Which one is better the 300 Weatherby or the Winchester

17 March 2002, 11:38

<allen day>

That's not an easy question to answer, simply because both of them are great cartridges that have literally done it all world-wide.

Either one is only as good as the individual rifle it's chambered in, and either one of them is only as good as the man who stands behind the rifle and presses the trigger.

The early Weatherby rifles were very light, and with that crooked trademark Monte Carlo stock they were often times a bitch to shoot well. A modern rifle with an American classic-style stock with a straight, thick comb and a good recoil pad that's chambered in .300 Weatherby is not all that difficult to shoot well with a bit of practice. Contrary to what some folks might think about the shoulder design and that archaic belt, a good .300 Weatherby with good ammunition is capable of astounding accuracy, and can feed just as reliably as anything else.

The real strong suite of the .300 Weatherby, at least in my opinion, is its ability to push 200 gr. bullets out at well over 3000 fps. - a velocity that's hard to achieve in the .300 Winchester with bullets of that weight.

The .300 Winchester is my personal favorite all-around cartridge however (sort of by default), and has been my top pick for African plainsgame. All of the African game I've taken with the .300 Win. has been put in the salt with premium 180 gr. bullets at between 3050 & 3075 fps. out of a 24" barrel. Almost everything I've ever shot with it has either dropped on the spot or else ran less than twenty paces and fell over. Short of picking these animals up, levitating them, spinning them in the air, then finishing them with a body slam, I'm not exactly certain how better performance could have been achieved.

Flip, you might need to flip a coin to decide the issue..............

17 March 2002, 11:48

JJHACK

If your going to reload then the 300 weatherby is hands down the better case to use. it will as stated also be much better with bigger bullets. It's over all just a plain better case and cartridge to use. I have loaded for both and have owned a beautiful Model 70 winchester chambered for 300 weatherby mag. I personally so no advantage in the 300 Win Mag over the 300 weatherby. That long neck and big case are a perfect match to the 180 grain and up bullets. If your only interested in 180 and lower the 300 win mag is fine but still not as good as the 300 weatherby will be.

If I was offered one or the other the choice would be made in under a second and I would never regret it. The 300 Weatherby case is just better. Much like the 458 Lott is better then the 458 win mag because the case is just better in capacity and overall function. Hmmmm just realized they are the same case too, just as the 375HH and 300HH and many others, Coincidence?

17 March 2002, 12:04

Atkinson

The 300 Wby has the edge any way you cut but at the price of recoil and muzzle blast..Like most things it is a trade off...Both good calibers..

I have used both the 300 Wby and 300 Win. but my choice has allways taken me back to the original 300 H&H, mostly because I like the 200 and 220 gr. bullets and it has a long neck, sloping case feeds like goose grease, I only give up 100 to 200 FPS to the Wby, and I get a dose of nostalgia to go with it.

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

17 March 2002, 13:29

Nickudu

I doubt there has ever been a kill made with one .30 caliber magnum that could not have been made by another.

17 March 2002, 13:39

John S

I like them both.

I've killed more game with the Winchester but that will be changing as the years progress, God willing! The only downside to the 300Wby that I can see is that with it there is a definite need for a 26" barrel, whereas the Winchester gets along nicely with a 24". I prefer loading for the Weatherby because of the generous case capacity and proper length neck, don't mind the 26" barrel either. For me it's an easy choice.

17 March 2002, 13:51

Oldsarge

Like Ray, I can load my H&H to do anything the Win will do and get slicker feed as well. Additionally, I don't believe in "hydrostatic shock" and can't imagine taking a shot so long that I really need that additional few fps. So either of your choices will do just fine but if you get a chance to grab a H&H, go for it, instead.

Sarge

17 March 2002, 14:14

ALF

17 March 2002, 14:36

Heritage Arms

We have clients hunt with both on a regular basis. If you are using bullets with the weight of more than 190 grs then the the longer neck of the .300 WBY is superior. But since those clients that hunt with us show up most of the time shooting 180 grs bullets one does not kill, penetrate, or work any better than the other. We are still comparing variables that do not matter. Can you shoot? If you can hit what you are aiming at under a reasonable range then that is your best rifle to take.

17 March 2002, 18:39

LE270

quote:
Originally posted by John S:
The only downside to the 300Wby that I can see is that with it there is a definite need for a 26" barrel, whereas the Winchester gets along nicely with a 24".

My own .300 Weatherby is a Remington 700 Limited Classic with a 24 inch barrel. Using maximum charges of IMR 7828 in it (as given in IMR's loading data), I can get 3000+ fps (almost 3100) with 200 gr. bullets and 3200+ fps (almost 3300) with 180 gr. bullets. I may have a "fast" barrel, and my results may be atypical. These results came using Speer, Sierra, Hornady, and Nosler bullets. I use Remington or Weatherby brass and Federal 215 primers.

I have not hunted in Africa, so I can't comment on its use there from personal experience.

18 March 2002, 08:48

Flip

Alf

Ek het lekker gelag vir jou ja boet.

