Rem 700 la magnum decisions

[Tcole75]

I have a dilemma on calibers here. I have a rem 700 la magnum bolt face. It has a mcree folding chassis. My thoughts are to buy a 20 in 300wsm barrel in 1:9 twist to run 150 to 200 grain bullets out of it. I believe this cartridge would fair well with a shorter barrel compared to a win mag. My other thought is to try and trade the bolt for a standard bolt face and run a 18 or 20in barrel in 30-06 or 284 win. This would make a sweet compact lightweight hunting rifle. What would you do?

 

[CApighunter]

A short 300 wsm would be sweet, I'd have it throated long for 215s and run with it.

 

[Tcole75]

That's what I keep coming back to when I research it but not a lot of info out there

 

[cubdriver84d]

If I were doing another long action mag build, it would be a 6.5 or 7 Sherman max. Especially now that brass is available for them https://shermanwildcatcartridges.com/online-store?olsPage=products/338-sherman-max-pre-order

 

[dirtytough]

I think you are on track with the 300 WSM

 

[BIGEYES]

20 inch barrel seems to defeat the purpose of a magnum cartridge. I never experimented with a short barrel; but I believe velocity loss from 24 to 20 inches will be about 100-110 fps.

 

[excaliber]

I agree. Why would anyone build a 300 with a 20" barrel? I'd build a 300 Win Mag with a 26" barrel.

20 inch barrel seems to defeat the purpose of a magnum cartridge. I never experimented with a short barrel; but I believe velocity loss from 24 to 20 inches will be about 100-110 fps.

 

[Tcole75]

The biggest reason for the short barrel is after attaching a surpressor it becomes pretty long to carry in thick brush. I'm not looking to take game at 1000 plus. If it can be effective out to 800 if be more than happy with a short compact rifle. I believe out of 20in barrel with the 300wsm it will achieve complete burn or close to it. Running the wsm on a long action helps with not running out of mag length and it's what I had laying around. I already have a 284 with a carbon barrel running 180s at 2800 that will do any of the long range stuff I need but it's a long rifle that sucks in thick brush. Just want to make sure I'm on the right track.

 

[Cmelink]

300 for sure

 

[Tcole75]

The 300 wsm barrel is ordered just waiting now. I will post some updates when it comes in if anyone cares to see how it turns out.

 

[Kalin s]

I'm curious to see how this setup performs.

 

[Tcole75]

Little update I got the barrel in and put together I have to say so far i love it. I should of went with a lighter contour barrel to shave some weight but oh well. This rifle is super compact and pretty sweet weighs with scope and bipod at 14lbs I was hoping it would be closer to 10lbs but 4lbs isn't a deal breaker. Here's some pics. Brass and bullets come in tomorrow and we shall see if a 20in barrel was to short for the 200 grain eldx.

 

[Steel Rain]

I think it’s awesome. I also think it doesn’t qualify as lightweight. I hope it shoots well for you though.

 

[Tcole75]

Yea I didnt factor in scope weight when I ordered the barrel but I may talk to a gunsmith and see how much material I could remove from the chassis to cut weight down a little more. Also I won't use the bipod while hunting and that shaves off another pound bringing it to 13lbs

 

[WRO]

Yea I didnt factor in scope weight when I ordered the barrel but I may talk to a gunsmith and see how much material I could remove from the chassis to cut weight down a little more. Also I won't use the bipod while hunting and that shaves off another pound bringing it to 13lbs

Why wouldn't you use the bi-pod for hunting, seems counter productive on a LR rig.

 

[Tcole75]

I will be carrying a tripod that will use an arca cut that will act as my bipod and my stand for spotting scope. Also out of all the whitetails I've hunted here in Oklahoma very few did I get to actually go prone and use my bipod. I've now just started using a tripod for prone or kneeling shots.

 

[Tcole75]

Another update. It was cut with a saami reamer so I pulled it back apart and had jon beanland throat it for the 200 grain eldx. Initial load development looks decent but it needs more testing to tighten the groups up. I loaded in half grain increments to get it close now moving on to .2 increments. The center target was my zero then from left to right it starts at 66 going to 68. Will update once I shoot the next test from 67.8 up to 69 grains of 4831sc