300 weatherby i magnum

J

jruby

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I have a question - what is wrong with this cartridge. I have seen more than a few trying to off load thier weatherby rifle chambered in this cartridge. I have a mid 60s Mark V built by JP Sauer - to me a very nice rifle but there has been zero interest. I might have paid too much for it but I am hard pressed to get half of what I paid. I reload for it so the cost is notvan issue . It isn't a bad rifle but I dont need four 30 caliber magnums. I was just curious.
 
If the rifle shoots well and you enjoy it then no sense cutting it loose at such a loss only to thin the collection, that is to say you don’t need the money for some sudden unexpected expense. I personally don’t care much for the Weatherby rifle design, but that shouldn’t mean anything to anyone other than me, and the rifles are generally of good quality for those who like the style. Weatherby cartridges are of course known to need downloading in hotter climes. I feel like the cartridge .300 Weatherby Magnum is just about the practical limit for this bore diameter; larger capacities really seem to cross the line into the realm of diminishing returns and overbore extremism. That said it reigns in terms of unbridled power in a .30-caliber that is useable and useful, with the added bonus that you can shoot .300 H&H in it if you want to.
 
I was unaware that the 300 Wby was considered bad. There is a stigma attached to all Weatherby rifles, particularly the 378 & 460, but it has to do with the perception guides have of hunters who show up with a Wby but have not fired it, even for sighting it in. If the Wby owner tells the guide that the rifle shoots bullets so fast that there is no holdover needed for 600 yard shots, then the deal is done.
 
The 300 Weatherby is a fine cartridge. The modern bullets have brought it to where Roy Weatherby would be proud of it. The old style bullets couldn't keep up. The TSX series, the A-Frames and Northfork bullets make it great. Potent but then take a look at all of the crazy overkill cartridges today. You also have a quality rifle. The mystique of the 300 now can live up to its promise. Enjoy.
 
One problem that I've seen is that to get the velocity as high as they do the round needs to be loaded near the top of the pressure curve. Then take it to Africa during the hotter season and you may end up with stuck cases and a hard bolt lift. But the same will happen with any round loaded to the top of the pressure curve.

I personally work up all my loads during the summer to help avoid this type of problem
 
I’ve used a Mark V in .300 Wby since the 1980s that’s older than I am. Many dozens of animals later, it’s still a favorite. I had it re-barreled and the action re-blued a few years back. These days I tend to pick up a .260 AI more often, or even a .300 Win, but the old girl still gets to go once in a while. It’s been to Africa 3 or 4 times. With 180 gr TTSX, it’s lethal. I’ve only ever recovered one bullet, and it was from the far side of an eland, just under the skin. The moose was through-and-through.

Cons: Velocity = sharp recoil, and there’s no getting around it. This is 100% the reason most guides and PHs might not like them. Many people jumped aboard the magnum freight train and just don’t shoot them well. Ammo is expensive, but I reload, so not a huge issue.
 
JimP said:
One problem that I've seen is that to get the velocity as high as they do the round needs to be loaded near the top of the pressure curve. Then take it to Africa during the hotter season and you may end up with stuck cases and a hard bolt lift. But the same will happen with any round loaded to the top of the pressure curve.

I personally work up all my loads during the summer to help avoid this type of problem
Click to expand...
I use temp insensitive powders from Hodgdon to work up loads... in Alaska...where any temp is ... well.... not African. The Brits reduced loads by 5 grains for Kynock lammo to deal with that same problem.
 
I’m currently on my third .300 Wby mag, although none have been a Mk-V. I also have a .300 Win mag. Just prefer the Wby.
Unless you need the cash, use the rifle with premium bullets and except for DG, you’re good to go.
 
I don't see why the powder load or the kick is even a matter of discussion anymore. It is barely a notch up from the 300 PRC, maybe one to two grains of powder.
I reload this one for a friend and the newer load data are now neutered compared to older data and the current factory loads ( all minus about 100-150 fps).
It takes a bit of luck to get good precision ( <1.5 MOA ) out of it with the long throat.
So lots of little things to make ppl prefer a 300 WM of 300 PRC
 
my 700 remington classic in 300 weatherby useing 180gr nosler bullets and a healty load of RL-22 will put three on a quarter at 100 yrds from a bench rest. the only mod was to have it glass bedded and barrel floated.
 
Nothing wrong with a 300 WBY. The only reason I got rid of mine (recently) was due to it being right handed. I have a custom LH 300 RUM to satisfy my opposite hand shooting preference. Not much difference in the two.
 
With the excellent availability of .300 Weatherby in Barnes TTSX I am tempted to get another barrel for my R8. Just a thought.
 
jruby said:
I have a question - what is wrong with this cartridge. ... <snip> ...
Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with the .300 Weatherby Magnum cartridge. It's a great cartridge with a proven track record. However, its ballistic performance pales in comparison to the new .295 Remfedchester Extra Long Super Short Ultra Wide Ultimate Tinnitus Tactical Kool Magnum. It's available in boxes of 3 cartridges for only $298.97 per box. Heck, that's less than $100 per round!

Sorry. I just couldn't resist.
slap.gif
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Cheers! Bob F.
wavey.gif
icon_beer2.gif
 
I’ve got a .300Wby Remington Sendero that will clover leaf at 200yds with Nosler Accubonds & RL22 powder.

In my opinion the .300Weatherby is looked upon like the .30-06….. “to outdated to be effective”

Those that hunt with them know better.
 
BFaucett said:
There's nothing wrong with the .300 Weatherby Magnum cartridge. It's a great cartridge with a proven track record. However, its ballistic performance pales in comparison to the new .295 Remfedchester Extra Long Super Short Ultra Wide Ultimate Tinnitus Tactical Kool Magnum. It's available in boxes of 3 cartridges for only $298.97 per box. Heck, that's less than $100 per round!

Sorry. I just couldn't resist.
slap.gif
brick.gif


Cheers! Bob F.
wavey.gif
icon_beer2.gif
Click to expand...
Do those come in crf or garbage push feed rifles . 16” barrels or 34” barrels
 
Don458 said:
Do those come in crf or garbage push feed rifles . 16” barrels or 34” barrels
Click to expand...
I dont know why they built them with 24" barrels and yes the Mk V is a push feed which is fine as it's not a up close kind of rifle. If I had my choice it should have at least a #3 contour barrel at least 26": long. My rifle was built for walking a lot and shooting a little. At 24" i do not think it brings out the 300 weatherbys best traits. I have considered rebarreling it but then it's no longer original. Live and learn - the price of an education is not cheap.
 
My dad has his great uncle’s 300 weatherby. One of the early guns built on a Mauser action. It has killed a lot of game. His uncle took a grizzly with it.

Has a left hand twist which was another quirky thing Roy Weatherby did on a lot of his early guns.
 
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