I have a 373 H&H Sako AV rechambered to 375 Weatherby Magnum. I am planning to have Krieger contour another barrel to the same dimensions. I want to make a switch barrel rig. What do you all think of a 6.5x300 Weatherby as the companion barrel? I suppose the other choice would be a straight 300 Weatherby Magnum

I agree, .300.

If you have the second barrel made to the exact same contour it will weight more because of the extra metal reamed out in making the larger .375. It isn't a lot of weight but it adds up, inch by inch, and you can feel it because it is out in the barrel. If you really want the same weight and as close to the same feel as possible you should have the second barrel cut a tad shorter.

Calculations here: http://riflebarrels.com/barrel...r-contoured-barrels/

Thanks for the calculator. The stock is getting a 13 ounce mercury recoil reducer in the next week. That won't help the weight issue, but it will help with the nose heavy balance. Who knows, this might be the first 300 Weatherby magnum in history that doesn't beat you up with recoil.
The hard part will be sending the barrel off for eight months so Krieger can make a duplicate contour. I had a gunsmith ignore my directions, and just use a medium sporter contour for a 9.9x66 Sako barrel to duplicate a 30-06. The stock fits one barrel, but not the other. I had to buy a second stock. That's why I will take care of the barrel next go-around.

It is a great concept as long as a couple of parameters are met.

The calibers have to have enough variation in performance to justify it. Granted the action length, magazine box length and parent case dimension have to all nitch.

2. The size of the whole package has to be well thought out. Never give up the balance and feel of a rifle just to have the two calibers.

Here's a small example. You often see multiple barrel caliber shotguns. A gunsmith can put it together, but can a 12ga. shotgun be as nimble and responsive with a .410 barrel as would a lighter specific size dimensioned shotgun, never mind recoil etc.. You have to give up something.
The barrel weight calculator is an excellent way to retain balance.

In your scenario, the .300 Weatherby fits the bill perfectly.

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Thanks. I appreciate the unbiased eyes of (relatively) disinterested observers.

I kind of thought the 6.5x300 Weatherby might be too much of a jump.

If your going to hunt out of the USA, I would for sure go with the 300 Wby for a multitude of reasons the least of which is availability of ammo, and a 300 Wby can easily double as a Dangerous game rifle if the need occurs.

I was thinking a 460 Wby would be a great companion to a 375 Wby. That way you have both a light and heavy rifle......

Too much of a good thing. My walker would do a backflip.

Nostalgic? Think you can do better than limit yourself to the H&H cases.

The .375 ruger gives you more bullet seating flexibility. There was a .375 350gr Sierra Matchking that IIRC Sierra still catalogs.

Pretty nice not to have that belt since the ruger case uses same .533 diameter full length (with some taper) rather than a .500ish diameter under the belt.

Could go with the 7mm Rem Ultra Mag for longrange hunter...

Or go with a .338/375 ruger and call it a day. .800 BC match bullets are pretty common now. Got that shorter case body to allow more bullet seating options.

Want a switchbarrel rig? Get a varmint barrel and a sporter contour. The AV fiberglass stock will likely work with a light varmint or #5.

Try Pac-Nor for their rebarreling service. They'll need the dimensions from boltface and boltnose to your receiver shoulder.

The .338 is the all-around ticket with 160gr-300gr and the Lee 220gr cast mold.

Not really an African bore minimum, but if you only could choose one rifle, this would be hard to beat...

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Originally posted by Atkinson:
If your going to hunt out of the USA, I would for sure go with the 300 Wby for a multitude of reasons the least of which is availability of ammo, and a 300 Wby can easily double as a Dangerous game rifle if the need occurs.

I think Rays suggestion has some merit. You pretty much have all bases covered near and far with that duo. Both great cartridges.

257 Weatherby Magnum.

If you are OK with recoil of the 375 Wby then I would side with Saeed and the 257.

I have shot literally 1000s of kangaroos and countless number of pigs with the 375 H&H and a large number with 375 AI. In short you can use the 375 Wby for about everything.

