Kirby Allen Rolls Out 300 Raptor — Big Case, Big Performance
Kirby Allen of Allen Precision Shooting, www.apsrifles.com, has developed a .30-caliber jumbo-sized magnum he calls the 300 Raptor. The 300 Raptor (center in photo) is based on Allen’s 338 Excalibur parent case (far right in photo), necked down to 30 cal with shoulder moved forward to increase case capacity. Allen states: “This is the largest capacity and performance .30 caliber magnum on the market that can be used in a conventional sized receiver.”
Shoot 200s at 3600 fps
Performance of Allen’s new 300 Raptor is impressive. Allen claims that “200gr Accubonds can be driven to nearly 3600 fps, 230gr Berger Hybrids to 3350 fps, and the 240gr SMK to right at 3300 fps. These loads offered case life in excess of 6-7 firings per case and many of my test cases have over 8 firings on each case so they are not an overly hot load showing the potential of this big .30 caliber.”
To showcase the new cartridge, Allen built up a prototype rifle with a McMillan A5 stock, Raptor LRSS Action with extended tenon, and a Jewell trigger. The first 300 Raptor Rifle is currently on its second barrel, a new 30″, 3-groove 1:9″-twist Lilja in a custom APS “Raptor Contour”. This distinctive dual-fluted contour runs full-diameter almost to the end of the stock, and then steps down and tapers to the muzzle, where a beefy Medium 3-port ‘Painkiller’ Allen Precision brake is fitted.
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Tags: .338 Excalibur, 300 Raptor, Kirby Allen
A solution for which I was not aware there was a problem. Barrel life should not be a problem. If you limited firing to thirty rounds per year, a barrel should last ten years.
way to go Kirby on making it over to 6mmbr!!!
4 scope rings? really?
I dont need one, thank you.
What is it for? no good for f-class and too fancy for hunting…
Some tips:
– fluted barrels are less accurate than non fluted barrels
– this cartridge will be simmilar to the 300 Pegasus. SMK 240gr won`t get faster than 2900 fps – the AccuBond 200gr not faster than 3200 fps with a pressure limit of 64000 psi. The Pegasus is well known as too much volume for the powder – with a density of 85-90% it`s wasted case volume. The 300 RemUltraMag is much better sized.
– 1:9 twist is good for heavy bullets
– 4 rings are better than two (thicker rings would be also great)
The 300 RemUltraMag is in my opinion the best 300èr Magnum solution at the moment.
michael,
-Fluted barrel, looking for large cross section with weight reduction, these are long range big game rifle, not BR rifles.
-My wildcat has 13-15 grain powder capacity advantage over the Pegasus, its dramatically higher in performance, your numbers are WAY low. 300 RUM is a great case, but it is now a medium sized 30 cal magnum.
-Again, this is not for shooting 5 shot strings, its for putting your first shot through the vitals of a big game animal at 1000 yards, please do not compare it to a BR rifle
Ryan,
There is a reason for the four rings, one set is positioned to control recoil energy, the other set is positioned to control the extreme deceleration forces generated by the painkiller muzzle brake. If you do not use this set up, the rings WILL eventually start slipping between the rail slots. Recoil by the way is about the same as a 243 Win because of my Painkiller Muzzle Brake.
Steve,
With your reasoning, we all should be shooting the 30-06 for hunting, some just want the most performance they can get with precision accuracy.
As far as barrel life, I put nearly 750 rounds down the original barrel in load development and ballistic testing. That was in a 4 month period and at the end it was still easily shooting sub 1 moa groups at 1000 yards. Still I decided to sell the rifle to pay for the next research project, the 338 Raptor. As such I installed a fresh barrel, did complete barrel break in, developed its preferred load which turned out to be the 240 gr SMK loaded to around 3280 fps.
IAN: Ian, Long Range Precision Big Game hunting and nothing else. Kirby ALLEN PRECISION
As far as being to expensive, the actual rifle cost was the same as my standard Raptor LRSS rifles, $4600. Since these are one of a kind loading dies, they are quite expensive, cost will drop for dies when production run increases. Brass is $4.25 ea. so that adds alot to the price, add in a $1700 scope, $350 worth of rings and a $300 hard case, then add in full barrel break in, load development, all shipping and insurance cost, Harris bipod with pod lock and $7600 is a reduced price.
By the way, the rifle sold yesterday.
Again, this is not a rifle that most on 6mm BR would be interested in, its not a BR rifle, its designed for long range precision shooting and big game animals. Keep the barrels cool and clean and it will last a life time of hunting for even the most serious big game hunter. If you want to put 1000 rounds down your barrel each year, get a 308.
