Been wanting a 378 Weatherby Magnum for a long range deer/black bear rifle (with a break of course)for sometime now.Now it looks like I might be getting one.

What bullet would you choose for this cartridge for long range deer and black bear?The new Nosler 260 grain Ballistic Tip looks pretty darn good.With a BC of .429 and considering the fact it can be pushed just over 3200 FPS with a 26 inch barrel,it ought to shoot pretty darn flat.Haven't heard any reports on how it's performed on game yet though.Suprisingly,they are about the cheapest .375 bullet out there right now-only about $1 more a box than the cheapest Hornadys.

Anyone tried the Speer 270 grain boat tail or the Sierra/Hornady 300 grain BTSPs from the 375 or 378?

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

I have hunted on a pay basis on game farms. I shot a nayla. ( I regret the misspelling) I read a lot about this large antelope in hunting mags and was told that you need a least a 416 caliber, well that was all BS! I used a 378 Wby using a handload using Sierra 250 gr BT over a healthy charge of IMR7828. The poor creature never knew what hit him. The bullet went completely though the animal. He was DOA. I would use a Speer 235 on Deer and a Sierra 250 on Black Bear. I might even load down to H&H velocity. Ugh!

I've used the 270 gr Hornady bullet on moose and black bear and have been very pleased with it in a 375 H&H. A friend also uses the 300 gr BTSP Hornady in a H&H on moose. I really can't see any difference in performance between the 2 Hornady bullets. They would open up a little fast at 378 velocity but should still be suitable for deer.

"FOR DEER AND BLACK BEAR" ????????????

How about reduceing the size of the case down to 30-06 size, and use a 180gr .308 dia Nosler partition!

<<<<<<<<<< GRIN >>>>>>>>>>

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

Mac,
I wouldn't be caught DEAD hunting with a 30/06.

I want one,and figure I'd rather be shooting it at deer and bear instead of paper.

Last time I checked,a 378 is a bit more intune to deer and bear hunting than,say a 577 NE.

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

I know what you're saying, it is a little rediculous but then why the need for any special bullet, anything you can get in the 378 Wby Mag will kill either of these animals quite dead, I think! I too like to use my big rifles to hunt anything I decide to hunt, but I simply use the same loads, and bullets I use for big game! Believe it or not, a 750 gr solid will kill the hell out of a muledeer!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

[This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 05-06-2002).]

I know a 750 grain bullet from a 577 NE will kill a mule deer Mac.

Was just asking around to see if anyone used the 378 on this type of game and what bullet they used.I think the new Nosler 260 grain Ballistic Tip would be pretty hard to beat,though the big Hornady/Siearra 300 grain boatails would make a good bullet for it too.

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

The X-bullets might be a choice as well, if you can make them shoot in your rifle, they do not shoot in any of my rifles!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

I'd use the Sierra 300 gr PSPBT for long-range deer & black bear shooting in a .375 or .378!!

Brian. I have been working with 378 Wby Mags for over 10 years now. If there is a bullet/powder/primer combination I have probably tried it.
Not being pleased with the factory rifle accuracy I decided to build my own. This is a MKV action and a Pac-nor ultramatch stainless barrel. The action and barrel are cryoed. All blueprinted. I got Mcmillan to steelbed and pillar bed their stock to my action. This rifle shoots less than 1" at 200 yds with boring regularity. The best group so far measures less than .2" at 100 yds with 114 H4831sc and the 270 failsafe at 3100 fps. However I have never used this bullet on game. I have taken elk here in Wyoming with thw 270 Hornady and the 300 BT hornady. Performance was excellent but be advised these were shot far away (maybe too far!) Needless to say the elk only moved 4 feet....vertically that is!

I adore the 378 WBy and I would not live witout it! Let me know if you need more help. Iraklion@msn.com

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"Hope for the best.....Expect the worst!"

Pop,
I was wondering when you'ld chime in.

Was considering both the Hornadys,but have heard a lot of bad things about them not expanding. The Nosler 260 grain BT ought to open up well,though the Siearra 300 grain BTSP looks awful good.....

Still in the process of trying to get a 378.Once I get one,I will definetly shoot you an e-mail and we can chat about powders (won't that be fun?).

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

I have a buddy that used the new balistic tips in his 375 JDJ for a musc ox hunt. The loads chronoed 1950 fps at the range, not sure how fast they were going in the -20F temps of the hunt, or how much speed was lost at the 50 yd distance to the animal. What I do know if the expansion and performance of the bullet wasn't very good.

Personally, if I were loading a 378 W for long range black bear and deer, I'd try and make the 250 gr X shoot. It would be very flat, and handle both the long and short shots.

Paul,
At 50 yards it should have still opened up a bit.Rick Jamison shot some into geletin at 35 feet and the thing just about turned itself inside out,though he was pushing it 2900 FPS.

The bullet is supposed to be tough as nails-maybe it doesn't open up very well below 2000 FPS?I don't think I'll have to worry about that with a 378 though-at 600 yards it's still going 2200 FPS.

I wouldn't touch an X-Bullet with a ten foot poll,even though my good buddy Big Stick shoots them out of everything with bughole accuracy.Go figure.

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

I have tested the 260 gr. BT. The cartridge was a 375 H&H, and the handloads were going around 2650 fps. We shot them into a pine log, about 15 yards away. They expanded pretty good, and retained 90% of their weight. They are also pretty accurate, 1.25" 5 shots @ 100 yards.

I have been delighted with the 260 grain nosler partion on elk from the 375.

It should be a smashing deer bullet in the 378.

It should also be fabulous for the smaller black bears, but for the 600 pounders, I might conisder 300 grains.

Brian
I would go with a new 260 grain nosler BT
This will be one of my loads for deer this year