I plan to buy a Tikka 695 Battue, 300 Win Mag. cal. Which velocity should I expect, using 150 g. bullets, because of its short (18.5") barrel? - Lorenzo

...according to quickload, 2950ish.. and TWENTY PERCENT of your powder burnt outside the barrel...

holy blooming fireballs

jeffe

I think that I am right in this, but if you are going to shoot factory loads, you will get better relative performance in the shorter barrel with heavier bullets. Ku-dude

PS, Where in southern France are you? Spent a week in St Saturnin near Apt in July this year. Lovely. K-d

Lorenzo,

Short barrels do better with larger bores, since what we think of as barrel length's influence on velocity is actually a result of expansion ratio. Does the Tikka you want come in any .35 or 9.3mm cartridges?

Fireplug

My idea is to remove the existing iron sights, put on a good scope, and change it into a light mountain rifle, for mouflon and chamois, so I would stay on light bullets to keep velocity high (?). Ku-dude, I live in Menton, on the french/italian border. Fireplug, for the above reasons I would stay on a medium bore and light bullets; since I reload, I can use fast-burning powders. Thanks everybody. Lorenzo.

Sound to me that you where better fo if you bought a light .308 win, 7-08 rem og 260 rem!

I can't se any use for a 18�" barreled .300 win!

I myself have a .300 win. mag. with 24" barrel and I sure would like it to be 2" longer!

Regards

Mads

The value in a magnum case is extra punch at extened range shooting. I would think a 300 Win Mag rifle with a 18.5 inch barrel, discounting the added muzzle jump from added recoil with that short barrel, would be less than desirable. It only takes 16" of barrel length to consume a full charge of powder in any cartridge. With a short barrel the muzle blast will be greatly increased by hot burning gases. If your rifle produces 3100 fps velocity with a given bullet from a 26" barrel it will cost you about 50 fps in velocity with each inch you take off that barrel. In this case about 400 fps will be lost with the shorter barrel. Seems to me a 300 mag that will only deliver 2600 fps is not worth all that recoil punishment. Very expensive shooting for so little return on the investment made.

please wear hearing protection............
sounds like a 308 in magnum clothing..............
woofer

Hey Lorenzo, Is this a "used" rifle that someone has shortened the barrel on?

18.5"!!! My .270win with a 20" isn't pleasant to shoot! The .308win works well with a 18" though, 7x57 isn't bad in a 19", but magnums need a 24" barrel.

No, Hot Core; it's a factory rifle, but I believe that Tikka don't sell it in USA.

. . . and shouldn't sell it anywhere. If you want a carbine-length barrel, get a carbine-type cartridge. I agree that a .300 Winchester out of this length barrel will be little different from a .308 or .30-06, except for the ferocious muzzle blast.

Hey Lorenzo, I've got a 350RemMag built with a 20" barrel and it absolutely requires that you wear some form of hearing protection. I messed up and shot it twice without anything in my ears and it was a BIG mistake.

Based on many years of experience, I can tell you an 18.5" 300WinMag would be no fun to shoot and very difficult to get acceptable accuracy from.

If you really need a light weight rifle, I'd encourage you to consider the Weatherby Ultra-Lightweight. I've got one which is accurate, a joy to carry and easy on the ears in 308Win.

...

Let's try this from a different angle.

1. What is the LARGEST Game you intend to hunt with your new rifle(mouflon and chamois)?

2. And what is the MAXIMUM distance you can imagine taking a shot at that critter?

As some of the other posters have mentioned, I have a feeling a slightly different caliber(20" S&S 7mm-08 M7 perhaps, which I also have) would allow you to enjoy the rifle much more.

After all these discouraging advices, I think I will not buy the rifle, or not in 300 win. mag caliber. Thanks everybody. - Lorenzo

The upside to a 18.5" barrel in a 300 win. is that you also have a flame thrower and can burn them out of their holes...ah the smell of burning hair on a frosty morning...brings back memories of Iwo Jima!

Just a few weeks ago, I had a fellow next to me at the range with just such a cannon.

Soon I asked him if he wanted to run a few of his shots over my Chrony?

He was shooting 180 gr Core Lokts which should have been going about 2900 from most 24" barrels.

Sorry to say his were doing 2550. Really ruined his day.

His partner had a 24" 30-06 and with 180 gr Green box ammo, they dis 2680 fps.

If you want the 18.5" barrel, that's fien with me, just be sure you know what your are not getting.

Wildboar,

A Rem M7 in .300 SAUM with 22" barrel would make you a fine and capable mountain rifle that packs and carries well but has decent velocity at the muzzle.

BigIron