Franklin's 4000 FPS 30-Cal Varminter Is a Hit with Hunters
Richard Franklin (Richard’s Custom Rifles) has pioneered the use of lightweight (110-130 grain) 30-caliber bullets in a new generation of hyper-velocity varmint rifles. Richard’s new trademark cartridge is the “300 Varminter”. Using 30″ barrels with the 300 WSM case, Richard’s “maxi” varminter delivers incredible levels of energy at both short and long range. Traveling at 4000+ FPS, the lightweight, plastic-tipped bullets literally explode when they hit. This can lift a groundhog up to 10 feet in the air–and Richard has VIDEO to prove it.
Richard tells us that demand is high for the 300 Varminter: “I have built 25 of these rifles just this year, and orders are increasing. I’m building them for coyote hunters out west, and well as Eastern groundhog shooters.” Richard adds: “This cartridge is fast AND accurate. My 300 Varminter is now my favorite rifle, and it may be the most accurate long-range varmint rifle I own. Accuracy is really outstanding–I’ve shot groups under 1.5″ at 500 yards with this. And the effect of these bullets at 500+ yards on a ‘Hog has to be seen to be believed.” Richard uses VV 550 and Norma 300 WSM brass: “Norma is the only way to go–the Win and Rem brass is nowhere near as good”.
Richard explains: “The 300 Varminter is built around the 300 WSM case. In good custom actions such as the BAT or Nesika this round will deliver 4000+ FPS with the 125gr Nosler Ballistic tips and a bit more with the 110gr Hornady V-Max. Remington-action rifles will handle velocities up to around 3800 to 3900 FPS with these bullets. We use Norma brass in a tight-neck chamber with zero freebore and slow-twist 30″ barrels to obtain these velocities. Accuracy is excellent with either of these bullets. If you want air time and red mist on large varmints then this is the caliber for you.”
Above is Richard’s personal “300 Varminter” in its distinctive South American Bloodwood stock. That is the true color of the wood–not a stain. Note the deeply recessed crown. Richard says this helps keep noise and blast away from the shooter. Richard’s “Big Red” features a BAT Machine 1.600″ diameter ‘B’ action, Bat 20 MOA rail, Burris Signature Zee rings, Jewel 1.5 oz. trigger, and a Bartlein 1.250″ X 30″, 1:15″ twist barrel. Total weight is 24 lbs. which includes about 4 lbs of lead added to the buttstock. Richard tells us “The Bartleins have been outstanding, with consistent quality and accuracy I can count on.” Richard uses a Nightforce NSX 8-32 X scope with MLR reticle.
How good can one of Richard’s 300 WSM Varminters shoot? Below is a 100-yard target. The fouling shot went a little low, but then the next six (6) shots went into 0.162″. That is amazing for factory varmint bullets. CLICK HERE to view a video of what the 300 Varminter will do (warning–very LOUD and GRAPHIC–turn down your audio before playback).
“.162″ @ 100 yds = 1.62″ @ 1000 yds.” Is this a joke???? If that’s the case I hope all those 6ppc’s that are shooting in the zeros @ 100 yds don’t show up @ a 1000 yd match. While there is no desputing the splat factor of these light bullets @ blistering speeds, a heavier, higher bc bullet WILL perform better past 500 yds. Things like this just confuse the guys just getting into this game and will ultimately, when they figure out heavier is better, cost them alot of time and money.
Wonder how many firings per case Richard is getting???
Hey Bill,
Don’t knock what you don’t understand. I hunt with Richard and know the man. He has taught me a few things about guns and long range varminting and I’ve been killing hogs for 40+ years. Build you one of those guns and report back to the minions. Those just getting into the game should learn from those that have been there.
John
I can’t seem to see the video can you tell me which codec you used or which programm you used o open it thank you in advance.
Very impressive set up. I saw a thread on Long Range Hunting titled “What a Joke” about this actual topic. It was a very heated discussion because some were saying the 300 WSM could not push the 125grn Ballistic Tip bullet at 4000fps safely. Well, Richard proved those people wrong. He has found a way to do it, and do it safely. All I can say is WOW, what a cool set up. I wish I had the funds to build one.
I tried to load the amount of powder stated on Richard’s web but could not get the Winchester case to hold that much. I suppose the justification is that Norma brass is soo much better.
I really wonder about some of this stuff.
EDITOR: If you talk to Richard he’ll tell you not to even bother with the Winchester Brass. The good Norma brass is an essential part of his high-velocity recipe.
Richard, ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! He is certainly on the cutting edge of varminting with this combo. I am impressed. (I am a veteran combat fighter pilot. 41 combat missions into Iraq. I was there in March 2003 when we invaded, dropping 2000 pound GPS-guided bombs “surgically” into buildings in Baghdad, not to mention many days of laser-guided 500-pounders on Iraqi [russian] tanks.) The point is to give you an idea where my comments are coming from. THIS IS BIG STUFF! I have loved the .300WSM from inception, and always new it had the potent potential. Now for the bros…if you want some “next level hog hunting” video, send me an email, and I’ll respond. (ok, so it’s not really hogs, it’s my “gun camera” footage of “pink mist-ing Iraqi tanks”). Also, can anyone email me Richards direct email so I can write him personally?
