24" or 26" 300wm barrel for elk

[William Hester]

I am new to the sport of hunting elk, but I understand that alot of hiking will be involved. I am not sure of the areas or terrain that I will one day be hunting. I would like to know the length of barrel that would be best for most elk terrains. Keep in mind that weight difference would be minor because I will be purchasing a proof carbon fiber barrel. However, I would be adding a brake, which would add about 2" to the barrel length. Would the 26" + brake be too long for the rougher terrains or should I go 24"+brake?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

A lot of elk country is open. I wouldnt worry about the extra length making the rifle harder to handle. I build almost every elk rifle 26"

 

[people]

Longer is better.

 

[long40shot]

Split the difference, go 25". That's what my 300wm is.

 

[Flouncer]

Have any of you experienced hunters shot an Elk off hand ? Not using stix or sling ? - thanks

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Have any of you experienced hunters shot an Elk off hand ? Not using stix or sling ? - thanks

Took a cow at 330yds kneeling with a 20lb. 338 edge LOL. Also a rag head with a 300 mag off hand 75-100 yds or so.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Have any of you experienced hunters shot an Elk off hand ? Not using stix or sling ? - thanks

Yes. What is it you would like to know about it? It's nothing different than shooting a deer off hand except you have to know that certain angles are gonna be harder to get to the vitals.

 

[Flouncer]

I don't want to drift off topic more than I already have ............ I find it very difficult to hit anything, anything if I am not off a bench and bagss or prone with a bipod. So I have practice and work cut out for me. A 25/26 - inch barrel is in the future for me, but not enough time and $ this season. But I should get an easy 100 fps over my stock 22-inch barrel.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I am new to the sport of hunting elk, but I understand that alot of hiking will be involved. I am not sure of the areas or terrain that I will one day be hunting. I would like to know the length of barrel that would be best for most elk terrains. Keep in mind that weight difference would be minor because I will be purchasing a proof carbon fiber barrel. However, I would be adding a brake, which would add about 2" to the barrel length. Would the 26" + brake be too long for the rougher terrains or should I go 24"+brake?

It really won't make a difference. As long as you use a good bullet at least 180gr or bigger at around 3000 fps+ you shouldn't have any issues. I hunted with a 300 win Mag for 10 years. It had a 24" barrel and I was pushing 180gr bullets at 3230 fps. I took down multiple bull elk with it. Youll be surprised just how fast the 300 win mag can push bullets in a 24" barrel with the right powders. An extra 2" barrel length wouldnt have mattered to me.

All my current hunting rifles wear 26" barrels. Not that they need it. Just how I decided to build them.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I don't want to drift off topic more than I already have ............ I find it very difficult to hit anything, anything if I am not off a bench and bagss or prone with a bipod. So I have practice and work cut out for me. A 25/26 - inch barrel is in the future for me, but not enough time and $ this season. But I should get an easy 100 fps over my stock 22-inch barrel.

Yes it should be faster. Short barrels can be fast too, just that you may have to use a faster burning powder in them.

I personally like heavier barrels on my hunting rifles for all positions of shooting. The heavier weight out front makes it more stable for me when firing off hand. Down side is the extra weight while hiking.

Key to successful offhand shooting for me is to only shoulder the rifle exactly when I'm ready to shoot and try to make the shot in under 4 seconds to avoid any fatigue.

I fire off hand with the rifle in motion, if that makes sense? So if an animal is staitonary, I'm swinging slowly from the bottom up and as soon as the reticle is where i want it, I "pull" the trigger like you would a shotgun. I may watch the animal or wait for a clear shot, but once i am ready the shot is taken very fast. Usually about 3 or 4 seconds from when I lift the rifle to my shoulder, get on target, and fire. If the animal is running, I'm watching for my opportunity, then as soon as I see it, I shoulder, swing with the target, and again pull the trigger like a shotgun when the reticle hits the mark. A good clean follow through is as important with offhand shooting as it is in any other position.

I have killed approximately 15 animals off hand with this technique from ranges of 50 to nearly 200 yards. A couple were standing still, most trotting along at a slow gait, and 5 of the animals were on a flat out sprint for their lives. All successful kills from the offhand position.

Think of it like shooting clays only you have one projectile. It's not hard. Just takes practice.

Eventually it will become instinct after you rack up a handful of kills off hand in the field. I only shoot off hand if I absolutely have to, but during about half of the kills, the entire event happened so fast I couldnt recall any sort of thought process that took place during the shot. In those cases, the shot was made purely on instinct. I could remember the whole event afterwards, but in the moment during the few seconds it took me to make the shot, my brain and body were on 'auto-pilot'.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I don't want to drift off topic more than I already have ............ I find it very difficult to hit anything, anything if I am not off a bench and bagss or prone with a bipod. So I have practice and work cut out for me. A 25/26 - inch barrel is in the future for me, but not enough time and $ this season. But I should get an easy 100 fps over my stock 22-inch barrel.

