Weatherby Choice for hunting?

[BigWyoming]

If you were going to buy a Weatherby for all-around hunting - moose, elk, bear, deer and antelope, what would you get?

Leaning 300 if it is in the Wby line of cartridges, but I may just go with a traditional chambering.

 

[drop_point]

Mark V or Vanguard?

I believe the only non-Weatherby cartridge in the Mark V is 6.5mm Creedmoor.

Since your list includes bear (if its browns) and elk, I would be hard pressed not to choose the .300 Weatherby for a Mark V. If not the big bears, you could get by with one of the 6.5mm Magnums, but barrel life is minimal for an investment like that.

 

[BigWyoming]

I like to stay Mark V - I have seen some 'new old' accumarks in 30-06 that has me interested.

I'd be curious about the throating and mag length for the 300Wby. Can it handle the big 200gr class bullets with ease?

 

[M-61]

Well if the 'bear' is a brown I'd like the 340 Weatherby. And you can load it with lighter bullets for other game.
Have a place in Montana and I love my 257 Weatherby for antelope. About as flat shooting as you can get.
Interestingly the first shot from a cold bore is amazingly accurate. The ones I have, came with a target with 3 shots signed by the shooter whose name you could never pronounce.
I've always found Weatherby's to be superb hunting rifles.

 

[drop_point]

Weatherby sells 200 gr. Accubond ammunition for .300 Wby.

 

[joshb]

Find an old Mark V in 300 Weatherby. German made. Tack drivers! I have one.

 

[Tommie]

Since you’re in Wyoming I’ll take it that big bruins are on the list. Even if they’re not, you may run into one when hunting most of the game on your list. I’d look long and hard at the 340 Wby for big stuff in the mountains but that cartridge is a bit “much” for deer and pronghorn. If hunting outside of big bear territory the .257 Wby is serious medicine.

 

[ben lurkin]

Someone just posted a nice 300 Wby in the classifieds

 

[Brians356]

I'd be curious about the throating and mag length for the 300Wby. Can it handle the big 200gr class bullets with ease?

Everything I've read indicates the Mark Vs have an extremely generous freebore. I'd be shocked if a 200-gr bullet was a problem in a 300 Wby.
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[Brians356]

Someone just posted a nice 300 Wby in the classifieds

It's been posted since 3 October unless there's more than one listed.
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[RegionRat]

I like to stay Mark V - I have seen some 'new old' accumarks in 30-06 that has me interested.

I'd be curious about the throating and mag length for the 300Wby. Can it handle the big 200gr class bullets with ease?

I will not claim to be up to date on brand new Wby production, so take this with a grain of salt... but the examples I have worked with all had very generous free bore, and did very well with 200 grain class bullets.
You can see their SAAMI spec chamber dimensions online on pp 104 here.

https://saami.org/wp-content/upload...99.4-CFR-Approved-2015-12-14-Posting-Copy.pdf

I think they were all 1:10 twist, so they handle bullets like the Berger 210 VLD Hunter with an SG = 1.84, and the Tactical 230 Hybrid with an SG = 1.55, so good stability margins. I think Wby offers the 200 Accubonds and the 200 Hornady ELD-X in their factory ammo, but can't recall their OAL or seating depth.

https://weatherby.com/store/300-weatherby-magnum/

So you won't have any trouble with 200 grain class bullets... except maybe finding any these days....

Good Luck and Good Hunting!

 

[jasophil1]

They did load Nosler partition in 220 3/4 in shooter.300 WBY.

 

[Kurz]

I'm always in favor of a list especially when it's published by the manufacturer.



In general, the .300 Weatherby with the current ammunition selection should cover all the bases for your hunting. If there is something missing in their lineup you can always reload or buy some custom ammunition.

Enjoy the process!

 

[JBT47]

.300 Weatherby is more versatile than the .340. It may be helpful during your buying process to consider your primary quarry…probably not gonna be big grizzlies and browns. If you are fortunate enough to go hunt the big bears a few times in a lifetim… the .300 Weatherby with a stout bullet
> 200 grains will more than adequate for the big bears in most situations. Yes, the .340 is a step in the right direction for big bears, I would not want to be hunting non dangerous game with that caliber all the time. YMMV.

Get whatever you like and be certain to practice ideal shot placement in various positions and distances with the rifle. Probably more important than the difference between the .340 vs .300.

 

[Brians356]

@Kurz,

The freebore figure is useful, but in isolation not so much. What one may like to know is how much bullet jump results from a cartridge OAL fitting the magazine.
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[Kurz]

Opinions vary.

All information which allows a shooter/reloader to make good decisions is valuable. I try not to rank that which is useful.

Enjoy!

 

[jackieschmidt]

Historically, Weatherby MK V’s have had freebores that were not conducive with getting any bullet on the lands and have the cartridge fit in the magazine.

The whole concept of the Weatherby Mk V day one was maximum velocity with acceptable accuracy. The long freebore s were designed in to the Cartridge/Rifle combination with the expressed intent of getting the most velocity out of a given chamber within the pressure capabilities of the Rifle.

If you read on the box of authentic Weatherby ammo, it will state that the ammunition is intended for Weatherby Rifles. If you shoot a Factory Loaded Weatherby Cartridge in a custom rifle without the generous freebore, you more than likely will run into severe pressure problems.

I have seen this first hand.

The premis of the OP’s original question, in my opinion, is a little unrealistic. But if he does want a Weatherby, the 300 Mag would be the choice. At least you can shoot lighter bullets on smaller game, and the heaviest bullet made if you decided to hunt more robust animals.

Just don’t expect pin point accuracy. I have seen quite a ew shooters with MkV Weatherbys at my local Club trying to shoot their hand loads with160 to 180 grn bullets having to settle for accuracy in the 1 1/2 inch range for 3 shots at 100 Yards.

this is acceptable for a hunting rifle when you remember Weatherby’s original concept of sacrificing many other parameters for maximum velocity.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Having been in Elk Camp with the Weatherbys 300 Mag. Armed Hunters ! The meat Damage was High.
I will grant you they got put down .

 

[BigWyoming]

After all this, I might just get 30-06 and call it good!

Looks like 300Wby is the winner if I go that route.

 

[Adam in WI]

300 Win Mag is your happy medium