If you want the ultimate in tested and proven performance for big game hunting with 1/2 moa accuracy potential, this will be right up your ally.
Not looking to debate anything, I have been hearing this “No barrel life” arguement or 10 years, started with my 270 and 7mm Allen Magnums with dozens of these rifles in the field for many years, the barrel life myth has been debunked time and again. Has more to do with how you shoot the rifle and how you care for the rifle that determines barrel life, must more then the actual chambering in fact.
Kirby
Great web site,the 300WSM you built for me a few years ago with the pain killer MB still shoots great, I’ll e-mail you later. I see you still like to write your lengthy and thorough reply’s.
I have been accused of being a bit windy with replies, just like to offer alot of facts and details which are keys to disproving myths and bad information.
Glad your 300 is still shooting well.
I do not understand the negativity of the first few posts, especially given this is a website essentially devoted to wildcat or formerly known as wildcat cartridges.
Until the Lord Almighty blesses us with the 6 Heaven cartridge, complete with rifles and handloads created by the angels, mortal men will need to continue innovating.
Keep doing what you’re doing, Kirby.
wow kirby u do great work i hope to purchase one of your rifles one day when i can afford it. im curiouse to see what u get out of the 338 raptor.
I too do not understand the negative comments. Because some people are satisfied with the run of the mill stuff out there, why knock someone pushing the envelope? Thats how great thing develope. I have a 338 Sniper tactical that is very similar ballistically to this round. Can push 300 grain bullets to 3500 ft/second. It is much more accurate at 3200 ft./second. I love shooting it. Yes it is expensive, but great fun to shoot. I say keep up the great work. I find these long range shooters fastenating!
Great work! I really appreciate someone who puts forward the time and effort to push the limits!
I too, don’t understand all the negativity. If someone wants to produce a high performance round why would others criticize so much. Jealousy maybe? I have some high stepping calibers also and have heard all the awful barrel burning stories. I shot a 22-250 ackley pushing 55 grainers 4100 fps from 1991 to 2010 and after pulling barrel to rechamber with a match spec reamer the borescope showed no niticeable throat erosion. Accounted for many kills over 600 yards on groundhogs including a 741 yd one shot kill. Enjoyed article Kirby!
Great work and keep doing it.
I have contacted Allen Precision several time by email to get production time on product and I never get a straight answer. Can anyone tell me now long it took to get a rifle delivered once they ordered it.
Kirby Allen. Im glad to read your words and follow ur buildings of real magnums!. Take care of the barrel its a good way to carry of the barrel life and important for precision to. What funny 30′ do you think would be possible to build in a tikka t3?
Im impressed with the cartridge and performance. The posts that were negative just a sample of the general group that think they know it all. They have no idea of why how need or any knowledge about cartridges of this class. Im impressed. I shoot F class. I love beating the 6 and 6.5 cartridges i call those woman rounds. My wife shoots a 6.5X284 and does well with it. But especially if it is windy my 300 pegasus does a better job bucking the wind. Yes i wear barrels out but the performance is worth it. Im launching 220 mks at about 3200. The cartridge will do more but the above load is most accurate in my rifle. Im seriously considering this cartridge for a new rifle. I already have target rifles in 300 pegasus and 30-378 weatherby and my first heavy target rifle in 300 win mag. The barrel weighs 17 pounds. Every one tells me win mag not accurate because the belt. Then they see the target. I headspace it off the shoulder. lol The reason i want to build one on this cartridge is mainly because the cartridge isn’t well known at least ware I shoot. And no one i know has one. lol honestly show off. A O Ackley necked down a 50 bmg to 30 cal. Don’t have that one that is way overboard. People that have to use a woman class cartridge is mainly because they can’t shoot a big 30 due to recoil. It took me some time to get used to the increased recoil but if you can get past that it will make you a better shooter all around. That’s why most use little cartridges. When someone challenges me i tell them they have to beat my wife. lol great cartridge.
Very impressive looking cases, well done Kirby.
Having designed over 50 wildcats myself, I totally agree with Kirby …
Barrel life is all about not putting more than three rounds down at a time, then letting the barrel cool right down, after shooting, keeping the throat polished.
All wildcats have there purpose Kirbys are the “top fuel” they appeal to serious Hunter, who loves, and wants raw power…flat trajectories … minimal wind drift … Quick humane kills. Isn’t that what long range hunting is all about.