.30-378 Weatherby

25 August 2003, 04:34

Overkill

.30-378 Weatherby

I am really thinkng of to buy a rifle in the most fast caliber. And I think the .30-378 is number 1 for the most fast big game caliber..?

How long is the barrel life for a (3500FPS) cartridge???

What velocity is max with 165-180 grains bullets in a 26 inch barrel?

What bullet is the best for very high velocity? barnes X, rhino?

Thanks!

25 August 2003, 12:32

murftj

From what I have heard about the .30-378, I think barrel life is 500-1000 rounds. So, if you got one, you'd have to rebarrel somewhere down the line.

25 August 2003, 13:36

mr308win

my hunting buddy is over 2500 rounds in his accumark, still shoots great.

25 August 2003, 14:09

<mike elmer>

The 30-378 is the gas guzzling SUV of Nitro burnin rifle cartridges!!!! Keeping the load slightly under the Max should extend bbl life without too much loss of performance. Kind of like the 220 Swift. Also check the 8mm Rem Mag, if you can find a rifle chambered for it, the performance is equally awesome.

25 August 2003, 19:22

B17G

quote:
Originally posted by mr308win:
my hunting buddy is over 2500 rounds in his accumark, still shoots great.

Mr 308 Win; I sure hope your buddy handloads. If not, 2500 rounds of 30/378 ammo is about $10,000.00 worth of factory ammo, as it about $4.00 each time you pull the trigger!

I hope your friend enjoys his rifle and he must be wealthier than most of the other guys on here.

I shoot a lot and I don't think I go thru a $1,000.00 worth of handloaded ammo per year.

" The only difference between the men and the boys is the price of their toys!"
[Razz]

26 August 2003, 09:30

tom holland

quote:
Originally posted by Overkill:
I am really thinkng of to buy a rifle in the most fast caliber. And I think the .30-378 is number 1 for the most fast big game caliber..?

How long is the barrel life for a (3500FPS) cartridge???

What velocity is max with 165-180 grains bullets in a 26 inch barrel?

What bullet is the best for very high velocity? barnes X, rhino?

Thanks!

I'm going to settle on the 200 gr Nosler accubond for my 30-378. Unprimed brass is $40 and factory is $80+ so It's not a cheap rifle to shot. Mine will be use for long range elk so hope to have everything up and ready to go soon. Will check the velocity once I settle on a load. Well good luck Tom

28 August 2003, 06:55

tom holland

quote:
Originally posted by tom holland:

quote:
Originally posted by Overkill:
I am really thinkng of to buy a rifle in the most fast caliber. And I think the .30-378 is number 1 for the most fast big game caliber..?

How long is the barrel life for a (3500FPS) cartridge???

What velocity is max with 165-180 grains bullets in a 26 inch barrel?

What bullet is the best for very high velocity? barnes X, rhino?

Thanks!
I'm going to settle on the 200 gr Nosler accubond for my 30-378. Unprimed brass is $40 and factory is $80+ so It's not a cheap rifle to shot. Mine will be use for long range elk so hope to have everything up and ready to go soon. Will check the velocity once I settle on a load. Well good luck Tom

28 August 2003, 06:58

tom holland

quote:
Originally posted by tom holland:

quote:
Originally posted by Overkill:
I am really thinkng of to buy a rifle in the most fast caliber. And I think the .30-378 is number 1 for the most fast big game caliber..?

How long is the barrel life for a (3500FPS) cartridge???

What velocity is max with 165-180 grains bullets in a 26 inch barrel?

What bullet is the best for very high velocity? barnes X, rhino?

Thanks!
I'm going to settle on the 200 gr Nosler accubond for my 30-378. Unprimed brass is $40 and factory is $80+ so It's not a cheap rifle to shot. Mine will be use for long range elk so hope to have everything up and ready to go soon. Will check the velocity once I settle on a load. Well good luck Tom

don't know what happened with the other post but checked the velocity on 180 using Retumbo and got 3481fps so kind of happy with that. Tom

29 August 2003, 20:19

<rg1>

My 300 Weatherby is a "kicker" and not pleasant to shoot from a bench. Can't imagine the recoil from the 30-378 not being too much to handle. For a guy with a title "Overkill" you're looking at the right rifle. Better know you can accept the punishing recoil before investing lots of money. Not saying you won't like a 30-378, just hoping you know what you're getting into. Have you shot such a powerful gun as the 30-378 before? The 300 Weatherby is the biggest kicker that I own or have shot.

