: My browser session hung! George | |||
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I don't think it will hinder you, but if you are undecided go w/ a 25" & split the diff. | |||
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Quote: Bingo! Which is why I have 26-, 28-, and 30-inch barrels on several of my rifles. Only pygmies should carry pygmy guns, that's my take. Russ | |||
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I have a 26" barrel on my custom M70 which I have used on several trips; however, after my first, I had a barrel band installed to lower the barrel relative to the top of my head. The first trip, the barrel kept hitting branches. When I turned it over, if I knelt, the barrel would go into the dirt. The barrel band solved the problem. I retained the regular stud in case I want to use it for attaching my sling as a shooting sling. Using the barrel band changes the point of impact. Ku-dude | |||
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Quote: Precisely why I've had my gunsmith build all my recent rifles with a stud on the front of the stock, instead of a band on the barrel, so I can use my Ching Sling. I just LOVE those Ching Slings! If I ever have another .416 Remington Magnum built, it will NOT have a barrel band. I like using a sling for standing shots... but I do NOT like throwing shots because I was applying downward pressure on the barrel. My .280 Ackley Improved has a Ching Sling. My .375 H&H Magnum has a Ching Sling. My .338 RUM has a Ching Sling. (Not that I'm "sold" or anything, mind you.) Russ | |||
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Russ, I ain't no Pygmy but I'm not the Jolly Green Giant either. 22" is a happy medium, at least in a standard cartridge. Rich Elliott | |||
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George, you need to lay off the caffiene, buddy. Or get a quicker trigger finger! | |||
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you could argue that one either way...what's another couple of inches on the barrel? OR what are you really going to gain from only a couple of more inches? I'll tell you what I like and why. I like longer barrels. Calibers have a sweet spot for overall ballistics. For example, 270WCF does excellent with 25.5" barrels. I'd do exactly what many have already posted. Go with 26", hunt with it, get used to it. If you feel that it's too long, you can always cut it off and have it recrowned. I prefer that little extra barrel for that little extra velocity/energy. | |||
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Quote: You've obviously seen me in BDUs. Russ | |||
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I have 3 .300 RUMs and a 7mm STW with 26 inch barrels. The RUMs all have muzzle breaks, which makes them 2 inches longer. I also have a .300 SAUM with a 22 inch bbl (breaked as well) and a .308 with a 20 inch barrel. I shoot every week at ranges out to 700 yards, sometimes more, using sitting with a bipod and sitting with a sling. Hitting a deer size vital area is a piece of cake with that .308 all the way out to 500 yards, even in moderate wind (practice counts more than velocity). The SAUM is pretty effective out to 615 (no target at exactly 600). The RUMs and the STW are more effective at 700, esp in moderate wind. I have yet to shoot game past 500 yards and have no plans to (especially in Africa). As much as those RUMs look hot, they really don't add that much more in terms of "hittability." Given the fact most guys don't even have access to ranges beyond 300, I see long bbls mostly a waste. My last few hunts have found me carrying that SAUM or my .308, or a 24 inch bbl .338. Velocity is a bit overblown. Rangefinders have negated its imporatance for long range shooting, but many feel a faster bullet is better in the wind. In my .308 I shoot 180 gr Nosler BTs at 2600 fps. My RUMS shoot that bullet 600 fps faster. Guess what? At 700 yards, the RUM bullets drift 2.3 inches per 1 mph of wind. That is exactly the same distance the .308 bullet drifts at 615 yards. I won't argue velocity increase bullet energy, but I am not as cranked up about that as I used to be. I have a .416 with a 24 inch barrel and for the life of me, I don't see why they make them this long. Just an opinion from a guy who shoots at long range a lot. | |||
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A Ruger No. 1 with a 28" barrel works as well for the left hand as the right yet is no longer than a 24" bolt gun. The extra inches mean you can load down and get the same fps, giving you less muzzle blast and better case life. | |||
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Weatherby makes (or made) the MkV in LH ... I have one for sale on our site in 300 Wby! It has the custom diamond inlays etc. | |||
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Jeff: The two rifles I use on a routine basis both have 26" barrels and I love them: a .300 Wby and a .378 Wby. The .378 has a brake, which adds 2" to overall length (the barrel is effectively 28"). The .378 is a big heavy rifle, but it shoots and it shoots well. Which is what I want. I have carried this rifle all over Alaska and I have used it in South Africa. I have never found the .378 to be a bother in thick cover, or at least no more than anything else in thick cover. If you are in truely thick cover, anything that you carry on your back or in your hands is going to be a nuisance, and that includes a short Marlin .30-30. The .300 Wby is gaining my favor every year as a caribou rifle. It is a superb caribou rifle, using 180 NPs. The 26 inch barrel adds weight to any rifle, but I think that is its only drawback. Its benefits include better accuracy when properly shot and greater energy in the bullet. But to each his own. | |||
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I'm no expert on Africa. I hunted there once in 1978. I hunted Zimbabwe-Rodesia and Namibia. I used a .54 TC Renegade. Smallest killed was a dic-dic largest were two kudu and a gemsbok. I killed a Hippo, from above on a cliff, in the water, but that wasn't much of a challenge. All that said I never needed a long range shot. If I ever go back and hunt I'll take my 30-06 for plains game. I love long barrels and I'm 5"10 with short arms. I have a 26' barrel 7-08 and am building a 27" Tweede. I will probably rebuild(customize) my FN 30-06 with a 27" barrel. I think the 26" 300H&H would be a great combo. I realy think that if you need more than a 30cal 180gn @2800, you need more caliber not speed. | |||
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