Good hunting, boys [and girls]
Major Lafe “RIO” Dunn
lafedunn@gmail.com
I know Richard personally, and believe me he fully understands ballistics and BC when related to heavier projectiles. The nay sayers are missing the point. I shoot .338 Lapua Mags and 50 BMGs for really long range varminting. And Have shot several varmints with them at over 1400 yards. All that happens is you punch a hole in them. Its cool to say but nothing like watching a ground hog or prairie dog turn inside out thru your glass. Richard intended this rifle to be a phenominal shooter out to 500 yards and anything past that is were you start getting into the realm of luck on targets this size. Thats not to say you won’t mist a few well past 500 yard, just that you will hit one out of every three shots. Richards 300 Varminter is an awesome 500 yard rifle that will almost totally vaporize most varmints. This rifle is definately capable of shots well past 500 yards but the BC of the projectile just isn’t recommended per Richard himself. Richards rifle and his intentions for this rifle was to give a skilled shooter the ability to vaporize any varmint ground hog size and smaller out to 500 yard, with virtually every squeeze of the the trigger, all the while watching it thru your optics. I don’t know what everyone elses ideal day at the favorite varmint hole is, but this rifle and what it is capable of is exactly what my favorite would shape up to be.
R. Brev…
If you need this much rifle for woodchucks out to 500 yds, you are doing something really wrong.
John Russell:
Since when is this about “need”?! As R. Brew stated, his ideal performance is achieved when varmints go *poof*, not just fall over and writhe before dying. *poof* is a difficult to quantify term, but I think everyone gets the general idea. It’s not that he NEEDS this kind of energy transfer to hit/kill a woodchuck at 500 yds, but that it culminates in a fantastic explosion – more than other “equipment” can deliver. And THAT is what he’s (and, really, aren’t we all?) after.
Wow! I own a 300 wsm i use for deer and someday elk. I had no idea one could get these kind of ballistics from this caliber. Richard is a genius!
Enjoyed the video. Richard also has a 6mmAI tricked out. Would you recommend this with 75g projectiles to be a better 500+yard varment getter?
drgary
Steve, summed up my earlier comment very well. I agree Richard’s 300 WSM is not needed to kill varmints out to 500 yards. But if you ever saw a prarie dog shot with his 300 WSM you would get the point. You will be finding parts and pieces 10-20 yards from the impact point. I will agree it is overkill to the Nth degree. But if you are not a varmint hunter after pelts, which this rifle defintely is not for. This is the rig for you. And the 500 yard comment. This is for the non ballistics minded individuals. This rifle shoots flat enough and has a high enough BC projectile that targets out to 500 yards take little thought to wind drift. Past 500 yards you need to make the neccassary computations or consult your ballistics tables and wind drift charts. But I not have shot several ground hogs, prairie dogs and woodchucks at 800 to 1000 yards with this rifle. It is very capable of shots even past this if you understand external ballistics. In addition Richard’s choice of projectile is also very specific. It provides explosive expansion and it will come appart on anything it impacts. I shot VLD/ULD projectiles in rifles all the time but you have to be very mindful of your back drop with them. A VLD/ULD projectile is just as likely to skip off the ground and end up in the next county so shouldn’t be used unless you fully are aware of your surroundings and it is safe to shoot these types of projectiles. In closure isn’t the red mist and varmint acrobatics what we all actually love about varmint hunting and what keeps us comming back year after year.
R. Brew
a 22-6mm 75 gr horn.
a laser as well
How Long before barrel erosion takes it’s Toll and accuracy goes?
Heavy is only better hwen it is helping you, and if that happens to be before or after 500 yards it truly doesn’t damn well matter. Are you shooting at running critters 300 yards and under or having time to range and dial a rock chuck at 850 yards? Two very different styles, and you pretending that they are the same and one somehow is more “important” is what is wrong with new shooters. That’s meeting people who have their head so far up their own ass with information they haven’t even objectively proven. All of it is important, if and when it is. If it also goes fast, so does the barrel. More powder through a smaller holes equals faster throat erosion. No way around it. No fancy jesus coatings or gypsy tears, just fact. If anyone who has read this post and this gets you mad, or happy but you don’t know enough to argue (or if you do) go check out the books by Bryan Litz. Go hang with some F-class shooters. Go shott some sniper matches. Talk, shoot, lose, maybe even win. So much of this stuff is mole hills into mountains. Get a shoot’n stick and shoot the heck out of it. Go take a class or two from someone who has walked the line. Listen and shut up. Test what you’ve learned. Here is where it all comes together. All through a lifetime of experience. I wish you, the future of shooting, the best.
I obviously need to learn to post-read before posting. Or learn to type better
Likely…..both.
What kind of velocity can I get from a .284 / 6 mm 109 grain bullet with a 30 inch barrel?
The recessed crown works quite well in deflecting the blast and noise forward . This was proven on the 1918A2 BAR , I use to shoot one.
The recessed crown works very well I had one on a 1918 A2 BAR , works in deflecting the noise and blast forward.
Its annoying seeing anyone question a master rifle and stock builder like Richard Franklin. Its like crack modern science to a ignorant religious fanatic. No accident that Darwin said it best: “Ignorance begets confidence much more than does knowledge”
Richard is flatly a pioneer at rifle building and at the arrival of these incredibly slow twist rates to achieve formerly inimmaginabile velocities.
All I have for Mr Franklin is respect and admiration. The man builds rifles that consistantly shoot phenomenal groups. Competitors should be happy that’s not his interest!
In dealing with things around Mr Franklin, one should take my advice seriously. Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. Its amazing what you can learn from those capable of teaching.
Lastly, my thanks to Mr Franklin for the advantages offered for my rifle building desires as a retired machinist.
I live in Massachusetts..I don’t need to tell you about all the gun snowflakes here..I live surrounded by 3 cemetaries which is good…coyotes were surrounding my dog,my son too….I am asking you supreme experts best air rifle to stop an attacking coyote, rabbit or occasional turkey (once I learn to dress and eat them). thanks men….e-mail me please I guess that is how responses go ?? geo jr
We built one in the shop. A 125gr at 4000fps is legit and we killed a groundhog at 816 this weekend with it. Some people like to criticize, other people just do.