Cutting barrel advice. .300WM

[TheCoyote]

What are the considerations and implications involved with reducing the length of a rifle barrel?

I have a .300WM that I have loved for many years. It is a decent shooter for a factory gun, but I’d like to put a silencer on it. The factory barrel is currently 26” long.

If I cut and thread the barrel to something shorter, what are the implications? Obviously we will loose some velocity (25-35 fps/inch). And loose some weight. But what other implications are there?

What about shooting a magnum caliber out of a short barrel? Will the power have enough barrel to burn or will I be pumping a fireball into that suppressor? The rifle shoots best with fairly hot loads. I’m concerned that if I go to something low pressure the groups will open up.

I’d like to go short on the barrel, say 20” and then go long on the suppressor. But how short is too short?

Anyone have experience shooting a silencer on a .300 WM? Should I just leave it alone and buy a different barrel?

 

[madcalfe]

300 Winchester Magnum: How Does Barrel Length Change Velocity- A 16″ 300 Win Mag?

Introduced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1963, the 300 Winchester Magnum (300 Win Mag) is based on the 375 H&H case shortened to fit a standard length action and necked down to 30…

rifleshooter.com

 

[WeiserBucks]

What are the considerations and implications involved with reducing the length of a rifle barrel?

I have a .300WM that I have loved for many years. It is a decent shooter for a factory gun, but I’d like to put a silencer on it. The factory barrel is currently 26” long.

If I cut and thread the barrel to something shorter, what are the implications? Obviously we will loose some velocity (25-35 fps/inch). And loose some weight. But what other implications are there?

What about shooting a magnum caliber out of a short barrel? Will the power have enough barrel to burn or will I be pumping a fireball into that suppressor? The rifle shoots best with fairly hot loads. I’m concerned that if I go to something low pressure the groups will open up.

I’d like to go short on the barrel, say 20” and then go long on the suppressor. But how short is too short?

Anyone have experience shooting a silencer on a .300 WM? Should I just leave it alone and buy a different barrel?

Chop that hog, mine is 23" and I wish I would have gone 20" without a doubt. Refer to your suppressor specs and make sure it'll handle your desired barrel length.

 

[TheCoyote]

300 Winchester Magnum: How Does Barrel Length Change Velocity- A 16″ 300 Win Mag?

Introduced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1963, the 300 Winchester Magnum (300 Win Mag) is based on the 375 H&H case shortened to fit a standard length action and necked down to 30…

rifleshooter.com

Good article. I’m not sure what the overall takeaway is. I’d be interested in comparing the ballistics of a 20” .300 WM vs. 20” .308…?

Is it correct that magnums really get their pop from that long barrel?

 

[WeiserBucks]

Good article. I’m not sure what the overall takeaway is. I’d be interested in comparing the ballistics of a 20” .300 WM vs. 20” .308…?

Is it correct that magnums really get their pop from that long barrel?

Compare all you like, a larger capacity cartridge will outperform a smaller capacity cartridge given the same bullet weight and barrel length. Every single time.

 

[TheCoyote]

Compare all you like, a larger capacity cartridge will outperform a smaller capacity cartridge given the same bullet weight and barrel length. Every single time.

You are right. That was a dumb way of thinking.
Here’s a different and/or better question;

How do I know that I’m burning all the powder in my case in a short barrel?

If I had a 20” barrel, and say 73gr. of powder, would all that powder burn behind the bullet or just create a fireball at the muzzle?

I’m currently shooting 165gr. Nosler Accubonds with 73gr. of RL 19. In a 26” barrel.

 

[WeiserBucks]

You are right. That was a dumb way of thinking.
Here’s a different and/or better question;

How do I know that I’m burning all the powder in my case in a short barrel?

If I had a 20” barrel, and say 73gr. of powder, would all that powder burn behind the bullet or just create a fireball at the muzzle?

I’m currently shooting 165gr. Nosler Accubonds with 73gr. of RL 19. In a 26” barrel.

