20” steel 300WSM barrel weight & profile question
- By KYAggie
- Bolt Action Rifles
- 22 Replies
@KYAggie
I have a SA Origin with a 300 wsm barrel.
Running the Hawkins Hunter and flush mag without issues.
Im running the 200 eldx just over 2800.
Oct 2024 elk went 12 yds.
I run a Manners EH1 and the Hawkins direct mount rings to keep weight down on mine.
Curious how you like the light rifle with a can.
I didnt like it.
Brake was way better for spotting shots for me.
Thinking I want to try some lighter bullets at some point and it hits like Thor’s hammer with the 200s.
Excellent, good to know the mags are working for you! My stock, the Peak 44 Bastion, came with the pillars installed and I first thought maybe they were the wrong height for the Hawkins Hunter BM and mags and that might be causing the issue, but that’s not the case. I measured the pillars Hawkins sent with the BM and compared that to the ones installed by Peak 44 and they are spot on. I won’t be able to work on it for a few weeks due to work, but I’m sure it will get worked out.
What barrel length do you have and what powder are you using? I’m getting very close to 2800 fps with R26 and a 210 ABLR, but not the accuracy I want; it has the two close one an inch or more away with those bullets. I might be pushing them a bit hard and plan to drop the load back and look for something closer to 2700 fps which will still hit hard a long way out with that bullet. Good to know the ELDX’s are working for you, those bullets are stupid accurate in my 6.5 cm.
I also have a load that was in the 2875 fps range with the 200 Accubond with R26 and getting better results with several in the 3/4” range, but I need to do more testing. I’m using Lapua brass and F215 primers and not seeing any pressure signs on the brass nor primers, but those are some pretty remarkable velocities in a 20” barrel. I’ll likely drop it back a bit and length test and see if things get more consistent. Length testing in this gun means seating everything out longer as I can’t get very close to the lands with any of these bullets; the only bullet I can get close that will still fit in the Mag is the old Hornady 190 BT Interlock

As far as how do I like a light short rifle with a can? I’m not sure as of yet. I have the barreled action in a KRG-B with A419 Hellfire brake and a Cronus BTR on it for load development. I just bedded the Peak and haven’t shot it yet in its light set up. I will say that in the Peak stock with the NF on the pic rail, its nose heavy even without the can. I’m not sure how that will be in hand, but we shall see. I’m use to my R93 300 win mag and it’s wonderful designed balance; I can have it in hand all day, but it’s not suppressed. It would have cost me around $2000 to have a 20” fluted and threaded barrel made for it in 300 WSM, so I went this way with my Origin.
It’s funny, I’ve read comments by those who don’t own a 20” 300 WSM, that a barrel that short turns it into a 30-06; how wrong they are! Hammer of Thor it is.
Glad to know yours is a great success!