The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Barrel length 300 Win Mag for Suppressor?

jmr40 · November 28, 2021, 10:35 PM

Yes, you lose speed from shorter barrels. But not nearly as much as a lot of folks think and a 20" 300 WM is still going to be faster than a 24" 30-06. And a 20" 300 WM is going to be a LOT faster than a 308 or 30-06 cut down to 20". Look at the data in the link.

Even at 16" the 300 WM was faster than you could get from a 308 shooting 190 gr bullets from a 24" barrel. Yet people recommend a 308 for shorter barrels. If you think about it, it makes more sense to cut a magnum barrel short than a slower standard cartridge.

The biggest downside is noise, and if you're cutting it to use a suppressor then even that is negated.

And... you get some of that velocity back with the suppressor.

November 28, 2021, 10:35 PM	#5
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,545	Yes, you lose speed from shorter barrels. But not nearly as much as a lot of folks think and a 20" 300 WM is still going to be faster than a 24" 30-06. And a 20" 300 WM is going to be a LOT faster than a 308 or 30-06 cut down to 20". Look at the data in the link. Even at 16" the 300 WM was faster than you could get from a 308 shooting 190 gr bullets from a 24" barrel. Yet people recommend a 308 for shorter barrels. If you think about it, it makes more sense to cut a magnum barrel short than a slower standard cartridge. The biggest downside is noise, and if you're cutting it to use a suppressor then even that is negated. And... you get some of that velocity back with the suppressor. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill