What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

[mhael]

Hi,

I'm working on specing out my next build and I'm planning on doing a .300 wm and trying to decide a couple more things on the spec so I can get everything bought! I am going to trying to use this rifle to shoot upwards of 1500 yards so I'm gonna try to eventually push this rifle as far as I can.

Question 1: what action should I use for the build? My current thought is using one of the following options, a trued/blueprinted Remington 700, a badger M2008, a Surgeon action, or a shilen action. What I'm trying to decide is whether the extra cost of the custom actions are worth it? Any thoughts?

Question 2: what barrel length/rate of twist should I be looking for? I'm still trying to decide what round I'm gonna be using but from doing my initial reading probably the 207/208 grain will be my primary round with maybe 190 gr SMK as well. So suggestions?


Thanks for the help!

Trevor

 

[JC Steel]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Trevor, I would not go with the 300WM if it were me. Its not me so you do what you want,but under those conditions (1500 yards) you would be much happier with a 7WSM or something like that. Bullets are much better and will fly flatter. The 300 will just punish you and have more recoil with less ballistics than a 7mm Or if you want the big bullet you might as well go 338. Much better than both of them. Just my .02 cent.

I would go custom action if you have the money, just a better action overall. you could buy a Rem 700 for $400-500 and get a true and blueprint job for another $300. At the point you are almost to the custom price anyway. Plus some of the customs have built in rails so that will save you another $100 or so for a good badger base.

Whatever you do I would reccomend to buy the best you can the first time around. Buy once and cry once.

 

[mhael]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Hi,

Unfortunately I'm stuck on .300 WM because of work I need to use that caliber.

So the other question if you suggest a custom action which one and why?

 

[JC Steel]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Well 300 WM it is!!

Surgeon and stiller both make great action in my opinion.

Defiance also, if you get a high end custom action built for tactial work it would be hard to go wrong to be honest.

The 3 above are very good though

I like the built in rails and the side bolt release

 

[Chili47]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

all i can say is if you can go with a rock barrel, got one on mine and its great, and with a mcmillian stock the recoil is not bad at all

 

[head2h2o]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Nothing wrong with any of the actions mentioned in this post so far. I would choose any of them over a Rem 700 if you are starting from scratch. The money you invest in the Rem 700 is just not worth it when you look at the cost of a custom action.

If you are trying to get out to 1500 yds, I would opt for the longer barrels. Mine is finishing at 28". As for makers, Rock Creek, Krieger, Lilja and Bartlein have all been good to me.

 

[jrob300]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Trevor,

I have a 22" barrel on my Tikka 300WM (which is one of the only non-custom action's I'd recommend. Lot's of the same advantages of the customs...) and it's fairly accurate to well over 2000 yds. at my AO (sea level will be a little less), so as you can see, you probably won't "need" a 28" or 30" barrel. 24" or 26" would be fine for most of your shooting.

I just tried a Brux barrel on my new .260 build and that thing is a freaking hammer. Very impressed. Cut rifled. 7-8 weeks. $280 for a SS barrel.

John

 

[Fromafar]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Actions, I currently have a custom Remington in my. 300. Had a little issue with high pressure in the chamber which has nothing to due with the action at all. Remington is great if that's what your budget calls for. As stated in the post, by the time you get the remmy, get it all dialed in, you may as well save up a few hundred and get yourself a custom
I started with the remmy and since its at the smith for the high pressure issue, I'm going to have them install a badger. The badger is bullerproof in my opinion and the cost verses a dialed in remmy is only a few hundred. Do it right the first time!

Barrel length, I have a 26 incher which I don't believe it should be any shorter.

 

[pipewhiner]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

I'll throw the Bighorn long action in the ring as an option and his partner Mark Chanlynn for the barrel.

 

[Skyking]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

+++ for the Bighorn

 

[Pusher591]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Surgeon or call Mark at Short Action Customs about his Defiance action. Heard Bighorn actions are nice.

 

[stefan73]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

I have a Remongton 700 action trued by Chad Dixon and barreled with a Rock Creek 1-10 5R M24 contour barrel, jewel trigger (its been working pretty good for me with a hicup just recently) on a McRees stock. Chad also flutted my bolt and put on a nice tactical bolt knob.

The rifle can shoot!

 

[mhael]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

What do you guys like about the big horn vs the other more popular actions? I will deff be checking out all the suggestions, thanks for the thoughts!

 

[Chiller]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

a standard Remington 700 by the time you buy it, and have all the work done, a custom action is not that much different in price.

 

[onlyfineknives]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

I have a Surgeon with a 28" Krieger barrel.

Shoots 210 Berger BT's at 3020 into .3 to .35 groups at 100.

I haven't grouped it on paper further than 100, but my results on steel show half minute no problem out to the 760yds that I've tried it so far.

I am VERY satisfied with mine.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Model 70 Winchester

I like the flat heavy action.

 

[mavrick]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

I just traded for a APA 300wm built on an olded 700 action with a broughton barrel and I am very impressed so far, nice smooth bolt cycle and its a hammer with 210s and 208s.

Dustin

 

[300sniper]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

i still prefer a trued 700 action with no bells or whistles. i don't need or even want fluted bolts or sako/m16 extractors.

for the barrel, i'd go with a 10" twist since it will stabilize just about everything you would want to shoot out of the 300 win mag. i'd finish the barrel at 26 to 28".

 

[ORD]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

If I had it to do all over again, I probably would have gone with a custom action over the basic 700. The only reason I say this is because of the amount of money invested. By the time I had invested the money for the "donor" 700 action, plus blueprinting/etc., plus new recoil lug, plus, plus, plus...it probably would have been worthwhile just to select a 700-footprint custom action and be done with it (I probably would have gone with a Stiller Predator or TAC300)! Yes...it would have cost a little more (like around $200 more). BUT...you get what you pay for.

As for barrel length...I would say a minimum of 24" out to about 28" to get the most out of the 210gr pills and extended ranges. I opted for 26" on mine with a 1:10 twist which works great with bullets up to 220gr (which I only really shoot 208gr-210gr pills these days) and also with the 190gr SMKs and VLDs I run occassionally.

 

[RustyShackleferd]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

I run a rem 700 in 300 wm with a lilja 26 inch barrel, shoots like a dream.

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

i know this isn't a listed option but i would seriously consider a sako trg 42 if it were me. you can get one for around $2500new. that gives you great action/trigger/stock, already threaded just buy there muzzle brake and you will be ready to rock. You will be hard pressed to build a custom that will have same options as trg for the same price honestly.

You also get the bonus of really great coal available in the mags 3.75" which will allow you to seat the heavy bullets out longer if neccesary.

 

[Pusher591]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

Another thing to think about is if you already have a 700 action and just thinking about putting money on it. You would be saving money that way unless you sell that action and put it towards a custom. If I already had a 700 I would just send it to Chad Dixon or Mark at Short Action. They can true up a 700 very well from what hear. If your just starting from scratch then just go custom, if money is a big deal then you can probably save around 300 bucks using a donor action.

 

[pipewhiner]

Re: What action and barrel to use for my .300 WM build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mhael</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What do you guys like about the big horn vs the other more popular actions? I will deff be checking out all the suggestions, thanks for the thoughts! </div></div>
It has the best features of alot of action all rolled in to one. 700, 70 and the floating bolt head of the savage. It also has a thicker tang to assist with heavier longer barrels as well as more threads on the barrel tenon side, closed top for strength, the repeater mag cut feeds from AICS mags great. I'm sure that I am missing a bunch of stuff.