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300 WSM barrel and twist rate

agsf2010

Sergeant
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Minuteman
Dec 14, 2011
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Wyoming
Looking to build a 300 wsm and wanted to know what luck you have had with an aftermarket barrel in the 22-24 inch. Also wanting to shoot 165-190 gr bullets as I will be hunting for elk here in Wyoming. Let me know your thoughts on barrel and twist rate. Pictures always help with decision making. Thanks
 
I've got a 23 inch bartline in 11.25 twist and I am extremely happy with it. Shoots 208's at 2830 and I can get 190's going around 2960. I imagine that you I could get 175's going pretty fast and 165 class would be blistering, however the lightest bullet I would shoot would be the 185 class. If you want to shoot the 165's you'd probably be better off just shooting a 308.
 
I've got a 23 inch bartline in 11.25 twist and I am extremely happy with it. Shoots 208's at 2830 and I can get 190's going around 2960. I imagine that you I could get 175's going pretty fast and 165 class would be blistering, however the lightest bullet I would shoot would be the 185 class. If you want to shoot the 165's you'd probably be better off just shooting a 308.

Valid point. I haven't shot many 300's and wanted to shoot a heavier bullet as I have a 308. What type of groups are you getting with that shorter barrel and how does that effect your long distance shots?
 
It easily gets 1/4 moa groups at 100 (its built by GAP) and I've shot a 6 inch group at 1000 with the 208's. I can't remember off the top of my head but I want to say its around 13 mils at 1400 and did very well dispite strong winds.
 
I am considering a 300 win mag and I realize y'all are speaking on the WSM. Since this thread is current what are y'all thoughts on the recoil. All I hear is too much recoil from both with the WSM being a little less. So how bad are we talking? I shoot 308 and 30-06 pretty regular and looking to diversify on my next project.
 
It really depends on how heavy the rifle is and if you have a brake on it or not. My gun is almost 18 lbs with the scope and it has a fte brake on it. So recoil is very light in relation to the energy it delivers, however this weekend I was helping my father in law sight in his 7 pound 308 hunting rifle and it had considerably more felt recoil. With a heavy barrel with a good brake you can shoot all day if the concussion from the brake isn't a concern. On the other hand my light weight 300wm hunting rifle I want to shoot as little as possible.
 
I just sold a Steyr model S in 300 win. and the recoil wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I will say that I didn't want to shoot it all day but I could shoot it a number of times with no real issue. I am not a big guy and I am hoping that this new gun will not beat me up....
 
I had Dennis Adams put a Harrels tactical brake on my factory Win 70, I can now punch 0.5 " groups and shoot a half day at the range with it, I shoot 190's with various powders as I am still dialing it in. I really like this wsm round, I like the mag so much I ordered a 300 WM 28 " bull barrel cut for a FTE badger brake, want to get the heavies moving a bit faster. The WSM with brake is like shooting a light loaded 06 round. I will tell you about the WM in a few weeks. When I finish burning out the wsm barrel I will go with a heavier contour , probably a rem varmint contour with the Harrels brake. I am really getting to know this wsm round since putting the brake on it and I like it a lot.

I agree wih Cotton above, when I shoot the WM as it sits now with the sporter barrel its shoots 0.5 " groups but even in a heavy Choate tactical stock it beats me up pretty good. Cant wait til that bull barrel shows up.
 
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The reason I'm re-barreling my Kimber Montana 300wsm is because the recoil was brutal, at 6.5lbs it was not fun. Putting a 26" #3-4 contour on it and possibly a brake to make it more enjoyable to shoot. Hoping to be at 8.5lbs with optic. I have a 14lb 300wm with a krieger rem varm contour and it's a pussy cat.

It all boils down to weight and ergonomics
 
I had Dennis Adams put a Harrels tactical brake on my factory Win 70, I can now punch 0.5 " groups and shoot a half day at the range with it, I shoot 190's with various powders as I am still dialing it in. I really like this wsm round, I like the mag so much I ordered a 300 WM 28 " bull barrel cut for a FTE badger brake, want to get the heavies moving a bit faster. The WSM with brake is like shooting a light loaded 06 round. I will tell you about the WM in a few weeks. When I finish burning out the wsm barrel I will go with a heavier contour , probably a rem varmint contour with the Harrels brake. I am really getting to know this wsm round since putting the brake on it and I like it a lot.

I agree wih Cotton above, when I shoot the WM as it sits now with the sporter barrel its shoots 0.5 " groups but even in a heavy Choate tactical stock it beats me up pretty good. Cant wait til that bull barrel shows up.

I am thinking of going with the rem. varmint contour for that very reason. It is going to be a little heavy to carry up in the mountains but I figure it is worth the accuracy that I will gain by not having the gun kick the snot out of me.
 
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I understand the weight relation. Not really looking to build up a heavy beast as a bench gun. Somewhere between hunter/varmint and bench/target. Leaning toward the 300 win mag vs. building up another 308. A potential hunt is always a real possibility with any of my rifles.