300 Win Mag- barrel twist with lead free

[billy_boyle_2010]

Hi guys

I'm looking to purchase a 300WM hunting rifle (no target) and will be shooting lead free ammo.

I know the beauty of the 300WM is its capeable of driving a wide range of bullet weights- 140-220gr lead bullets.

However- I wish to shoot lead free and so would like a barrel that can handle this. I'm not sure what length a 180gr lead free bullet is- but I'm guessing it may well be the length of a 230gr lead bullet ?

Can anyone give me their advice or experiences of 300WM barrels and twist rates and how they shot lead free ?

1:10 seems a common twist rate from what I have read. A few heavy target barrels come in 1:8 but these aren't appropriate for my needs.

I have also read that 24" is the minimum barrel length. 26" is even better although as its a hunting rifle I will probably keep it to 24-25".

 

[Eric the Red]

1:10 at 24in will suit your hunting needs.

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

1:10 at 24in will suit your hunting needs.

Can I ask what weight lead free bullet will be stable in a 1:10? What do you run ? Thanks

 

[Eric the Red]

I no longer run a 300WM - but when I did it was a 24in 1:10 and coped with the 180's fine. A bullet stability calculator will give you the info you need - people interpret the results in different ways

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

OK thanks for the advice

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

I have run several .30 cal barrels shooting non lead:

.300 WSM 1-11” (factory Tikka barrel)
.308 Win 1-10” (custom GB barrel)
.300 WSM 1-9” (custom Sassen barrel)

All run non lead ammo brilliantly and very accurately - the 1-11” was somewhat restrictive as it was ‘marginal stability’ on the calculators with 175+ grain Barnes bullets but the 150 TTSX I was running at the time in it worked excellently (I would highly recommend this combo if using high weight retention options)

The 1-9” is I think about perfect for the ‘lighter’ magnums (win mag, WSM, PRC etc) where with NLA you will be looking at a 200 grain or less due to the ideal velocities. The 1-10” will get more marginal at the upper edge of this range.

If you were going for a bigger Magnum (ie .300 NM, .300 RUM etc) I would even suggest a 1-8” to allow running such long bullets as the 212 LRX bore rider.

All in all, it very much depends which bullets you intend to shoot and what choices you have available as to barrel twists in your chosen rifle/barrel.

Ben

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

Hi Ben

Very interesting indeed thank you.

1:10 does seem the slowest and 1:9 better tbh!

Thank again

 

[Rutland lad]

Photo below is a product of my .300 Winmag with 180 grain Barnes TSX shot from a 23.5” or 60cm barrel at 100m. 3 shot group.

It repeats this regularly.

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

Photo below is a product of my .300 Winmag with 180 grain Barnes TSX shot from a 23.5” or 60cm barrel at 100m. 3 shot group.

It repeats this regularly.

Wow lovely! That would do!

What gun is it ? What's the barrel twist rate ? Thanks

 

[Rutland lad]

Wow lovely! That would do!

What gun is it ? What's the barrel twist rate ? Thanks

Mauser MO3. Twist rate 1/11
Bullet makes two complete revolutions before clearing muzzle in that length barrel.

 

[Rutland lad]

To be fair, that recipe/calibre worked exactly the same in my Steyr Prohunter 2 as well.