I have a savage 110 300 win mag that has a light spotter barrel on it, I'm looking to change it out to a heavy varmint/target barrel. Wanting to know which would be better a 24 inch or 26 inch. Going to be used only for target shooting. Action is going to be used with a Choate Ultimate Varmint stock.

26" or better yet 25 + muzzle break if it's only for targets.

Shorter is stiffer and could possibly be more accurate, in theory. Longer will provide more velocity and weight. On target, it doesn't make much difference.

Gaining 2" of barrel will yield an additional 40-50 fps velocity. I use my 300 WM for ultra long range shooting (out to 1 mile +) so I went with a 29" barrel. I'm pushing a Hornady 225 BTHP at 2800+ fps, which is an absolute hammer on steel!!!

If you go with a 1:10" twist, you can run the Berger 230 grain Hybrids for the highest BC bullet available. Mine is a 1:11" twist, and is a little too slow twist for the 230's. I have a customer that shoots the heavy barrel Savage in 300 WM with the 230 Berger Hybrid out past 1000 yards, and shoots very well. For a factory rifle, I was very impressed.

300 Win Mag is the black Sako TRG 42 in the back with the 29" barrel, with APA Fat Bastard muzzle brake.

Horizon did mine at 25, I think

The Lilja on my long range 300WM is a little over 27". Shoots great!

Mine is at 24", heavy barrel.

Chad, berger changed their twist rates recently. They are now saying you need a 1:9.5 for the 230's ideally. I will also second what Chad said about a 29" barrel, I would go 29" at least if your going to be shooting the heavy bullets, that will let you get the most speed out of them possible and if its a range gun weight doesn't matter.

20"

But longer better if you're just going from truck to range.

^^^^^ gun porn at its finest

That AI is sweet! Got to be the shortest barreled 300 WM I have seen. What optic are running, TT?

What a guess, lol. You're an addict

Weight always matters. A heavier gun recoils less and holds steadier. Both are nice additions to a range rifle.

I wouldn't go less than 26" on a .300 Win Mag or 7 Rem Mag. I want that slow burning powder to stay in the barrel to push the bullet instead of shooting fire outside the barrel. Same as I wouldn't go less than 24" on a .30-06 parent case. Short action? Make it as short as you like knowing you'll lose about 20 fps per inch.

Sorry Sneaky I should of said a having a heavy gun for target shooting doesnt matter as you are not packing it around.

I like the longer barrels too, which is the primary reason why I prefer the Winchester model 70 "Sporter" model over the "Featherweight" that most shooters prefer.

Well, I must admit that I like the Sporter's checkering better too, due to the conspicuous absence of any French influence there.

No need to apologize. I was just throwing that out there.

I prefer shorter rifles but go 26" if you are going long range.

Thanks for the replys. I think most of my shooting will be less than 500 yds.

For 500 yards, it won't matter then. A 308 Win is easily doable for that, so anything you want to do on the 300 WM will work fine. At 500 yards, you won't take advantage of the high BC bullets, so anything you shoot will do fine. You won't start to gain the advantage of the heavy rounds until past about 600-800 yards.

^^Yup^^