I just wanted to give the forum somthing to talk about, I know about the price of ammo over here, I use the 300 win to good results, it have always worked for me. How is that 7 stw working of you, would you prefer it over the 300 win for big game or what.

Cheers

Flip

18 March 2002, 12:38

<T/Jazz>

I have shot both those calibers and I didn't care for the hot loaded 300 Weatherby at all, just to much recoil for this body and high muzzle jump. I figure a second shot would be causing me to flinch hands down.

I would go with the 300 Winchester just because it seems so much more controllable and ballistics are very close anyway. Dead is dead right?

18 March 2002, 15:53

<Peter Walker>

Can't speak for African critters but North American critters can't tell the difference between the two cartridges.

...Peter

18 March 2002, 18:43

ALF

19 March 2002, 06:08

<JeremyT>

I have seen more game from eland to steenbok taken with a 300 Winnie. Of my fellow hunters who go for an annual hunt, 4 out of 5 use the 300 Winnie. Shoots flat and ammo is easily available all over RSA

------------------
Never a dull day in Africa!!!

19 March 2002, 06:49

Leo M

Correct me if this is wrong, the Nosler 180 grain protected point partition was developed for the 300 winchester magnum. Why was this done?

19 March 2002, 08:20

<allen day>

The Nosler Partition Protected Pointed was developed with the .300 Winchester Magnum in mind.

The reason is that it's of shorter OAL than is the regular 180 gr. Nosler Partition Spire Point. The real benefit (on paper!) of the PP bullet is increased case capacity, but in the real world, you may use either one and not know the difference by way of velocity or group size. Experiment with both and use the one that your rifle likes best........

19 March 2002, 08:50

JohnTheGreek

I would avoid any of the Weatherby calibres in Africa if only for the reason that your PH will thank you!

JohnTheGreek

[This message has been edited by JohnTheGreek (edited 03-19-2002).]

19 March 2002, 09:49

500grains

I would prefer a 30-06.

19 March 2002, 10:36

<allen day>

This comment is based on aftershock from the old .30-06 thread on the Big Game Forum, but....

What the heck is the .30-06 going to do that either one of the cartridges in question won't do better?

[This message has been edited by allen day (edited 03-19-2002).]

19 March 2002, 10:44

Heritage Arms

Alf, I know Colin Angelo through Grey Scotterfield. I have spent many hours on Boulders with Grey's son. Your 7 STW is hell on baboons. How do you like the new remodel in the guest camp at Boulders. It is a favorite with our clients.

19 March 2002, 16:37

Craftsman

Both are very fine cartridges. If I had to choose, I would pick the 300 Win Mag for accuracy.

The 300 Wby is freebored, not as accurate as a normal throat in most cases.

21 March 2002, 09:44

Flip

Alf

Would you have used those 130 grain on big game like Eland and Kudu. It seems the 7 stw have very good penetration with good bullets. Which one do you think ammo is more available in good old SA, the 300 Weatherby or the 7 STW. Over here in Oundshoorn you can't get any of them. They are already calling the 300 Win magnum the Naby genoeg kaliber, after a few siting shot most says, Dis naby genoeg.

Cheers

Flip

22 March 2002, 15:12

ALF

22 March 2002, 15:32

John S

Alf-
Pardon me if I am mistaken, but isn't a simple fireforming of the 300H&H all that is necessary for the 300Wby? Sounds easier to me than necking down AND THEN fireforming!

22 March 2002, 16:34

ALF

23 March 2002, 06:28

hamdeni

Flip
I have used 300win in TZ for two years now,and have used it on impala to eland with good results. The ammo is plenty TZ.My partner has a 300weatherby and he has to order his ammo from the USA.

Hamdeni

------------------

24 March 2002, 05:12

Mike Smith

The 300 win is my choice by default. It is the one I own that I can shoot the best. I can load it down for small antelope and deer or up for bear etc. It is my "all around" gun. This will be my first trip to Africa so am looking forward to seeing for it does on the critters there. I had a .270 win that I sold because I couldnt hit the broad side of a barn, yet can hold tight groups with the 300. Go figure.

24 March 2002, 09:52

Atkinson

All this brings to mind the true versatality of the old war horse, the 30-06. A

fter all these years and the many changes it has gone through, with the new Enhanced Federal and Hornady ammo it will still shoot right up there with the 300 magnums, simply amazing......

It started life in 1903 with 300 Savage balistics, set the gun fraturnity on fire and is still doing that today.....

What a grand old dog she is.....

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

24 March 2002, 15:55

LE270

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
All this brings to mind the true versatality of the old war horse, the 30-06. After all these years and the many changes it has gone through, with the new Enhanced Federal and Hornady ammo it will still shoot right up there with the 300 magnums, simply amazing......
It started life in 1903 with 300 Savage balistics, set the gun fraturnity on fire and is still doing that today.....
What a grand old dog she is.....

Everything you say here is true.

But, still, I can get about 400 f.p.s greater velocity over what you can get in any 30-06 from my .300 Weatherby at any bullet weight from 150 to 200 grains. I don't know whether that makes much difference on most game or most hunting, but it's a fact.

[This message has been edited by LE270 (edited 03-24-2002).]