Barrel Length Recommendation

[budlight]

I've humped many mountains over the years with my 29 inch 270AI and then a few years of my 30-378 and 7STW with a 28 inch and two inch brake. The only time that the length got me was hunting out of my state where the game trails in the trees was maybe 6 feet tall or so. I sometimes thought that I was bent over enough to duck under and the barrel would snag.

I know that you did not ask, But as I got older the pleasure of 30 cals and bigger diminished. The 7STW was my go to elk gun and I loaned it out to all kinds of friends who were also impressed on their out of state elk adventures. 7mm has some great BC's compared to 30 cal hunting bullets. I shot a lot of 7mm 175 and 180's. I had a 1:9 twist rate on my custom 7STW

http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/hunting-bullets/

 

[FEENIX]

My long range rifles are both 12lbs+ with 26" barrels and are obviously tailored to 400yd+ shots. I will backpack with any of them depending on what ranges I expect to be shooting.

Same here, pulling the trigger is the easy part, hauling the prize is the hard part, esp when elk is involved and in back country/wilderness area.

 

[Glocklover72]

I've humped many mountains over the years with my 29 inch 270AI and then a few years of my 30-378 and 7STW with a 28 inch and two inch brake. The only time that the length got me was hunting out of my state where the game trails in the trees was maybe 6 feet tall or so. I sometimes thought that I was bent over enough to duck under and the barrel would snag.

I know that you did not ask, But as I got older the pleasure of 30 cals and bigger diminished. The 7STW was my go to elk gun and I loaned it out to all kinds of friends who were also impressed on their out of state elk adventures. 7mm has some great BC's compared to 30 cal hunting bullets. I shot a lot of 7mm 175 and 180's. I had a 1:9 twist rate on my custom 7STW

http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/hunting-bullets/

I have several other caliber rifles,

I've humped many mountains over the years with my 29 inch 270AI and then a few years of my 30-378 and 7STW with a 28 inch and two inch brake. The only time that the length got me was hunting out of my state where the game trails in the trees was maybe 6 feet tall or so. I sometimes thought that I was bent over enough to duck under and the barrel would snag.

I know that you did not ask, But as I got older the pleasure of 30 cals and bigger diminished. The 7STW was my go to elk gun and I loaned it out to all kinds of friends who were also impressed on their out of state elk adventures. 7mm has some great BC's compared to 30 cal hunting bullets. I shot a lot of 7mm 175 and 180's. I had a 1:9 twist rate on my custom 7STW

http://www.bergerbullets.com/products/hunting-bullets/

Let me try this again. I have several other rifles, 280 AI, 6.5 Creed, 270 Win, 257 Wby mag, 338 Win mag, 375 H&H. The only reason I'm building this rifle is because the action was given to me so I figured I'd build a lightweight hunting rifle....lol

 

[Rich Coyle]

Simple. 26".

 

[excaliber]

Barrel length isn't what I would be trying to limit if I were building a 300 Win Mag for hunting. I'd be more concerned with overall weight. If you go with a Mcmillan/ manners stock a barrel contour like a Bartlein #3 you can build a rifle weighing around 9 lbs with most actions and scope. I'd be more concerned about how it shoots than saving a bit of weight. I'd go 26" on the barrel myself.

 

[CaptnC]

I have several other caliber rifles,

Let me try this again. I have several other rifles, 280 AI, 6.5 Creed, 270 Win, 257 Wby mag, 338 Win mag, 375 H&H. The only reason I'm building this rifle is because the action was given to me so I figured I'd build a lightweight hunting rifle....lol

It looks like to me you need a magmun 6.5...

264wm with a 26" tube...especially if you are limiting your self to 700 yards shots.

My 300wm has a 26" but I'm limited by action length to bullets and just barely can use 168gr Bergers...any way the 264wm out shined it yesterday out to 600yds.

I'm getting ready for a exotic sheep hunt that I "think" long to x-long shots will be norm. So I have been tuning up the two for the hunt. It will be hard to not use the 264wm as my primary shooter.

Get a longer barrel and hit the barber shop before the trip...get a fresh hair cut and shave to save weight!

 

[Catahoula]

I am fixing to build a 300 win mag. What barrel length should I do? This rifle is going to basically a mountain backpack rifle.

I go 27" on all my builds & then add the brake on rifles that need it. A few inches does not bother me at all.
Thanks, Kirk

 

[budlight]

I have several other caliber rifles,

Let me try this again. I have several other rifles, 280 AI, 6.5 Creed, 270 Win, 257 Wby mag, 338 Win mag, 375 H&H. The only reason I'm building this rifle is because the action was given to me so I figured I'd build a lightweight hunting rifle....lol

If I had a 300 win action I would take a good look into the 7mm/300 win Practical with one of the lighter weight contour barrels. The Practical lands above the 7 rem mag and below the 7STW. Get something like a 1:9 twist and a 27 inch. Much higher BC and not having the kick of the heavy 30 cal bullets.