Suppressed 300 wsm elk / oryx project questions

[chiquitogringito]

Hello. I live in New Mexico and hunt oryx, and elk a lot. I am tired of concussive blast and loudness of my braked 7mm rem mag and want to build a suppressed, short barrel, oryx slayer rifle. Oryx are tough animals and sometimes require long shots. My furthest shot so far was 350, but I want a rifle that can kill on at 600 yards as I improve my shooting.

I have been researching rifle calibers / ballistics to select the best caliber for this project. I am not well verse in ballistics or different calibers in general. My only two rifles are 6.5 cm and 7mm rem mag. I do not reload.

I am thinking 300 wsm with an 18-20 inch barrel would fit my needs. Who has done a shorty 300 wsm? How short is too short?

I am thinking of buying a cheap tikka 300 wsm, taking the action and barrel, having a gunsmith cut the barrel down, and putting it in an MDT hunt 26 chassis. Add a TBAC suppressor and scope and go hunting!

I am looking for any advice, confirmation that 300 wsm would be a good, or other caliber recommendations. Even better if you have hunted oryx and know what it takes to kill one.

Thank you!!!

 

[MuleyFever]

I am thinking of buying a cheap tikka 300 wsm, taking the action and barrel, having a gunsmith cut the barrel down, and putting it in an MDT hunt 26 chassis. Add a TBAC suppressor and scope and go hunting!

I am looking for any advice, confirmation that 300 wsm would be a good, or other caliber recommendations. Even better if you have hunted and know what it takes to kill one.

Thank you!!!

The plan to thread a Tikka is solid. On to your second part, you don't need a 300 to kill an oryx.

 

[chiquitogringito]

The plan to thread a Tikka is solid. On to your second part, you don't need a 300 to kill an oryx.

What caliber would you recommend that would work on a short 18-20" barrel?

 

[The Guide]

What caliber would you recommend that would work on a short 18-20" barrel?

A handloaded or boutique ammo manufacturer loaded 6.5 PRC (Unknown Munitions makes some great options) or if you are a factory ammo guy the 7mm Backcountry. Should keep you above 2000 fps to +/- 600 yards and 1800 fps to +/- 750 yards. Both cartridges suppress well and should provide enough bullet to kill any elk or Oryx you pull the trigger on.

Jay

 

[cal30_sniper]

I built a 20” 300 WSM this year. Throated long and twisted fast for long, high-BC copper monos. If I didn’t have my sights set on mono bullets for this rifle, I would have built something smaller caliber (well, I kind of did: a Tikka rebarrel in 25-300 WSM).

I’ll shoot you a PM. Depending where you’re at in NM, I may be able to help you out with some stuff on this.

 

[Maineotter]

I'd like to to get this info as well! I have an Xbolt stainless stalker in 300 wsm with a 23" barrel, and a Liberty Mach S on order. Been planning to cut it and thread it for a 4-500 yard rifle (VERY long shot here in Maine), primarily to use inside 300 yards. I don't know if I'm just going to end up with a flashy 308 though, and how short is too short. Does 20" even make sense in a 300 wsm?

 

[swavescatter]

Oryx are not that tough, but their vitals are not in the same spot as most ungulates and people tend to shoot them too far back.

I'm in NM as well. I bought my son a guided Oryx tag on the Ted Turner ranch and the guide said he recommends 6.5 Creedmoor. Good bullet at the right impact velocity with good shot placement is key. My son later killed his off-range oryx with a 223 and 77gr TMK.

My hunting group the last couple of years (including recoil shy kids) has I think 11 elk, 1 oryx, a couple deer with 6.5 creed or less at distances beyond 600yds. My kids mostly shoot the 223 or 22 Creed. No wounded losses, no rodeos. Hell, factory ammo in an 18" 223 will get you to 550yds-ish.

Factory ammo will get you to 600 yds above 1800 fps with Hornady ELDX in a 6.5 Creed. You barrel will last thousands of rounds and your shots will be more accurate than any magnum. Personally, I reload and am really warming up to my Tikka 243 1:8 twist shooting 108 ELDMs and also my 22 Creed shooting 77 gr TMKs.

