28 inch barrel for 300 magnum for hunting rifle

[Lenny Foffa]

While I was in an experimentation mood, I had a very heavy Hart barrel mounted to a Model 98 Customized action. The barrel is either 28 or 29 inches with an 8 twist . Its 1.25 inch at the receiver and 1 inch at the muzzle, chambered in 270 Win, with a custom chamber that lets me seat a 150 ABLR very far out , so the bullet only protruded into the neck of the case. It sits in a Fajen Target /Varmint stock. I thought I needed that extra Length and Mass for 1000 yard shooting when I had this all made . I didn't, and I shot 1000 and 1100 yards with my 270 Weatherby Mag, 26 inch factory sporter barrel, with the standard 10 twist. The Heavy Barrel rifle does shoot extremely well at 300 yards and I would love to try some Bergers 170 Grn in that massive barrel at 1000 yards. So , did I really NEED all that Length and mass. No !! However now that I have it, will enjoy shooting it at steel at extended ranges.

 

[Victor3Ranger1]

While I was in an experimentation mood, I had a very heavy Hart barrel mounted to a Model 98 Customized action. The barrel is either 28 or 29 inches with an 8 twist . Its 1.25 inch at the receiver and 1 inch at the muzzle, chambered in 270 Win, with a custom chamber that lets me seat a 150 ABLR very far out , so the bullet only protruded into the neck of the case. It sits in a Fajen Target /Varmint stock. I thought I needed that extra Length and Mass for 1000 yard shooting when I had this all made . I didn't, and I shot 1000 and 1100 yards with my 270 Weatherby Mag, 26 inch factory sporter barrel, with the standard 10 twist. The Heavy Barrel rifle does shoot extremely well at 300 yards and I would love to try some Bergers 170 Grn in that massive barrel at 1000 yards. So , did I really NEED all that Length and mass. No !! However now that I have it, will enjoy shooting it at steel at extended ranges.

I will find out the same thing when I get my rifle back, it's a Brux full bull that will be 28", spiral flutes, and chambered in 7STW.
I know it's going to be heavy but I am hoping that the weight and length will make it a good fast shooter

 

[blvette75]

Hello,
I have a Savage switchbarrel rifle and we will be adding a 300 magnum barrel to it. The barrel is 1" bull barrel and 28 inches long. The present barrel on the rifle is .940 at the muzzle, very accurate, but also heavy.
So, within common physics paradigms, practical ballistics, and some common sense, I could use your experienced help. The cartridge is in the .300 Win.-.300 Weatherby ballistics mode. I have used 165 grain bullets for decades and do not see much reason to be changing at this late date.
How would you go about reducing the weight of this barrel that is a target barrel, to make it easier to carry in the field? Leaving the green jungles of the `Wash.-Oregon Cascade mountains to the much more open Rockies in New Mexico allows me to have a longer weapon. From a practical ballistics point of view will the extra 2 inches of barrel length be worth the weight? I have been happy with 26 inch barrels for a very long time.
I have been told for this rifle simply leaving the barrel at full length and fluting it completely would substantially reduce the weight. I have the good fortune of a gunsmith who has been very patient with me, and if fluting takes a long while, we both would be good with that, especially if the barrel does not lose accuracy.
How wide and deep should these flutes be for a .30 caliber barrel! Would you shorten the barrel to begin with, and also turn down the barrel to a certain outside diameter?

Thanks in advance for your experienced wisdom.

WW

I would go with fluting, don't shorten your barrel. You will see an increase in velocity and if you go with a mono style bullet your gain in velocity may be more. Just let us know how it worked out. I rebarrelled my old savage 110 and regretted not fluting the barrel shoots good but still a 1lb lighter is a lb lighter.

 

[Steelflight]

For hunting purposed. Strictly hunting I would my 2cents. You don't need a bull barrel. That diameter can be turned down a bit. Say to .750 at the muzzle. That should leave you in medium sport territory and work just fine for at least 5 shots. Even at 28" then flute that barrel. That's about the maximum wheight savings I can think about. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[WYO300RUM]

I have a 28" on one of my 300RUM's, and it is turned down to .850 and fluted, so compared to a straight 1", it is considerably lighter. It shoots superbly well, so I can't see any accuracy loss vs a full 1" tube.