30 August 2003, 01:22

jorge

The Weatherby website will answer most of your performance questions and yes the "X" bullet--if it shoots in your rifle-- is the way to go. As far as longevity, as long as you fire not more than three rounds, then let the barrel cool completly before your next string, it'll last just about as long as any other rifle.

Although I do not own a 30/378, I do own several other Weatherbys, all with over 1K rounds thorugh them and they are still as accurate as day one. I am STILL amazed though at some of the shooters I see at my local club, trying to sight in a rifle. They just put round after round through it without letting it cool and then wonder why their groups get progressively worse. And no I'm not going to mention the preponderance of the rifle make these yahoos usually shoot. jorge

30 August 2003, 03:28

stubblejumper

I know of a few 30-378's in use and if not overheated they can last 1000 rounds before accuracy begins to fall off.I use the 300ultramag myself as components are much cheaper and velocity is only about 100fps less than the 30-378 with barrel life better as well.

30 August 2003, 05:50

Overkill

But will the .30-378 and the .300 RUM have better effect than a lets say a 30-06 on moose at short range (50-100 yards) ???
Some one say it does and some say NO!

01 September 2003, 19:56

B17G

OverKill:

My vote would say it will not matter if you are shooting moose at 50 yds or so.

I'd really have a tough time believing that a 300 Mag of any type will do much more for you than a 30/06 with a 220 grain round nose, or even a 180 grain anything at that distance.

Shot placement is the key. More energy and foot pounds is just going to impress people who are into that stuff. Beyond that, the moose you shoot will probably never know the difference.
Just my Observations, although I have not shot a Moose. Never had a license but have seen them out hunting deer. Looked pretty much like shooting a Cow to me.
[Razz]

02 September 2003, 09:14

smallfry

Overkill!!!!
Are you turning to small bores?

02 September 2003, 02:02

Charlie M

I shot cattle when I had my 30-378 and it really puts them down,more emphatic than my 460 WBY.
I also own a 30-06 and it is not even in the same ball park in knock down performance on critters,large or small,close or down the paddock.

I recomend using a muzzle brake on the 30-378 WBY as it does move around a bit when you touch of a shot.

It is a really impressive cartridge in my opinion.

Take it easy,

Charlie.

02 September 2003, 04:32

dan belisle

Kind of depends on whether your experiance has caused you to buy into the "shock" theory of high velocity bullets. I've shot quite a few moose (it was our winter diet staple for most of my childhood and teenage years) and I've never seen one impressed by velocity of any kind. Mostly they just stand there, or they will trot off and go lay down to quietly die. If you make them nervous enough they will run, but I've stalked up to within 15 feet of a moose and all they did was look at me for awhile, then trot off (it was out of season, I was just practicing). Larger holes work better because they bleed out faster. Maybe if I was shooting them across fields (which does happen sometimes) more often the 30-378 would strike me as a better moose gun, but my lifetime's experiance to date tells me get closer, make bigger holes. I've used a 30-378 as a long range (700 metres) bench gun, and I was pretty impressed with it there. FWIW - Dan

11 September 2003, 01:06

jorge

I must admit that from personal observation,from what I've read and spoken with others, I "sort of" subscribe to the "shock" theory as expoused by Roy Weatherby, in that some animals are very succeptible to it while some ( like moose since one of you brought it up) just don't agree with ol' Roy. I'd pick the 30/378 also. While it does cost more, you can offset some of the cost if you reload and the quality of the Weatherby rifle itself is light years ahead. jorge

11 September 2003, 01:21

stubblejumper

I prefer the 300ultra as brass is much cheaper and recoil is noticeably less for only 100fps less velocity.I own two custom ultras whose quality is "light years ahead" of any factory weatherby for only a few hundred dollars more than a standard weatherby and a few hundred less than a weatherby MOA.