Practice. Its about building a position and timing the shot. Read up on standing high power shooting. Lots of info.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

24 is just fine. You want a rifle that is easy to handle while hunting. In my experience the longer barrels are a PITA at times while hunting.. I hunt elk with a SAKO that has a short barrel. I also have a Win light weight carbine that has a short barrel. Both are great in the field. And both have killed a bunch of elk

 

[Flouncer]

Thanks all for your input. William, is this helping you also ??

 

[William Hester]

It is some. Still having trouble deciding. Thinking 26, but worry if it would be a troublesome pack rifle.

 

[mac86951]

It is some. Still having trouble deciding. Thinking 26, but worry if it would be a troublesome pack rifle.

Transportation to and from the hunt may be a deciding factor too; the 2" additional profile of the barrel will be far less than what you're carrying back after a successful shot.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Ounces turn into pounds and pounds turn into pain

I went to a 22 oz. all carbon fiber stock on one of my favorite hunting rifle's and the difference is very noticeable when hiking. Like I said, I prefer heavier and longer barrels for high country hunting where long shots may be needed. I try not to add unecessary weight to the rifle anywhere else, but there's nothing a 24" barrel won't do that my 26" barrel can. 26" barrels on my hunting rifles are just my personal preference.

 

[long40shot]

If it were me, I'd go with the shortest barrel i could get away with, while still achieving the ballistics i desire.

 

[William Hester]

Ounces turn into pounds and poudns turn into pain

I went to a 22 oz. all carbon fiber stock on one of my favorite hunting rifle's and the difference is very noticeable when hiking. Like I said, I prefer heavier and longer barrels for high country hunting where long shots may be needed. I try not to add unecessary weight to the rifle anywhere else, but there's nothing a 24" barrel won't do that my 26" barrel can. 26" barrels on my hunting rifles are just my personal preference.

Do you use your 26" barreled rifles as pack rifles? If so, are they more aggravating or do you not see a difference?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Do you use your 26" barreled rifles as pack rifles? If so, are they more aggravating or do you not see a difference?

Yes. If talking about packing a rifle on a horse in a scabbard, less barrel length is better, but we have packed scoped rifles with 26" barrels in large custom scabbards as well. Not like you'll be shooting from the back of the horse anyhow.

I hunted with 24" barreled rifles in the mountains for many years, and for the last 7 or 8 years, I've hunted with 26" barrels. I honestly don't notice the difference. Even on my sendero contour barrel in a 338, an extra 2" might only equate to an extra 4 oz. And the extra length doesn't seem to make the rifle much less 'handy' to me.

I cannot recall one instance in the mountains where I got aggrivated and wished I had a shorter barrel. 26" works for me just fine. You might ocassionally hit a tree branch here and there while walking that a shorter barrel wouldn't have hit, but no big deal, just lower the rifle a hair and you're on your way.

 

[msinc]

I am not an elk hunter...I don't even live in rifle country. I do hunt the mountains though and just about all of my personal hunting rifles are 27" or 28". I have one that is 26 and another that is 24". I call the 24" my "carbine". I like longer barrels and I like the free velocity. I especially like it ever since Reloder 26 was invented!!! I also like the steadiness with the little bit of added weight. At the end of the day, if it hurt me or was uncomfortable to carry i'd stay home. The fact is you have to be in shape to hunt the mountains successfully, it's just that simple. Not knocking anyone who really loves it and goes anyway...best of luck and I hope you get your animal, but I also hope you don't run into any other problems.
All that said, 2" of barrel length is not going to make or break the hunt, so why not have the little extra advantage. Hunting is tough enough, why not maximize every possible advantage. You say you are having a hard time hitting the target offhand??? Then you now know exactly what to practice...shooting off the bench and prone off a bipod is reassuring, but not helping your cause. I like and carry a very light weight monopod when I hunt the mountains. It doubles as a walking stick and although it doesn't help my shooting the way a bench or bipod could, it is better than an off hand shoot-n-pray. What's a brake do for you, I mean besides blow the wax out of your ears???? I have never felt recoil while shooting an animal yet, I know I wouldn't feel it especially shooting at a 6X6 elk!!!!!! If you need it go for it, but I have tried them and just don't get it. If I really cannot handle a certain calibers recoil I simply go to something a little easier on the shoulder. There are plenty of "elk calibers" that don't kill behind and maim in front. Best of luck!!!!