300 RUM barrel length?

[6mm]

What is the optimum barrel length for a 300 RUM shooting 180 gr. bullets with Retumbo powder? I'm looking for maximum velocity, but don't want more barrel than I need. The barrel will be 1" diameter at the muzzle also with a muzzle brake.

 

[Joel Russo]

28" will do you just fine.

 

[6mm]

I was hoping for 28". Hope to get 3400 fps. or a little better.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I was hoping for 28". Hope to get 3400 fps. or a little better.

I am getting 3400 plus with a 26", you should be able to get a little better.

 

[jimbo300]

I'm getting 3320 using Retumbo and a 190 gr Berger VLD, in a 26" Lilja 12 twist.

 

[Joel Russo]

I have 4 300 Ultra Mags, and they all have match barrels from Krieger, Hart and Benchmark.
The rifles with 28" barrels all shoot the 180 grain bullets easily to 3400 fps. Accuracy falls in around 3440 fps.
I have a particularly fast Hart barrel that will shoot them to 3540 fps. That rifle is on a steady diet of 200 gr AB at 3250 fps.
All with Retumbo, and all 10 twist.

 

[6mm]

Sounds good. The only powder I'm interested in is Retumbo since it has performed so well in all my buddys' 300 RUM's. Thinking about having Savage chambering one in their precision varminter and adding another 2" to the barrel. Should be a dandy.

 

[rtv900]

I have a 28" bbl on mine but I am using 88g of H1000 with a 210 berger. I wasnt sure about going that long at first but I am really happy I did. I would think you would have great luck with a 28" bbl as well.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Sounds good. The only powder I'm interested in is Retumbo since it has performed so well in all my buddys' 300 RUM's. Thinking about having Savage chambering one in their precision varminter and adding another 2" to the barrel. Should be a dandy.

Every rifle will be different. One might like Retumbo and another H1000 or something else They may like different bullets also. I am trying 5 different combinations of powder and bullets to see which my rifles like's best. With a cartridge like the 300 RUM, you really are better off with going with a heavier bullet unless your rifle like's the 180's best. For lighter bullets, faster powders like H1000 are sometimes a better choice (more efficient) than Retumbo. Retumbo is a slow buring powder more suited for longer barrels and heavier bullets. Something to think about.

-MR

 

[Joel Russo]

Every rifle will be different. One might like Retumbo and another H1000 or something else They may like different bullets also. I am trying 5 different combinations of powder and bullets to see which my rifles like's best. With a cartridge like the 300 RUM, you really are better off with going with a heavier bullet unless your rifle like's the 180's best. For lighter bullets, faster powders like H1000 are sometimes a better choice (more efficient) than Retumbo. Retumbo is a slow buring powder more suited for longer barrels and heavier bullets. Something to think about.

-MR

Well put!

Too many times we try to force a rifle to shoot what we want it to shoot instead of letting it tell us what it likes to shoot.

 

[andrewb1369]

hey guys, im looking at having a 300 rum built with a carbon barrel and i know the 28" barrel is better than the 26" but is 28 too long with a brake (30" overall) for packing out in the woods? would a 26" be just as decent? my shots should never be farther than 750 yards. Hypothetically lol.

 

[C.O. Shooter]

My 300 RUM Sendero sports a 26" barrel with a brake. I am shooting a 220 SMK backed by 90 grains of H1000 with excellent results. To each their own!

 

[ultraedge]

My first custom barrel in 300 RUM was 30". It gained about 300fps with 180gr bullets 0ver the factory 26". I went with 32" barrels on the next 3 rifles, but there was no appreciable gain in velocity, so I had them cut and crowned at 30". I have not tried any shorter custom barrels. Gary