378 Weatherby

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NWTHunter

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I'm curious about this round. All things being equal, just how much more recoil will a .378 give over a .338?

I don't find my .338 difficult to shoot at all, its a Sako A-V with walnut stock. I've found a BRNO ZKK 602 chambered in .378. I don't know if the weight of these two rifles is comparable and I know the stock geometrics are different. So I know that it is not possible to compare the two without shooting both. I'd like to here from those who have tried both cartridges, let me know how much more nasty the .378 is based on they're experience.
 
300 grain bullets pushing 3000fps is some serious thump:cool:
The recoil is certainly more but not Untolerable to a "Seasoned" 338 shooter, if your comfortable with the 338's recoil stepping up to a 378 isn't out of the question....it does produce noticeably more recoil for sure.
In my experience if you're asking about it, then it may not be for you ;)
Good Luck.
 
There's no doubt the .378 is going to have some heavy recoil, but this is coming from a guy that's never shot one. The thing that I've found with recoil is that in a hunting situation you don't notice it, same with the muzzle blast. My TRG-S in 338 Lapua was going on the market after last moose season. Because up until I used it hunting I'd only range shot it and I didn't like the recoil, it wasn't fun to shoot. I like to fire off 50 or 100 rounds and enjoy it, with that rifle I couldn't fire 20 before it got to me. In the field though with an animal in your sights it doesn't feel the same and you only fire one or two rds. When I dropped my moose with the TRG-S last year my buddy asked me if I still wanted to sell the rifle. So asked him why? His response was all the recoil, and to that all I could say was it felt like I was shooting a .22, and there's no way I'm selling a rifle that I just dropped a moose on the spot with at nearly 400 yards. But that's just me;) :p :D
 
One way to compare is with muzzle energy. Winchester loads their 200 grain .338 Ballistic Silvertip cartridges to a (published) muzzle energy of 3,864 ft. lbs. The .378 Weatherby factory load pushes a 300 grain round nose bullet to the same velocity as the 200 grain .338, with a resulting (published) muzzle energy of 5,699 ft. lbs. Let's see, 3,864 vs. 5,699 = 47 per cent increase in energy generated. Muzzle energy and felt recoil are not equivalent, but you will, how shall I put it, "notice" the difference.

Sharptail
 
Sold mine and bought .338 Dakota

If I recall correctly my favorite load was a 270 Grain Partition with about 112 grains of 4831. Don't quote me on that, it's been several years.

Shooting off hand or with a straight back from the bench wasn't that bad, but 10 rounds or so was a days shooting. .378 supposedly has a sharper boot than even the .460. A heavy rifle is a benefit for both. Going back to the 338 was almost a pleasure and currently is my heaviest gun.

I had to own one and it was a real thrill, but if you like to shoot this one is not for you. Perfect for largest North American Game at relatively short range.

Think carefully before spending you hard earned cash on this one.

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

Note that the formula for kinetic energy is E = 1/2 *m * V^2 or energy goes up as the square of the velocity, not linearly like with bullet mass.
 
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I have no desire to ever shoot a .378 again... I find my .338 comfortable.
The .378WTHBY is the only thing I have fired that is more abusive than a 3 1/2 inch turkey load.
Definitely a not a gun for a recoil sensitive shooter.
 
Probably the worst part of shooting the .378 is the Weatherby Mk -V that it is normally chambered in. The stock design of that rifle seems to magnify the apparent effect of recoil, and might be what is behind the heavy recoil reputation of this round. My .375 Ultra - according to my recoil calculator - produces 58 ft-lbs of recoil energy and the .378 64 ft-lbs in equal weight rifles firing 300 gr bullets with maximum loads. What the numbers don't tell you however is how sharp that recoil is, but again this can be mitigated with the right stock design.
 
