Shortening Savage barrel

[bullitt4248]

I have a 24 inch Savage 300 WSM rifle. I was wanting to shorten it for easier swing. What would be a good length / without loosing accuracy?
I was also thinking of adding harmonic style brake.

Ideas?

Thanks

 

[X-Rap]

You will loose velocity not accuracy. There are formulas and table on the Internet for those that care about those things.
I wouldn't cut a Mag class barrel under 20" and would need a very compelling reason to pay for the smithing to do that.
I am not opposed to barrels as short as 16" but they would be on lesser calibers than a magnum and on guns I would likely shoot under 200yds.

 

[rcmodel]

24 inch Savage 300 WSM rifle.

It would be a big mistake to shorten the 24" barrel on a .300 Whizzem.

You will just end up with an extremely loud 30-06.

rc

 

[Riss]

I shortened mine to 20" of rifling, I think. It took about 2" off the end of the rifle. I can measure it if you want. Was the correct minimum length to get maximum velocity for the bullet weight, sectional density, etc. Used some old dead guys calculations to figure it, but his name escapes me. The Savage 300 WSM is plenty accurate. It will shoot under .5 moa all day long. I did tighten up the chamber a little bit when I screwed the barrel back on too.

 

[navyretired 1]

When the factories and reloading companies come up with these WizBang Super Duper Hight Velocity loads so we will cry till we get one. They get those published velocities with 36" barrels most of the time. If you estimate velocity lose from 36" to 20" it's about 60-80 fps per inch so 80 psi X 16" = 1280 fps under max published velocity.
A .308 Win will have just about the same velocity with same bullet at 20 ". The whole purpose of Whiz Bang Mags is to reach out with bone jarring heavy throw bullets to do what lesser cartridges do at shorter distances.
There is no doubt that a 20" rifle is handy and light weight but then all the Wiz Bang is gone and a lesser caliber can do the same job cheaper and just as effectively.

 

[highorder]

rc and navyretired 1 are correct as usual.

Magnums need barrel length to burn powder. Without the added barrel length, any ballistic advantage is lost, and you just pay $4.00 a round for .308 performance.

 

[smokey262]

You will just end up with an extremely loud 30-06


LOL. Well said

 

[Snakum]

They get those published velocities with 36" barrels most of the time

Wow. I didn't know dat.


I need a chrono.

 

[rcmodel]

That 36" would be a typo.

Most often, magnum caliber velociy figures for factory ammo are taken from a 26" barrel.

rc

 

[navyretired 1]

RC; you never heard of a goose rifle? 36" would be perfect. I'm sorry about mistake ,it wasn't typo in was a brain fart.