300 WM barrel question

[kylem]

I have a Remington 700 in 300 WM that I inherited from my grandpa. Right now its barrel is 24" and he had the barrel ported. I am thinking about having the barrel cut down and recrowned just below the porting which would put it just a bit over 22". My thinking behind this is to hopefully make it a bit quieter as well as more maneuverable in the field. What do you guys think about the pros and cons of doing this?

 

[elkguide]

Not a ported or braked rifle fan. Chop and crown it.

 

[JigStick]

making it shorter will make it louder, burn less powder, reduce muzzle velocity. Personally I wouldn't go below 24in on a 300wm...unless you plan on shooting lighter weight bullets.

Does the barrel shoot good? If it does then leave it alone.

 

[fightthenoise]

Shortening it will make it louder but probably not as loud as the ported barrel is now. I’d keep it the way it is, being an herloom gun and a magnum that really requires the barrel length to perform. You’d end up with basically a fire breathing hot rod 30-06. An option is to chop it, crown it, and down load it to 30-06 levels to reduce blast if you hand load. Or buy reduced recoil loads. It would still kill anything in North America.


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[EastMT]

Here is an article where they cut barrels on 6 rifles from 27" to 22", 300 WM dropped from 3055 to 2960. My guess is you would lose 50 FPS or less for that 2".

Why Shorter Rifle Barrels May Be Better | Field & Stream


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[Formidilosus]

22" will do fine.

Shortening it will make it louder but probably not as loud as the ported barrel is now. I’d keep it the way it is, being an herloom gun and a magnum that really requires the barrel length to perform. You’d end up with basically a fire breathing hot rod 30-06. An option is to chop it, crown it, and down load it to 30-06 levels to reduce blast if you hand load. Or buy reduced recoil loads. It would still kill anything in North America.
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Have you used a 22" barreled Win Mag?

I have- a lot. And 20 inch barreled ones as well. They are not 30/06's.

I've used 300NM, 338L and 338NM as short as 18". They do not lose as much velocity as gunstore myths would have you believe. Other than dedicated long range systems, I want nothing to do with barrels over 22".

 

[fightthenoise]

22" will do fine.




Have you used a 22" barreled Win Mag?

I have- a lot. And 20 inch barreled ones as well. They are not 30/06's.

I've used 300NM, 338L and 338NM as short as 18". They do not lose as much velocity as gunstore myths would have you believe. Other than dedicated long range systems, I want nothing to do with barrels over 22".

Well alright then pack it in fellas this guy has an 18” Norma. There you have it.


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[luke moffat]

Well alright then pack it in fellas this guy has an 18” Norma. There you have it.


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Having cut down 4 rifles barrels and measuring the velocity loss with my handloads before and after getting them chopped down I have to say that generally its much less than most believe it is. But I am a fan of short barrel rifles as well. My 24" barrel 6.5 always seems so stupid long when I am used to carrying 16-20" barrels most of the time.

 

[Weekender]

I’ve wanted to cut my barrel down for years. The only thing that holds me back is it’s a tack driver now and I fear that’d change some how. Have you guys experienced any accuracy changes after you did your cut down?


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[Formidilosus]

I’ve wanted to cut my barrel down for years. The only thing that holds me back is it’s a tack driver now and I fear that’d change some how. Have you guys experienced any accuracy changes after you did your cut down?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In every case they have remained the same or improved.

 

[Weekender]

Any idea of the sweet spot on 300 barrel length?


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[odin0226]

I woukd take that $ and order a bartlien replacement. The cost of chop and recrown would nearly pay for the barrel. Your only out $ to ream and install.

 

[howl]

If it's an heirloom, leave it as is. Modifying a gun that has sentimental value always has a down side. Otherwise, you have a good excuse to try a Remage rebarrel project.

 

[Fire_9]

I woukd take that $ and order a bartlien replacement. The cost of chop and recrown would nearly pay for the barrel. Your only out $ to ream and install.

I think you’re a little off. Cut and crown shouldn’t be any more that $75. New barrel would be $325-350 and $250 to thread and chamber.

Cut the ports off and run with it

 

[kylem]

I think I will most likely end up just cutting it down. Thanks for the responses everyone.

 

[ptarmigan]

If all that was holding me back from hunting with an heirloom gun was some porting, i'd chop it and never look back. It's your gun now and lopping off 2 inches of barrel isn't going to take away from it's sentimental value.

 

[Clarktar]

22" will do fine.




Have you used a 22" barreled Win Mag?

I have- a lot. And 20 inch barreled ones as well. They are not 30/06's.

I've used 300NM, 338L and 338NM as short as 18". They do not lose as much velocity as gunstore myths would have you believe. Other than dedicated long range systems, I want nothing to do with barrels over 22".

Are you implying, a shorter 30-06 barrel (22 inches) would have more of an effect on performance then a shorter barrel on a 300wm? Not intending to be a smart ass, I am interested in rebarreling a 30-06 and would like it to shoot 185 juggernauts, and 200+ grain bullets, as well as 155 gr. But using a twist rate calc. it seems that my twist rate and other details are marginal for stability and I was worried that shortening the barrel could further decrease stability. I have not personal experience, this is all from reading and trying to crunch numbers etc.