Lets talk barrels

Tharpinator

Tharpinator

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Oct 5, 2011
Messages
67
Location
Fort Lewis, Washington
Building myself a long gun when I get back from this deployment, just looking for imput from other folks who have done their own builds. Just never built a rifle from the ground up before and don't know what all is out there. This won't be a bench rest gun, plan on some sniper comps in the future, probably some hunting trips too if terrain allows for a long enough shot. I'm leaning toward .300 win mag. I'd like it fluted and threaded, and leaning towards the shorter end of things for .300. 22" or so? Thoughts?
 
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Oh boy, what's better Chevy or Ford? Savage or Remington? see where I'm going lol

I've got a 243 with a $400 Krieger super select that is just boring to shoot! now that price is just for a blank, my ugly ol' 308 has a McGowen barrel $180 blank and ya know what it shoots right with the Krieger! it took a bit longer to settle in, I put a Shaw barrel on my little brothers 6mm and it took A LOT of time to get it to settle in BUT it's a 1/2 MOA rifle now and that blank was $120 but if it were me from what I've seen and dealt with I'd give the folks at McGowen a shout for a blank.

Not sure that 22" barrel in 300WM would be a great choice and here's why, you have a mess of powder to burn and your gonna need to either find a faster powder to keep your velocity or live with a muzzle flash from hell. I built a 7WSM pistol with a 20" barrel and finding a powder that would burn complete in that length was a real hassle! then to find something that was accurate was even more of a pain and I think most of the reason I got tired of messing with it BUT I'm not going to tell you your choice is bad cause it's your money and I say build what YOU want. I do have one question as with the caliber choices out there today why the 300WM? there are some awesome calibers today that will get you the results your after without the amount of powder or that gay ass belt on the case LOL

Have a good one and just recall these are my thoughts you build what you want. Later,

Kirk
 
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/78076/savage_110fcp_hs_precision_300win


There ya go. 24 inch barrel, and not threaded but if you decide to drop 1k on a suppressor having a barrel threaded isn't too expensive. Nice stock too. That one would save you some coin for starters and then you could re barrel it in the future pretty cheaply, but save money off the bat so you would have extra for the scope.
 
Not to get off the subject, but why not 300 WSM? I switched from 300 WM to WSM just because I like the short action and better bullet trajectory. I could be wrong but it seemed that you have more options with short action, but good luck with your build and I am looking forward to you posting up some pics of your project.


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If you are new to long range work I wouldn't start with a 300wm. A properly twisted 243 or your favorite short action 6.5mm rifle will carry to 1,000 yards quite easily and with a heck of a lot less recoil. But you didn't ask for recommendations on caliber so I won't go into great detail on that subject.

I've had Rock Creek, Kreiger, Broughton, and Douglas. Of those mentioned I keep going back to Kreiger. BJ Bailey at Gene Sears supply sells them. You can get them for $360 when he has one you want in stock.

Also, since you want to hunt with it there isn't a reason to go with a diameter bigger than Rem Varmint. I'd look at the light palma, medium palma, or RV.

22" is fine. People are still stuck on length of barrel to achieve performance. Don't listen to it. I've had 18" 243's that were built to sling 75gr Vmax's at coyotes and did the job perfectly. I currently run a 20" 243 for deer and coyote, with a threaded barrel of course.

As soon as coyote season is over the 243 is going in for a new tube. I'm going with a 16.5" barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor. At that length I can get the 140amax to 2700 and the 123's at 2800. For coyotes I will sling the 95gr vmax at 3k.
 
If it had to be a 300 I would go 300WSM also , 22In barrel and R-17 would be a good place to start.....And I really like the kreigers also......
 
I imagine that Tharpinator's attachment to 300WM is that he's sent quite a few of those downrange on Uncle Sam's dime. :)
 
Thanks for everyones input, keep it coming. I may not be a complete newb to the actual shooting side of things, but theres always more to learn. And I definitely have everything to learn about a full build. My employer is kind enough to furnish me with pre assembeled models, so never ordered all the pieces myself.
 
Tharpinator said:
I should maybe also add that this barrel will probably be getting screwed into a Surgeon action.
Click to expand...

Well if you are getting a Surgeon then don't put anything less than Kreiger, Bartlien, or Rock Creek on it. The 300 Win Mag will do 1500y. If you are going to drop it into a stock then I would get a McMillan A3 or A5.

Do you have a gunsmith picked out yet? if not I can make a recommendation and tell you who to avoid.
 
Good choice in action! I've not heard anything but good things about them. If just for plinking steel or punching paper a 284 Win in a long action or 7WSM would be rather awesome, I have a 284 Win and it will do amazing things and out there a long way. I'm by no means knocking the 300WM but I've seen what the 7mm will do and if I recall the 1 mile record was held with the 7WSM and 180gr Berger bullets (don't quote me I'm going off memory and it ain't Google!) my 284 I'm launching 162 A-Max at 3011fps and not pushing them so for ballistics just do the math.

Now if your plan is to take furry critters at over 1K the bigger bullets might be a better choice! there ar so many calibers and bullets these days that a guy can go grey trying to decide. Either way just shout if your after opinions and maybe a few truths but you can hit at long range with anything if ya put enough lead down range and know what it's gonna do when it gets there. My 243 made 1300 yards several years back with 3 of 5 on an 18" plate BUT there was NO wind :-) and a blind hog can find an acorn every now and again lol. Best of luck on your build and were gonna need pictures for sure! Later,

Kirk
 
Jason said:
Well if you are getting a Surgeon then don't put anything less than Kreiger, Bartlien, or Rock Creek on it. The 300 Win Mag will do 1500y. If you are going to drop it into a stock then I would get a McMillan A3 or A5.

Do you have a gunsmith picked out yet? if not I can make a recommendation and tell you who to avoid.
Click to expand...
Sure dont have anyone picked out yet. I'll take recommendations any chance I can.
 
Kirk Smith (ksmirk) said:
Good choice in action! I've not heard anything but good things about them. If just for plinking steel or punching paper a 284 Win in a long action or 7WSM would be rather awesome, I have a 284 Win and it will do amazing things and out there a long way. I'm by no means knocking the 300WM but I've seen what the 7mm will do and if I recall the 1 mile record was held with the 7WSM and 180gr Berger bullets (don't quote me I'm going off memory and it ain't Google!) my 284 I'm launching 162 A-Max at 3011fps and not pushing them so for ballistics just do the math.

Now if your plan is to take furry critters at over 1K the bigger bullets might be a better choice! there ar so many calibers and bullets these days that a guy can go grey trying to decide. Either way just shout if your after opinions and maybe a few truths but you can hit at long range with anything if ya put enough lead down range and know what it's gonna do when it gets there. My 243 made 1300 yards several years back with 3 of 5 on an 18" plate BUT there was NO wind :-) and a blind hog can find an acorn every now and again lol. Best of luck on your build and were gonna need pictures for sure! Later,

Kirk
Click to expand...
Theres no telling what I'll end up shooting at with this thing. And with the variety of .308 bullets out there, a .30 cal is probably what Ill be sticking with. Unless I just go nuts and go to .338, but I dont think Im going to want the bill to feed one of those. I like to shoot to much.
 
like I said in my original post, light varmint, light palma, medium palma, remington varmint. I wouldn't go heavier if you are going to carry it hunting.
 
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