300WM Twist Rate & Contour

[JSF]

I have been researching parts for a 300 win mag build. I have decided on everything but twist rate and contour. I had been a 100% certain that I would get a 1:10 twist. However, after reading an article in the magazine Sniper, there was an article from Tom Hodnett about twist rates that has me considering a faster twist. What I came away with is that faster twist rates than what most consider optimal may be better for the heavier bullets at distance. In the article he states that he has a .308 with a 1:7.8 twist barrel that has shown an improvement over a .308 rifle with a 1:11 twist they had. Has anyone tried a .300wm with a 1:9 or 1:8 twist? It has me curious and I was just wondering if anyone here has tried it?

The other thing is contour. I want to keep this rifle somewhat portable. I am used to the MTU, but want to go lighter with this one. Anyone have a standard palma on their 300wm and are you happy with it?

 

[nn8734]

Unless you are planning to run a really long bullet, I would get a 10 twist - you can effectively shoot anything up to 220 grains if using a tangent ogive bullet or 230 if running a vld bullet such as the 230 Berger. If you do plan on using a 240 smk or something similar you will want to run a 1:9 twist or faster.

For contour options, look into the m40/m24 profile (1.200 at the shank with a straight taper to .900-.920 at the muzzle). Bartlein sells it as their #14. It is similar in weight to the Palma contour you are considering. The Remington sendero contour is also a good medium weight contour that will handle the .300 nicely. I used to have a pss in .300 with that contour and was able to carry it all day when hunting

 

[shoot4fun]

AMU contour and 1 in 10 twist. Keep it around 26" unless that is just too long for you. You can get some speed with the 230 grain bullets then.

 

[JSF]

I plan on 26", but just considering experimenting with the twist rate. In the article he talked about a 1:4 twist .308 that held 1 mil less of elevation at 1200 meters than their baseline rifle with the same ammo. Although they did not state if the barrel lengths were the same. I would have thought that would create a pressure problem. So, I was just curious if anyone had experimented with fast twist rates in a 300wm. I just wonder if it's a free lunch or if I will be sacrificing anything going to a faster twist?

 

[Jig Stick]

Definitely go with the 1:10 twist. I have a 26in Krieger 1:10 that i launch the 208 AMAX and 210g Berger VLDs out of and its a tack driver. Ive stretched this gun out to 1200yds with outstanding results. Its a remington heavy varmint contour. It is kind of heavy, but it fits the style of gun its on. I did go with a light palma krieger on my 6.5x47 build, and im really liking it.

 

[masonh]

I just had Greg at Southern Precision Rifles make me a 300WM and he had Mullerworks 1:8 laying around with AMU contour and it sounded good to me so I went with it. He matched it up with a Defiant long action with a Jewell trigger and an AICS chassis that I had.

Thing is he just finished it over the weekend and shipped it out Monday so I can't tell you much about how it shoots, but he liked the idea of the 1:8 barrel too.

I'll post back here after I shoot it.

 

[dangerdan87]

I have a Lilja 1/10. Hell if I know the barrel contour. I've heard that 190 and 220gr SMKs shot great from this type if barrel. I can't wait to test it out. I have 200 rounds of SWA 220gr SMK ammo waiting...