20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

[JWHITE]

Thinking of doing a 20" 300 WSM. Would like to make it shoot 175 at the heaviest with the option to shoot 155. Thinking 1-12......input would be great.

The reason I am considering this is for a more compact whitetail rifle with capability for good knockdown at moderate ranges. Kind of a do it all I guess?

Another question would be........in a 20" would the WSM be useful or would a 308 be just as well?

Looking for ideas and opinions. Oh and if you have answered a question like one of these before, feel free to pass

.

 

[USMCj]

Re: 20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

Waste of a WSM if you ask me. Go 308 with 10 twist if you want 20" BBL.

 

[264Charlie]

Re: 20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

300 will go faster at the expense of money, barrel life, and recoil. You could also look at a 284 or 7mm-08 if you reload. The 7mm bullets are a lot better than the 30cal rounds.

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: 20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

don't bother with wsm if going that short I would say minimum would be 24" to get real usage out of the wsm otherwise stay in the 308 family of cartridges

 

[RemingtonSPS]

Re: 20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

For 'moderate ranges' and good 'knockdown power' the 300 wsm would be a great choice. It gets better barrel life than the 7's. My opinion would be to go 22" with the barrel though. Some of the factory rigs are 23-24". With the slow powders you would be using to get a good load density you lose velocity dramatically every inch you take off. What real advantage would you have going 20 over 22? I have a 21.5" barreled 6.5 WSM and i love it. I'm sure you would get decent velocities still out of a 22" barrel. I know my 6.5 is a different bore size but it is based off the 300 WSM case and i am able to get 2,956fps with the 140's.

 

[hemiram347]

Re: 20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

A 20" 300 short magnum should push most projectiles out of the muzzle a bit faster than a similar length 308 (how much faster will depend on your particular bullet, load, and rifle). If the load you choose gives you the edge you are looking for at the ranges you are hunting, then it may be a viable option for this application.

It will be more expensive to feed, will be harder on barrels (may be a moot point for a hunting rig), and you will probably notice more recoil (though I have to say that a 20" 300 SAUM I once took for a test spin was not significantly more punishing to shoot than an 18-20" 308...on MY shoulder...YMMV)

Weigh the pros and cons and decide whether or not it fits your criteria and application.

 

[Hogstooth]

Re: 20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

I initially built my 300WSM as a 20" rifle 1/10 twist, I wouldn't go any slower, it shot the 175's pretty well but was only able to get 2900fps muzzle vel with 4350 and not going too hot with it. I switched to a 24" and Re22 and am able to get much faster velocities with a heavier bullet but it likes 2950fps and shoots really well with 185 Bergers

You can go 20" but you will have to do some considerable load dev to get it right and make it accurate, don't know what it will do at distance never really shot it further than 300yds.

 

[callen3615]

Re: 20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

Ive been told if you go under 24" you defeat the purpose of a magnum round.

 

[JWHITE]

Re: 20" 300 WSM twist? Worth it or .308?

Thanks folks, very helpful you all are. From the input I have received here and other places, I have concluded that 22" will be the length.

I currently own two 300 WSM rifles, one a 24, the other a 26. I love the 26" gun firing a mildly loaded 208 AMAX. It goes just a touch over 2800.

The 24" is the one I want to rebarrel. I rarely use it because for 2" more, I can carry the 26" that is just simply a better shooting, more accurate, rifle.

I guess I said all of that to say this; the difference between 20 and 22 wouldnt be enough to pack an inferior rifle.

I am still figuring on the twist and may be thinking wrong, but with the shorter barrel, lighter projectile, and a slower twist than 1-10, I should be able to get the load density up with a little faster powder without running into pressure signs. My preference for what I will be hunting is the 168 Nosler BT. Thoughts on this subject are appreciated.


Thanks again everyone.