However when you get into small animals and at long range the 375 (of any variety) will fall short but not much better for that shooting than a 257 Wby.

Just my opinion but I think areas of shooting where the 375 Wby is found wanting then the 300 Wby won't be the answer. Of course this is all on the basis that the 375 Wby recoil is right at your threshold.

If the 375 Wby is at your recoil threshold, that is, too much for general shooting then I think your first idea, the 6.5/300, makes a lot of sense.

But Ray's suggestion of 300 Wby certainly has many supporters world wide. In fact the combination of a 375 "anything" and a 30 calibre "anything"....After all H&H did it with the 300 and 375.

I l8ike the 257 Weatherby, a lot! I may convert a 25-06 (It has a 26" barrel) into a 257 Weatherby.

My problem here is that the present rifles id set up for extra long cartridges. The 257 cartridges would be slopping around in the magazine unless I fitted a temporary block. That would add complications.

The 300 Weatherby and 6.5x300 Weatherby would fit very well in the magazine as is. My real recoil limit is the 416 Rigby. I have used that as a working rifle in the past. I'll likely start with the 6,5x300 Weatherby, and add the 300 Weatherby last. I'll even leave some extra steel on the 300 WBY barrel. It is a rough cartridge for me to shoot. The 6.5x300 WBY will likely get a goodly amount of fluting.

Thank all of you for helping me clarify my thinking, and for approaching this issue from directions I had not thought of.

dart

One thing about the AV Hunter stock. It only takes up to a #4 barrel channel. I have a Sako AV Hunter in 416 Remington Magnum. It can handle up to a #5 barrel contour with no problem. I cannot use my present stock as a pattern. It is too good looking. I did talk to McMillan about having it produced. They didn't see any use because of projected low need/popularity. I will try to get another one of these stocks to act as a pattern stock. It would be perfect for stocking big bores!

I would just load .375 caliber Sierra 250g Game Kings for anything other than dangerous game to 3000 fps. No need for anything else ...

6.5x300 Wby. or 257 Wby if you insist on a factory loaded cartridge. I would have 2 -4 barrels made at a time. Barrel life will be very short.

Along as you keep them clean and cool, the Weatherby barrels are hard to shoot out with big game hunting.

6.5, 257, 300, they will all do pretty well the same things, with a little give on the ends of the spectrum. There are more 6.5 bullets to choose from, if that matters.

I have the brass, and lots of North Fork bullets in the named calibers.

First, I have to get my 6mm PPC Sako Varmint blueprinted, and a new Bartlein barrel fitted, then a 6.5 Lawn Dart barrel (a 6.5 grendel no neck turn match barrel). It's always something.

how do you like the Sako AV I guess you do if you want to make a switch barrel. A buddy has a mannlicher in 375 H&H for sale I want to take a look at.

Ever have a bolt guide problem?

Jump on that Sako AV in Mannlicher. You will be delighted.
There are two separate iterations of the AV. The first is plain AV. It has slightly blocky stocks. Those models make for great Mannlichers.

The second, and later iteration is the AV Sako Hunter stock design. If you have any neck on you, and or muscles in your chest (ie rangy looking) you will love the hunter stock style. It is still the favorite of all the stock designs sold by Sako. It has much finer, and rounded lines.Noodle around on Gun broker, and look at the difference between the two iterations of the Sako AV.

AVs are smooth, easy for bolt manipulation, work well with long arms, and have great triggers. I have a couple of the Hunter style rifles in 6mm PPC. Absolutely eye watering.

These rifles are designed for heavy use despite the fine design details. They can handle the abuse. My "Go to" rifle was a 7mm AV Hunter. Now it is a 416 Rem Mag in an AV Hunter style, now in a fiberglass McMillan hunter style stock. It is hilarious when bowling for coyotes, or wild boar.

Good luck on your find.

The bolt is very slick to operate. I have never had a problem. Very reliable & smooth.