300 weatherby

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2308500

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iv e recently got the itch for a 300 weatherby magnum. Budget is low to midrange. ive been thinking about a blued vanguard,and my question is will i be a happy shooter with that gun caliber combo.
wondering if it can be "loaded down" somewhat for deer and coyote and still retain accuracy.

ive been reloading 3006 for a few years and , even though i could boost up some on ti to gain a bit of downrange oomph. there is something about the weatherbt that makes me want one.

am i thinking silly or should i go for it?
 
While I do own a 257Wby Vanguard which I'm quite fond of, I don't think the 300 is for someone on a low to mid-range budget. You are probably close to $200 to reload your first 25 rounds.
It's also kind of pointless to buy a 300 and load it down to 308 velocity when you already have a 30'06... 300Wby is meant to push heavy bullets fast. Also the 24" barrel on the Vanguard is a tad short for this overbore mag.
If you are after some extended range that can handle light 90gr varmint bullets and high BC/high SD 140gr+ pills, the 264Win or 6.5/284 Norma are nice flat shooting cartridges you can load up warm and not go broke.
 
I used to have lots of fun with a 300 Weatherby loaded with 110 gr spritzers with a muzzle velocity just shy of 4000 fps ( according to the manual ). It was minute of coyote and minute of antelope. Not much in the way of recoil. But for big game the 180 to 200 gr bullets were the way to go.
 
I have the Weatherby Vanguard Synthetic S2 in 300WBY. I shot some Hornady 180gr SST's that I had loaded just to see how it performed. Judging by the groups I got at 100/200/300yds I didn't need to try anything else. Exceptionally accurate. Definitely would recommend.
I don't think you can do a 300WBY "on the cheap". Big case = lots of powder. Realistically for a new set up you're probably going to be in the $1000 range with a decent scope. Which leads to another point. Don't skimp on optics.
I wouldn't load it down for deer, etc. Just use heavier bullets.
There have been used S2 's on the EE for around $600. Some places still have old stock of new S2's for around $750.
Good luck. It is definitely an excellent calibre.
 
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2308500 said:
iv e recently got the itch for a 300 weatherby magnum. Budget is low to midrange. ive been thinking about a blued vanguard,and my question is will i be a happy shooter with that gun caliber combo.
wondering if it can be "loaded down" somewhat for deer and coyote and still retain accuracy.

ive been reloading 3006 for a few years and , even though i could boost up some on ti to gain a bit of downrange oomph. there is something about the weatherbt that makes me want one.

am i thinking silly or should i go for it?
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You know there was a deal in the EE for a S2 300 Wby magnum this morning/afternoon.
Came witha Vortex scope too iirc and for stupid reasonable monies.

You nothing shoots flatter or hits harder than a Weatherby , right ?!

Yup, your thinking silly for not going for it.
Rob
 
ive got a spare 4200 bushnell to put on it so thats a plus.can borrow a set of dies +, lots of 180 gr. bullets +, primers+, powder is becoming available again+ looks like a no brainer. biggest hurdle is to sneak it into the house
 
FLHTCUI said:
You know there was a deal in the EE for a S2 300 Wby magnum this morning/afternoon.
Came witha Vortex scope too iirc and for stupid reasonable monies.

You nothing shoots flatter or hits harder than a Weatherby , right ?!

Yup, your thinking silly for not going for it.
Rob
Click to expand...

Yup ! The KING of 300 Mags - Love my 300 WBee ! RJ
 
I could go on for hours regaling the virtues of the 300 Wby cartridge, but I won't. Suffice it to say that I have hunted a great deal of the planet with this cartridge and harvested 100s of game animals with it. It leaves nothing to be desired for thin skinned game and is arguably one of the best choices for anything from pronghorn to eland and even bison and big bears are on the menu with 200 gn Parts, A-frames or Accubonds.
No it does not need a 26" barrel, my stainless 700 has always had a 24" tube and it will add an honest 150-200 fps on a 300 WM with the same 24" barrel. What it does is drive 200 gn bullets at the same velocity +/- as 180s in a 300 WM with the same barrel length.
I have had many great experiences with the 300 Wby and I carry it anywhere with the utmost confidence..........as far as platform I have never shot a Vanguard, can't really comment on it but I have heard very little criticism of the Vanguard and am in the process of building my 234 Penguin on one right now.
My two 300 Wbys are both Rem 700s, one stainless and synthetic and the other is a 700 Classic......wood and blued.
 