[ 09-10-2003, 16:22: Message edited by: stubblejumper ]

11 September 2003, 01:51

Jedi

I must say I agree with Dan Belisle on his comments on velocity and "larger holes".
The cartridges like 300 Ultramag and .30-378W. is for the longer range, - to have enough performance to kill game of some size beond 3 - 400 yards - (so that bullets perform the way they should, - "out there").
Barrel life can be extended through your choice of barrel also. A stainless barrel has more crome in it, - and stand up to heat better than Crome-moly ... Lilja barrels make barrels with 3 lands that will stand up to throat erosion better ... and Border makes barrel with the Obermeyer '5R' rifling method - helping keep your bullets from disintegrating at high speeds ...
Build the rifle heavy and with a muzzlebreak, - so you'll be able to shoot it accurately.

11 September 2003, 02:43

jorge

I don't much like getting into "whos's is bigger" contest on here anymore, but the last time I checked anything a rifle from the Remington Custom shop was significantly more expensive than say, a Weatherby Synthetic ( I don't know whether the 30/378 is available in that grade so it might not be a valid comparison) and still more than an Accumark. No matter what I ( or anybody else says here) you must check it out yourself and frankly anything Remington and quality is an oxymoron.

As far as which is more accurate, same axiom goes, whether it's the truth or not somebody will say the exact opposite. Also remember, accuracy is but one component ( albeit seminal) of what makes a good hunting rifle. Check it out for yourself. jorge

11 September 2003, 15:55

stubblejumper

Jorge-My customs are not from the remington custom shop.They are built buy a custom builder in winnipeg manitoba canada(www.prairiegunworks.com) that has a very good reputation for quality annd accuracy and is currently doing well in a competition to supply sniper rifles to the military.Here in canada an accumark in 30-378 costs $2150 canadian.I paid $2500 canadian for my ultras which are built on trued and lapped stainless 700 actions,sako extractor installed,fluted match grade barrel pillar bedded into a mcmillan stock.For $350 canadian extra I have a rifle built with top quality components and workmanship superior to a factory weatherby.A weatherby MOA costs right around $3000 canadian here or $500 more for lower quality workmanship.

12 September 2003, 02:05

jorge

SB: Sounds like you have some very nice rifles. I don't understand the "Weatherby MOA" you talk about though. All my Weatherbys shoot sub MOA, including my 340 ( is it an "extra" cost added by Weatherby?). It sounds like you rifles are real tackdrivers. My personal goal is "about 1" groups. Afetr that, they have to please my eye and be totally reliable. I Have to admit I just don't like Remigton products. I realize it is unfair of me to base it one just one bad experience I had with a Remington Classic, but I think 700 actions look cheap, I don't like the small extractor and I've also seen examples of 700 handles coming off not to mention the safety and the action's ( including the trigger /safety mechanism) proclivity to fail in harsh ( dirt, sand, etc)environments.

I've also seen rifles from the Rem custom shop and their entry level rifle frankly doesn't even come close to a Weatherby in workmanship. As far as the RUM calibers go, in my view they don't offer anything over the Weatherbys. Your rifles are custom tuned by a competent gunsmith, but the Weatherbys I have shoot great right out of the box ( sorry I couldn't help the pun). And finally, I admit that I have "bad taste" in that I love the way Weatherbys look...and shoot. One final thought though, just to show that I'm not totally entralled with weatherbys, I would not own one in a DGR. For that tipe of business I must have a CRF. SO again, let us agree to disagree. Take care, jorge

12 September 2003, 15:53

stubblejumper

The weatherby MOA is an option where you pay an extra $700+ U.S. for weatherby to send you a rifle with a MOA guarantee instead of the 1-1/2" accuracy guarantee.The rifle is also engraved MOA.

13 September 2003, 02:51

Jedi

When it comes to bullets and very high velocity, - you must first think of what range you're going to shoot the animal at, what kind of animal, the velocity of your bullet/load at this range...

I would guess that the Barnes x, Rhino, Swift A-frame ... is very good for "shorter" to medium range (50 - 250 yards). They're some of the thougher bullets there are ... When you move out to longer range, you'll gradually be needing bullets that expand more easily upon impact and that have a higher ballistic coefficient (to maintain the energy longer and have less wind-drift).