300 WM for elk. What twist?

[tiny68]

I am putting together a 300 Win Mag as an elk rifle for my son. This will be my first mag cartridge. It will be based on a Savage 110 action. Looking to order the barrel. Probably want to shoot the Berger 205s or similar. What twist would you recommend? It will be at least a 26” with a brake. I am thinking a 1:10. Also considering a 300 PRC. Have to stick with the mag bolt face.

thanks for input,

Tim

 

[XTR]

Look at the longest bullet you plan to shoot and see what it needs, though unless you are single loading or trying to shoot from the next state its not likely you’ll need more than a 1:10. A 1:10 has been used to shoot 215s to 1000 yds with success so I can’t imagine needing more.

 

[farmerjohn]

You might want to check with Steve at Hammer Bullets. He makes one of the best hunting bullets (IMHO) on the market and the 168 is as heavy as I can go in my 300H&H because of my 10 twist. Most of the custom bullets these days are longer and need more twist. Were I to rebarrel one of my 300's I would go with a 9...
John

 

[B23]

Tim, the Berger 215's in a 300 Win mag, 30 Nosler, or the new 300 PRC, with a 10tw is a pretty potent elk killing machine. If you think you'll ever want to shoot a heavier bullet than the 215's a 9 twist would be better choice.

 

[46and2]

Im shooting Berger 230gr otm in 10 twist 300rum at 670' ASL...but that is at 3150fps.

Enter your data here.
https://bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

 

[farmerjohn]

I probably should have offered more detail in my observation. Bergers are conventional lead core copper jacket bullets, some of the premium hunting bullets are of a solid copper alloy which is lighter in volume than lead forcing them to make the bullet longer like a VLD. My 10 twist will handle a conventional lead core bullet up to a 250gr just fine, I just like the copper alloyed hunting bullets and the option of using them and wish I had a faster twist in my rifles so I could use a heavier bullet in the Hammer type bullets..
John

 

[DogBuster]

Sako says 1/10

 

[wedgy]

Hunting and target shooting are totally different when it comes to bullets stability. Just because a bullet punches a round hole in paper does not mean it will perform on game when it hits. For example the Berger 7mm 195 had a 9 twist recommended when it came out and it got a reputation as a bad hunting bullet as the tip bent over and it tumbled and didn't expand. Run it with an 8 twist and it works great. A bullet is most stable flying backwards , the only way the lighter tip stays in front is because of the spin. If it is on the edge of stability it can still fly straight but will tumble and not expand and penetrate when it hits an animal. Get the 9 twist