 

[swavescatter]

I'd like to to get this info as well! I have an Xbolt stainless stalker in 300 wsm with a 23" barrel, and a Liberty Mach S on order. Been planning to cut it and thread it for a 4-500 yard rifle (VERY long shot here in Maine), primarily to use inside 300 yards. I don't know if I'm just going to end up with a flashy 308 though, and how short is too short. Does 20" even make sense in a 300 wsm?

Impact velocity of your specific bullet should drive your required muzzle velocity from your rifle at your desired max range (with your anticipated atmospherics input).

Animals won't know if the 180gr Accubond was fired from a 7.62 x 39 or 300 RUM given the same impact velocity. Keep most match/soft bullets above 1800fps impact, and "tougher" bullets like bonded and Bergers above 2000fps impact and you should be good.

 

[Slick8]

Man, I'm thinking of a similar project. I have a doner action in long standard. I'm thinking of a 30-06 AI with a fast twist 20 inch suppressed barrel. I'd target 180 solids and 185-200 Bergers. The 300 WSM should be similar. Wish I could give you some real world experience but just tagging in really.

FWIW, there's an older thread here about a short barreled 30 Nosler that gave up little to a 26 inch tube.

 

[swavescatter]

The thing with Oryx is that you're usually shooting from a tripod. Unless you have a huge, heavy tripod, shooting magnums from them is not a great experience.

I think my lightweight 16.5" ikka 22 Creed in an MDT HNT26 chassis on my ARCA tripod with suppressor is my ultimate Oryx killer. Easy to spot shots, flat shooting for ranging error forgiveness, quiet for follow-up opportunities and deadly. But that's not an off-the-shelf option really.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I’m seeing ~2750 fps with my 20” 300WSM and 192gr HBC bullets. It’s leaving a bit on the table velocity wise, as I’m using a Ti action and H4350 powder, but it is stupid consistent.

That’s several hundred fps faster than a .308 manages in the same barrel length. Only real drawback with the WSM is mag capacity.

Recoil has been a non-issue for me. I can’t spot shots like a 6 Creed, but I’ll happily do a 50 rd range session with no complaint. It shoots 1MOA 10 shot groups from a sub-8lb rifle, what more could you ask for?

I went with a Rokstok and am shooting an AB Raptor 8 suppressor with reflex on the barrel. An unsuppressed rifle in a cheap plastic stock would probably be a different story from a recoil perspective.

 

[Maineotter]

Impact velocity of your specific bullet should drive your required muzzle velocity from your rifle at your desired max range (with your anticipated atmospherics input).

Animals won't know if the 180gr Accubond was fired from a 7.62 x 39 or 300 RUM given the same impact velocity. Keep most match/soft bullets above 1800fps impact, and "tougher" bullets like bonded and Bergers above 2000fps impact and you should be good.

Thank you! I didn't think about that. I'll look into some ballistic charts and get the gun chronographed for a baseline, see what its shooting now. I've been running Barrnes TSX 180s because they're stupid accurate in this gun, it definitely likes heavier bullets. So I'd need to keep velocity up for reliable expansion. Makes complete sense when you explained it

 

[cal30_sniper]

Thank you! I didn't think about that. I'll look into some ballistic charts and get the gun chronographed for a baseline, see what its shooting now. I've been running Barrnes TSX 180s because they're stupid accurate in this gun, it definitely likes heavier bullets. So I'd need to keep velocity up for reliable expansion. Makes complete sense when you explained it

300WSM and a 20” bbl will put you around 600yds for a 2200fps impact with the slipperier .308 copper monos. Thats how I narrowed in on that recipe to begin with.

A lead core bullet with a lower minimum impact velocity will extend your range significantly from the same platform. Easily to 800+ yds.

 

[BCDJR]

Hello. I live in New Mexico and hunt oryx, and elk a lot. I am tired of concussive blast and loudness of my braked 7mm rem mag and want to build a suppressed, short barrel, oryx slayer rifle. Oryx are tough animals and sometimes require long shots. My furthest shot so far was 350, but I want a rifle that can kill on at 600 yards as I improve my shooting.

I have been researching rifle calibers / ballistics to select the best caliber for this project. I am not well verse in ballistics or different calibers in general. My only two rifles are 6.5 cm and 7mm rem mag. I do not reload.

I am thinking 300 wsm with an 18-20 inch barrel would fit my needs. Who has done a shorty 300 wsm? How short is too short?

