22" barrels on 300 winmags??
sxsnuf
Member Posts: 2,952 ✭✭✭✭
For reasons I can't really explain, I've been thinking about a 300 winmag. In shopping around, it seems some manufacturers (Mossberg & Howa) are chambering that round in 22" barrels. I also see Weatherby Vanguards with 26" tubes. I've always understood that even a 24" barrel doesn't fully utilize the ballistic advantages of the 7 remmag, 300 winmag, 338 winmag, etc. Long ago, I read an article by (I think) John Barsness about experimenting with different barrel lengths on a .270 win. Even with that round, he found a substantial ballistic advantage using a 26" barrel. I understand the recent trend toward short action, short barrel, more compact rifles, blah, blah, blah. I'm no ballistics genius, but it seems like a 300 magnum with a 22" barrel adds muzzle blast and recoil, while giving performance only slightly superior to the vaunted 30-06. How wrong am I?
Comments
22". Isn't that what a model 94 has? It sounds like you're pursuing 30-30 performance with $75 a box ammo. I go through the same thought process when I see a full stocked mannlicher schoenauer. I love the look but the18" barrel brings me back to reality.
https://ammo.com/comparison/300-win-mag-vs-30-06#:~:text=The.300%20Win%20Mag%20has%20over%2035%25%20more%20case,over%203%2C000%20psi%20more%20pressure%20than%20the%2030-06.
ALL production barrels are too short IMO. My Ruger M77 30-06 has a 22" barrel. My Ruger M77 338 Win. has a 24" barrel When I pieced together my 6.5-06, I ordered a 26" barrel.
IMHO i like shorter barreled rifles and shotguns, they just fit me better and are easier to handle for me. but your point is well taken, if you want to get the most from the larger magnums you should use the 26" barrel. im a big fan of the 338 but i dont load it to the max, i find it works really well at lower velocities also. after all WDM Bell killed hundreds of elephants with a 275 Rigby
22 inch barrel in a 300 mag, just as well use a .308.
Huge difference
While I am a fan of the 300wm, if you want to have a great compromise go with the 300wsm. 10% less powder to burn makes the 24" barrel ideal and you get just about the same performance as a 300wm in a 26" barrel. I get within 25fps with my 180 grain and pretty much identical performance with my 150s. Bob
Yep, high cap cart must be 24" min. Makes a big difference in 1000 yard shoots.
JMHO, the lightest bullet I shoot out of a 300 WM is 180 gr.
I wouldn't consider a 22" magnum. A 257 Wby 22" is just a louder 24" 25/06--but no more velocity. Even the higher capacity non-magnum cartridges are handicapped by a 22" barrel. In fact, I have seen actual results of the difference between the 25/06 using 22" vs 24" barrels (I have both).
Had a Remington 700 26" 25/06. Turn up the velocity with the x tra 2" barrel especially with Hornady Superformance. It surpassed the energy knock down of a .308 150 gr. past 300 yd.
Thanx for all the input folks. Lots of good information, much of it based on real world experience.
My Sendero in 7mm carries a 26 inch barrel from the factory, there is a reason for that, it is now a STW and needs the longer barrel for speed and recoil management.
I have a custom 6 x 284, it has a 28 inch tube, but then it is not toting hunting gun.