2308500 said:
iv e recently got the itch for a 300 weatherby magnum. Budget is low to midrange. ive been thinking about a blued vanguard,and my question is will i be a happy shooter with that gun caliber combo.
wondering if it can be "loaded down" somewhat for deer and coyote and still retain accuracy.

ive been reloading 3006 for a few years and , even though i could boost up some on ti to gain a bit of downrange oomph. there is something about the weatherbt that makes me want one.

am i thinking silly or should i go for it?
Click to expand...

Do it. You won't regret it :)
 
I'm taking the other side.
Save yourself the $$ and hassle. 300 win mag all day...
Brass is cheaper, easier to find, not all that freebore, more rifle selection,
I haven't seen the performance improvements others have wrt comparing the win mag to weatherby. But that's just me...
 
Well here's my .5 cents I have a mark 5 ..... what ever I put the cross hairs on .... well it's meat in the freezer........just be careful and make sure you put the bullet in the right spot or else its magnum cooked..... a superb rifle .... really it can do it out to 500 meters if you can do your part...enjoy what you buy .... test it out ....and see how you do ......
enjoy joy it
 
Buckmastr said:
I'm taking the other side.
Save yourself the $$ and hassle. 300 win mag all day...
Brass is cheaper, easier to find, not all that freebore, more rifle selection,
I haven't seen the performance improvements others have wrt comparing the win mag to weatherby. But that's just me...
Click to expand...

I own four 300 Win Mags. And a 308 Norma Mag. And a 30-338 mag. None of them will match the Wby for velocities with heavy bullets. But thats just me...�� - dan
 
dan belisle said:
I own four 300 Win Mags. And a 308 Norma Mag. And a 30-338 mag. None of them will match the Wby for velocities with heavy bullets. But thats just me...�� - dan
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Nice collection dan !
Have you ever tried rl 17 in any of your 300 win mags?
I was getting over 3150 fps with a 180 gr bullet and a 26" barrel. I haven't tried heavier bullets with it...
 
To be truly logical there is very little difference in the field between the 'Bee, the Win, the RUM and the other 300 Mags. The choice can made on practicality, nostalgia and or whatever you want. I lean toward the Win in a 3.600" or longer magbox and a 26" barrel, but doesn't mean I don't know exactly what the 'Bee will do. It just might be the maximum practical amount of powder to shove down a 30 caliber hole. It's a hard hitting killing machine, and has been since the mid 40s. There was probably some toothless geezer with 38/55 back then who criticized then and his great grandson is likely whining about it now, but Roy was right. This is the guy that put high velocity on the map. :)

One you should consider is the Lazerguard. It's on the high end of the Vanguard line, but cheap compared to a Mark V deluxe. Looks like it costs a fortune, 1" guarantee and practically screams Weatherby, which is what a Weatherby is supposed to do.
 
The biggest drawback to the WBY compared to the WM is simply brass and/or ammo cost. But if you want one, no reason not to get one, especailly if you handload.
 
I have a Weatherby S2 in 300 Weatherby but to be honest, I have yet to shoot it. It does seem to be very well built with a good trigger. After reading these posts, I may have to sight it in one of these days.
 
Buckmastr said:
Nice collection dan !
Have you ever tried rl 17 in any of your 300 win mags?
I was getting over 3150 fps with a 180 gr bullet and a 26" barrel. I haven't tried heavier bullets with it...
Click to expand...

No, I haven't. I've got enough powder stashed away for rifles that will last me until I'm dead. If I come across some maybe I'll give it a whirl.. so far the best powder in the Weatherby has been Norma MRP. It will break 3100 with 200 gr partitions, but accuracy is better at 3000. I have a 300 RUM if i want to go faster, but dont use it often.. Used to have a 30-416 Rigby improved I bought off a guy in MT years ago, built on a nicely sporterised Enfield. That rifle was about the fastest 30 I've ever had. Used to run H1000 and 8010 in it. - dan
 
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