I am thinking of buying a cheap tikka 300 wsm, taking the action and barrel, having a gunsmith cut the barrel down, and putting it in an MDT hunt 26 chassis. Add a TBAC suppressor and scope and go hunting!

I am looking for any advice, confirmation that 300 wsm would be a good, or other caliber recommendations. Even better if you have hunted oryx and know what it takes to kill one.

Thank you!!!

You have a good plan for this rifle. Those 215 Bergers get lots of great reviews for the .300 and killing elk. I’ve killed oryx in Africa. I would not go below 20 inches on your barrel….

 

[Geewhiz]

I am currently putting together a 20” 300 wsm on a tikka action. The tikka action is cool in that you can convert it from a short action to a long action very easily. This allows you to shoot big heavy bullets (longer overall cartridge length) from a “short action” cartridge without having to single feed them. I plan to shoot the Berger 215s and am expecting to be in the 2700s velocity wise. Personally I think you should give yourself a bit of safety margin by using a larger caliber as opposed to an .223, assuming you can shoot it ok.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I am currently putting together a 20” 300 wsm on a tikka action. The tikka action is cool in that you can convert it from a short action to a long action very easily. This allows you to shoot big heavy bullets (longer overall cartridge length) from a “short action” cartridge without having to single feed them. I plan to shoot the Berger 215s and am expecting to be in the 2700s velocity wise. Personally I think you should give yourself a bit of safety margin by using a larger caliber as opposed to an .223, assuming you can shoot it ok.

300WSM unlocks into a totally different cartridge when you throat it long for something like a Tikka action. I’m loading the 192s at 3.255” COAL.

It’s a super efficient case design once you get rid of the ridiculously short SAAMI COAL. I’m seeing single digit SDs on my H4350 handloads and I have zero really fancy equipment involved in that loading process.

 

[justin davis]

My daughter killed her oryx with a 6.5 prc. One shot and it was down.

 

[RepCity_BK]

Buddy and I both have stock Tikka T3x in .300 WSM. Had the barrels cut to 20” and threaded this past spring. Both have a diligent defense Enticer s ti suppressor on them and are shooting his hand loads which use 168 gn barnes ttsx. Getting around 2925 muzzle velocity. It is a super fun shooting gun now. Recoil is very manageable. He killed an elk this year with his, 375 yard shot double lung. The bull made it about 30 yards and crashed.

 

[Geewhiz]

300WSM unlocks into a totally different cartridge when you throat it long for something like a Tikka action. I’m loading the 192s at 3.255” COAL.

It’s a super efficient case design once you get rid of the ridiculously short SAAMI COAL. I’m seeing single digit SDs on my H4350 handloads and I have zero really fancy equipment involved in that loading process.View attachment 1014426

I might have to get some 4350. I was recommended to get some VV n565 so I did but I’m waiting on the barreled action to get back from the smith before I can start playing with it. If I can’t get good numbers from that I have some other powders on hand to try but I’ve been seeing a lot of loads with 4350 for the heavies.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I might have to get some 4350. I was recommended to get some VV n565 so I did but I’m waiting on the barreled action to get back from the smith before I can start playing with it. If I can’t get good numbers from that I have some other powders on hand to try but I’ve been seeing a lot of loads with 4350 for the heavies.

I looked hard at VV560, but ended up liking what I saw with the H4350 I had on the shelf.

I’m betting an extra 50-100fps could be had with one of the VV powders. 4350 has always been “slow” for me, but is ultra consistent.

Buddy and I both have stock Tikka T3x in .300 WSM. Had the barrels cut to 20” and threaded this past spring. Both have a diligent defense Enticer s ti suppressor on them and are shooting his hand loads which use 168 gn barnes ttsx. Getting around 2925 muzzle velocity. It is a super fun shooting gun now. Recoil is very manageable. He killed an elk this year with his, 375 yard shot double lung. The bull made it about 30 yards and crashed.

Shot this cow end to end at 377yds earlier this week. She gave me a brief shot opportunity while pivoting to round a burnt off pine stump with 3hrs left on my tag. Bullet drove through the right rear hindquarter (breaking it), lengthwise through the body, and exited out the middle of the chest in the lower neck area, jellying the heart along the way. Blood trail was unnecessary, as she only went about 15yds in the snow, but there was a huge spurt left everytime she took a step. Best part: even the quarter it went through is still completely edible.

Datapoint of one, but super impressed so far.