I have owned and still own some heavy recoiling guns. I've had some big boomers in several different stock styles, I find the Mark V very good at handleing recoil . My 378 comes back quite briskly with 300 TSXs at over 3000 fps. 338 recoil is not even on the same planet as the 378. If you're not holding it right you could be seriously injured. I've had 375s(H&H and Ackly) 416s (Rem and Rigby) 458 Win and 460 WBY so I'm not just blowing hot air. That said its a wicked long range gun, although I don't think you'll be torching any off prone. This is the only WBY rifle I've owned and although its not realy my taste in guns its a very well made and factory bedded gun. Its also very accurate.
 
I should have added that you don't need to shoot full power loads. You could launch 300s at 2800 to cut recoil and they'd probably still stick in when they got there. As for the 602 just be sure to find out if it feeds.
 
My handy-dandy recoil calculator shows max. 250 gr. 338 WM loads in an 8lb. gun to generate about 40 ft/lbs of recoil energy ... about the same as a brisk
300 gr. 45-70 load out of an 8lb. Single Shot Ruger, or a stiff .270 gr. load out of a 10 lb. 375 H&H. For comparison sake, the same 338 load in a 10lb. gun would give up 32 ft.lbs. of recoil energy.

The 300 gr. top loads in the .378Wby., in a 10 lb gun, gives up about
58 ft.lbs. of recoil energy - while the 500gr. 460Wby is at 114 ft.lbs in a
10 lb. gun.

Of course felt or perceived recoil is another matter, mitigated somewhat by stock design, good gun fit, use of a muzzle break (typical on some .378's) , a good recoil pad and actual shooting position ( say off-hand as opposed to the bench)

The recoil energy generated by the .378 is almost 3 times that of an 8lb .270, or 1/2 as much again as a 375 H&H, but that being said,
by all means, if you can handle the recoil, enjoy !
 
I'm not sure of the actuall recoil energy figures but from shoulder feel the 378 feels more than double the recoil from the 338.Just don't install a muzzle brake on the 378,the noise is crazy,just practice and get use to the recoil.Not many shoulder fired weapons can reach out and touch something as well as the 378wby--Wicked caliber!
 
Thanks for the replies. The question came to me when I found a BRNO 602 (one of the rifles on my current short list) that happened to be chambered in 378 Weatherby. I had never thought about owning a 378 before. I knew recoil would be substantial but have found that recoil hasn't bothered me it the past, I can adjust.

When I bought my 338 I was a bit concerned, having read and heard so much about how much it punishes shooters. Having owned it now for some time, I find my 338 to be a relative pussycat in comparison to its apparent reputation.

I agree that recoil in a hunting situation seems entirely different from a shooting situation. Fifty percent more or double the recoil of the 338 could probably be overcome with pleanty of shooting (some to get the feel of the gun; a lot more to overcome the flinch, once the stiches come out).

However, having thought some more about this, I can't see myself shelling out the dollars for Weatherby ammunition or even Weatherby brass for a calibre that I would have practice with quite a bit and have little opportunity to use in the field.

I'll just have to find a different 602; anyone know if it can be found in 9.3x62?
 
Something about the nostalgia behind the old Mauser rounds I suppose. I'm sure I have pleanty of time to mull it over, perhaps I'll change my mind.
 
The 378 Weatherby kicks the snot rigth out of your nose, it's harsh.

However, the 602 is a pretty heavy rifle and it may tame the recoil a bit.

You are also not obligated to hot rod it, there is plenty of room to download it.

If you are nto a handloader, the price of ammo may cause you a bit of shock!:eek:
 
375 h&h 2530 fps 10 lb gun 300 gr bullet 55ft-lbs recoil
378 WBY 2925 FPS 10 LB GUN 300 GR bullet 112 ft-lbs recoil
ballistics
375 muzzle v 2530 100-2267 200-2004 300-1795 400-1585 energy @400 1674
100-+2.6 200-0 300-_11.2 400--33.2

378 muzzle v 2925 100-2640 200-2373 300-2121 400-1885 energy @400 2368
100- +1.7 200-0 300--7.9 400--23.7
Frank
 
LOL! yes the only thing worse than the recoil is the price of the brass, It will cost you over 100, unloaded and 150 loaded, But if you want a Heavy Chevy the 378 will do it!!
 
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