Thinking of shortening my Savage 300wsm barrel

[graewolf]

I have a Savage 300wsm with a trued 30inch Hart barrel. I have been seriously considering shortening this barrel for a while. I know a shorter barrel is inherently stiffer, and the I will lose some velocity. It shoots very well as it is, but could I potentially lose any accuracy by shortening it? The rifle is very heavy and my uses for it are possibly 1. punching holes in paper 2. benchrest comps 3. maybe hunting. I'd like it at least to be quite a bit lighter. If I cut it down I would most likely also have it fluted, and I want to thread it for a suppressor that I am waiting for paperwork to clear. If I threaded it now, it would HELLA long with another 8-9" of suppressor. If I shoot BR, I like to keep it in the light gun category, I am pretty sure it is currently well into heavy. Its definitely way too long and heavy to lug around hunting...although I have other rifles that are "adequate" and I dont "need" to hunt with this - but would be nice. Although, it is a single feed action unfortunately.

So, would just like some opinions....cut it down or leave it, and if I cut it - how much?

 

[308sniper147]

How much is dependent on your preferences, but me personally 24-26" is plenty long. With a suppressor I would go atleast 22". I wouldn't think you would "lose" any accuracy you just might have to work up another load to hit an accuracy node. Obviously if you cut the barrel and flute it the harmonic waves and nodes will significatly change. But again this is all personal preference honestly. I've seen people run suppressors on 26" barrels.


Andrew

 

[roggom]

How many rounds do you have down the pipe? I would take a look down the chamber and check for throat erosion first. If your barrel needs to be set back, then it would be a good time to shorten it.

 

[graewolf]

How much is dependent on your preferences, but me personally 24-26" is plenty long. With a suppressor I would go atleast 22". I wouldn't think you would "lose" any accuracy you just might have to work up another load to hit an accuracy node. Obviously if you cut the barrel and flute it the harmonic waves and nodes will significatly change. But again this is all personal preference honestly. I've seen people run suppressors on 26" barrels.


Andrew

I know I can run a suppressor on it - I just dont want a nearly 40" total barrel length. If I cut it, I was thinking around taking about 8-10" off. So, 22" barrel sounds pretty good.

[MENTION=50667]roggom[/MENTION] -
I bought it with less than 50 rounds down the tube (at that what I was told). I have put less than 100 thru it. So....not very much at all. I wouldnt think I had any throat erosion although before I let my smith cut it, we would look - he's got a good bore scope.

 

[graewolf]

Any thoughts on keeping it as is? One thing about this rifle is its a Savage single feed action. I wasnt real crazy about that one particular thing when I bought, but I couldnt pass it up. I rather have a shorter barrel DBM action 300wsm...but this is what I bought. As far as BR goes, is there any advantage of keeping the 30 inch barrel? (other than the obvious add'l MV) - I wont plan on much seriousness past 1k with this.

 

[redbullitt]

I doubt you'd lose accuracy, except of course wind drift from less velocity.

I think if I had a single shot 30 inch barrel 300 mag i would keep it that way and just run it as a heavy long range rifle, not really a hunt and stalk kinda deal.

Personally I like a longer barrel on my magnum cartridges, but 30 inches plus a suppressor is long one. Would you possibly be better served by just getting a purpose built shorter, handier rifle? Always a good excuse to get another rifle lol.

 

[graewolf]

Well thats exactly something I've thought about. I could use money I would have spent on the smithing to cut it, crown it, flute it, and it could use some better furniture -although the 112 laminate Savage stocks are nice and its been bedded. I could put that toward a differnt rifle, but when you say purpose built, I have to pause...I've got a mile gun (have yet it to take it that far yet, but thats the plan - soon), my 1k BR heavy gun, my 600m varmint type, 223 AR, 300BO AR. Its hard for me to say but I dont really "need" another rifle - but how often do we buy guns like that out of (true) necessity?

I honestly like it and I guess I've thought about changing into something its probably really not meant to be...which would be a waste. Gonna be trying some superformance powder in some of my new Norma brass that came in soon I believe and I'm anticipating good results. I've been a bit leery about stepping into BR heavy right off the bat but what the hell, right?