I have a 300 Rum with 28 in. Bartlien 5R varnmit contour barrel. Should of went fiber. The Bartlien shoots lights out but added almost 3.5 pds. To the rifle. Was 10.0 pds. I was thinking of spiral flouting barrel. And maybe bolt. What made me hesitant is I had an MGM 27 in. One inch full bull barrel spiral fluted and it removed only 6 oz.. So maybe I'd get 7 to 8 oz. max. Is it worth it ? If I did that I'd might as well cut 2 in. off barrel. It's no longer my go to mtn. rifle. It shoots so well I think I'll leave it alone. Bought another 300 RUM. Weighed 7.2 pds. With rail mount and threaded and muzzle brake installed. Added rings and scope. 10 0 pds. even. My 300 win mag is 10.5 pds. New 300 RUM has factory 26 in. Pencil barrel and spiral fluted bolt. I'm happy with it but miss my old buddy 300 RUM.

 

[Hoss50]

For a hunting rifle that you plan to pack around, get a new barrel. 26" carbon would be great. If you are set on steel, 26" and Taper to .85 and flute the crap out of it. With light bullets like 165, you powder should be well burnt by 26" in 300wm. I would look at shooting the 200+ bullets, but your call. The 200+gr bullets in a 24-26" barrel have better ballistics at range and you could probably get them to out perform those 165gr from a 28". So now you save more weight and have better ballistics.

Don't abuse yourself, make the rifle as light as you can and get a good balance.

My 257 weatherby is a 26" carbon barrel and shoots great. With scope and Bell and carlson stock it is at about 10.5lbs and well balanced. Add a bipod and suppressor and I will be 12lbs. Not alot of fun to pack but not terrible. The scope is 30oz, so I could shave some weight there, but not alot.

Honestly I built that rifle before I shot suppressors, and if I built it now I would have built it with a 22" or 24" barrel.

Heavy rifles shoot nice, but carry like crap. When you are hunting you will not notice the recoil of a lighter gun in the hest of the moment, but I guarantee you will realize the heavy rifle all day hiking it around.

I am rebuilding a Savage bull barrel 300 win mag right now because with the full steel 24" barrel and big brake it sucked to carry. I honestly wasn't crazy heavy, 12lbs or so, but the balance sucked and rifle always wanted to flip muzzle down when slung and hiking. I don't care how well it shoots, if you hate carrying it, it will not make your hunts better .

 

[Shane Lindsey]

For a hunting rifle that you plan to pack around, get a new barrel. 26" carbon would be great. If you are set on steel, 26" and Taper to .85 and flute the crap out of it. With light bullets like 165, you powder should be well burnt by 26" in 300wm. I would look at shooting the 200+ bullets, but your call. The 200+gr bullets in a 24-26" barrel have better ballistics at range and you could probably get them to out perform those 165gr from a 28". So now you save more weight and have better ballistics.

Don't abuse yourself, make the rifle as light as you can and get a good balance.

My 257 weatherby is a 26" carbon barrel and shoots great. With scope and Bell and carlson stock it is at about 10.5lbs and well balanced. Add a bipod and suppressor and I will be 12lbs. Not alot of fun to pack but not terrible. The scope is 30oz, so I could shave some weight there, but not alot.

Honestly I built that rifle before I shot suppressors, and if I built it now I would have built it with a 22" or 24" barrel.

Heavy rifles shoot nice, but carry like crap. When you are hunting you will not notice the recoil of a lighter gun in the hest of the moment, but I guarantee you will realize the heavy rifle all day hiking it around.

I am rebuilding a Savage bull barrel 300 win mag right now because with the full steel 24" barrel and big brake it sucked to carry. I honestly wasn't crazy heavy, 12lbs or so, but the balance sucked and rifle always wanted to flip muzzle down when slung and hiking. I don't care how well it shoots, if you hate carrying it, it will not make your hunts better .

+++1

Yupp, heavy ones are great, till they ain't.