How do you know you're burning it all in a 26" barrel? Do you need a 30" to burn it all? The correct answer is it doesn't matter to me. Shorter barrels will have more muzzle flash than longer barrels but will be irrelevant with a suppressor. Many people really overthink this subject, you've got to go with what suits your needs and is reasonably practical. If a 20" 300 WM suits your needs go for it, no reason to try and talk yourself out of it.

 

[ChrisAU]

I think the biggest change you will notice is how much more enjoyable the rifle is to use.

 

[david2duck]

Very simple:

Cut it to 20”. Shoot it suppressed and find out you love it.

If you don’t love it rebarrel it.

We have a 16” 6.5cm love it, 18” 7 saum and .308 love them, two 21” 6.5PRC wouldn’t be mad if they were 1-3” shorter, and a 22” .300wm that would be better at 20”. Take all that for what it’s worth.

 

[BjornF16]

What about shooting a magnum caliber out of a short barrel? Will the power have enough barrel to burn or will I be pumping a fireball into that suppressor? The rifle shoots best with fairly hot loads. I’m concerned that if I go to something low pressure the groups will open up.

How do you know you're burning it all in a 26" barrel? Do you need a 30" to burn it all? The correct answer is it doesn't matter to me. Shorter barrels will have more muzzle flash than longer barrels but will be irrelevant with a suppressor.

All of the powder that is going to burn is burned in the first few inches ahead of the chamber.

Muzzle flash is simply combustion gasses (product of powder burning) reigniting when it hits oxygen in the air as it exits the barrel.

Slower burn rate powders have more propensity to produce muzzle flash than faster burn rate powders mainly because one typically uses more powder with slower burn rate.

 

[colby12]

FWIW I chopped an -06 barrel from 24 to 18. Put the can on and didn’t lose any velocity.

 

[BjornF16]

I’ve got a 22” 300 WM that we shoot suppressed…no issues!

Why 22”? That is the suppressor manufacturer’s recommended min barrel length (had the suppressor first).

 

[TheCoyote]

I’ve got a 22” 300 WM that we shoot suppressed…no issues!

Why 22”? That is the suppressor manufacturer’s recommended min barrel length (had the suppressor first).

Which suppressor? I’m thinking banish 30

 

[BjornF16]

Which suppressor? I’m thinking banish 30

See my thread on lightweight suppressor

Lightweight Suppressor Comparison and Poll

Quite a few threads on Suppressors, which got me re-assessing my Omega 300 for backcountry hunting. Disclaimer: I'm actually pretty happy with the Omega 300 performance (although I'll admit I've not shot some of the other suppressors being discussed on RS). On the range, I wear muffs or custom...

rokslide.com

 

[Woozy]

My 22” 300wm shoots like a dream and easy to handle.

 

[TheCoyote]

Well you guy’s convinced me. I’m going to a local gunsmith tomorrow to see about cutting and threading the barrel. I’m thinking of 20” if the barrel is thick enough to hold a 5/8x24 thread.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Which suppressor? I’m thinking banish 30

I have a Banish 30 and wouldn't recommend it, marginal suppression for its length and it's a MAJOR pain in the ass to take apart.
Get a Nomad LT or CGS Hyperion, they're the two quietest 30 cans on the market.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I have a Banish 30 and wouldn't recommend it, marginal suppression for its length and it's a MAJOR pain in the ass to take apart.

You're about the 90th person I've heard of who isn't thrilled with their Banish. Blows me away that they're at the top of so many people's wish list.

 

[Ryan Avery]

You're about the 90th person I've heard of who isn't thrilled with their Banish. Blows me away that they're at the top of so many people's wish list.

Marketing

 

[WRO]

I'd keep an eye, especially with a RUM with unburnt powder building up in the can. I have a buddy who's can exploded due to powder build up, and another who was burnt the crown off his barrel on a 300 PRC, both were either 18 or 20" pipes pushing big pills with slow burning powder.