300 WSM Varminter

[20PPC]

Came across an old article about Richsrd Franklin's 300 WSM Varminter and it got my interest up.
It seems like 10 years or so ago it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
I'm curious if those who purchased or built one still hold it in the same regards and could answer a few questions from real life expierience with it.
What is realistic velocity and barrel life, do the primer pockets open up after only 2 firings with velocities over 3800, what kind of accuracy and groups is it capable of, how much velocity would be lost going with a shorter than 30" barrel?
Any idea in who to contact to chamber one?
Any and all information would be appreciated.
Dave

 

[NZ_Fclass]

How big are those varmints?

 

[Kurz]

Here is the Accurate Shooter article about the .300 WSM in case you haven't read this one:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...t-cartridge-wsm-runs-125-grainer-at-3975-fps/

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/300-wsm-richard-franklin-varminter.3999038/

Enjoy!

 

[GT Accuracy]

I have built a few and still have the reamers for it. The issue these days is getting good brass… as is the norm in this climate. You can pop a 110 gr vmax well over 4200 fps even 4300 from an 18 twist barrel.

speeding up the twist would be wise for the 125 grain.

it’s absolute murder on anything under 150 lbs. I’ve seen whitetail taken with both bullets out to 300 yards and it’s just a bloodbath

the 300 varminter is a lot of fun, but damn is it overkill in every sense of the word.

 

[KMart]

300 WSM placed 3rd in group at the recent Tack Driver II shoot

Ethan Henry

1.157

1.737

0.832

0.786

0.702

1.0428

3

300 WSM

 

[pdhntr]

How big are those varmints?

Jim

 

[20PPC]

300 WSM placed 3rd in group at the recent Tack Driver II shoot

Ethan Henry

1.157

1.737

0.832

0.786

0.702

1.0428

3

300 WSM

Yes Ethan did very well, I believe he was shootin a heavy bullet.

 

[pdhntr]

Came across an old article about Richsrd Franklin's 300 WSM Varminter and it got my interest up.
It seems like 10 years or so ago it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
I'm curious if those who purchased or built one still hold it in the same regards and could answer a few questions from real life expierience with it.
What is realistic velocity and barrel life, do the primer pockets open up after only 2 firings with velocities over 3800, what kind of accuracy and groups is it capable of, how much velocity would be lost going with a shorter than 30" barrel?
Any idea in who to contact to chamber one?
Any and all information would be appreciated.
Dave

I built a 300 Win Mag prairie dog gun at least 5-10 years before anyone heard of Franklin's Varminter. It has a laminated walnut stock and a Krieger 1.45 inch diameter barrel at 30 inches in length. I wasn't quite sure of what I was doing then, and my ability to research was limited, so I went with a 12 twist barrel. Franklin's are 15 twist.

I had no problems getting the 110 V-max over 4000 fps and shot them until the throat got a little rough and between that and the twist rate, the V-max started blowing up. I shifted to the 125 gr. NBT and occasionally still shoot those. The rifle is seldom used anymore, as the powder used is just too much for me to rationalize. I have no problems getting the 125 into the 3900s.

When used on prairie dogs the effect is beyond anything that you have likely experienced. You no doubt have heard the term "red mist". My term for these is vaporized, as you can rarely find anything but a few very small scraps of fir or maybe a paw.

Years ago I was contacted by a fellow with a Franklin varminter and in our discussion, he said he had to "lean on" his pretty hard to get the velocity. The brass didn't hold up very long, one or two firings was all. I haven't had to lean on my Win Mag much at all to get the velocities.

If I was to campaign this again in the prairie dog fields, along with the 125 NBT I would also shoot some 155 gr. bullets to longer ranges. The rifle is heavy enough to get back on the target after recoil to shoot them, and they are very accurate.

If I was to do it again, the only thing I may change would be the twist of the barrel.

Jim

 

[KMart]

Yes Ethan did very well, I believe he was shootin a heavy bullet.

I was curious about that. It would nice to know