What is the optimum barrel length for the .300WSM. Is it the same as it's big brother (300win) or can it utilize a 22 or 23" barrel because it uses less powder? What are you guys finding?
------------------ Thanks, Mark G
"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." Genesis 9:3
Posts: 358 | Location: Stafford, Virginia | Registered: 14 August 2001
I see Gerard from GSCustoms is listing his high tech hunting bullets at nice velocity out of a 24" tube. He's talking a 150 grainer with a bc of .480 doing 3350 fps and a 160 grainer with a bc of .515 doing 3200 fps. I probably shouldn't say this but I got a distributer catalogue the other day and they DID HAVE THE SAVAGES in stock. From what I saw of prices someone should be able to easily bring one in a retail it (with stainless barrel) for under $400. Someday just for fun I have got to own one of these bargain basement tack drivers!!
I was told by the designer of this cartridge that it will perform optimally in shorter barrels, 22" to 24". Since I don't have one I can't verify that but he should know!
Posts: 1148 | Location: The Hunting Fields | Registered: 22 May 2002
I can give you a classic example of barrel length velocity performance. My Weatherby 30-06 has a 24" barrel. My Browning 300 Win Mag. has a 22" barrel. My 30-06 shooting 47.5 grains IMR-4895 with the 150 grain bullet will give me 2,900 FPS from that 24" barrel. My 300 Win. Mag. shooting 76.5 grains H-4831 with that same 150 grain bullet will give me 2,800 FPS from the 22" barrel. Those loads produce 1/2" groups at 100 yards in both rifles. The 300 mag consumes 29 grains of powder per charge more than my 30-06 to deliver 100 FPS less velocity from it's 22" barrel.
I think the lightweight 23-24" barrelled short actions the 300WSM are being produced in are based on the marketing tactic of appealing to the desire for a light compact powerful rifle.
However, considering that the smaller .308 Win round gains velocity out to a 30" barrel, I am betting the 300WSM would as well.
I recently bought a Rem 700 VS in .308 and am having curious ideas of rechambering to 300WSM, opening the boltface, and thinking the 300WSM would really do well from the 26" Varmint weight barrel.
I know for a fact John S. is correct... Winchester was initially going to offer the 300 WSM with 22" barrels. Ruger will be chambering the 300 WSM with a 22" tube.
I plan to whack my 300 WSM back to 22". Case volume and bore volume make the 300 WSM nearly the same as a 280 Rem chambered in a 22" barrel. Most would not argue that the 280 is significantly handicapped in a 22" barrel.
Brad
RL66... I would say you have the world's slowest barrel, as I've never heard of a 300 Win Mag losing 250 fps, per inch of barrel below the 24" norm.
My 23" barrelled Browning 300WSM maxes out at 3250fps with 150gr GS Custom HV bullets and H4350. That is about 50fps faster than I can get with Nosler BT's. When I get above that, extraction is definitely sticky. Maybe my barrel is a little on the slow side but 3250fps sounds pretty darn fast to me. A 24" barrel will give more velocity but is more necessary? Within reason and all things being equal, more barrel is always more velocity.
Jayloar--Hows the accuracy on the gs custom's bullet?? I have had some on order for about 3 mo's now. If they don't show soon I'll have to get ahold of Gerard. If you think about the weight retention of that bullet and the nice bc you basically have the shocking power of a .300 wby in a nice compact gun. (that is unless the .300 wby guy starts using fast, accurate, monolithic bullets too)!!
Don, I can't really give a qualified opinion on accuracy at this point. According to the directions that come with the bullets you are first suppose to find the maximum load and then play with seating depth to get the most accurate load. At this point, I've just found the maximum charge of H4350. Next up is the seating depth experiment. I will say that the bullet has shown some promise and that I am optimistic.
My .300 WSM performs quite well with a 23 inch barrel on my M70 FWT. I'm getting around 2990-3010 FPS with 180 Hornady SSTs and 58 grains of R22 as measured over my Chrony... That's running right up there with a Win Mag and I'm not pushing the pressure curve with that load...
Posts: 457 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: 25 February 2002
