378 Weatherby
- Thread starter NWTHunter
- Start date
A very experienced professional hunter, John Coleman, in South Africa in either '77 or '80 told me that the 378 Weatherby has no place even in Africa !! I shot one once or twice many years ago .. and have seen a few for sale since. Being left handed .. ..(rifles are very scarce) . and not needing to be hurt (I use a 416 for big game) as I am a bit of a pansy .. I'll go on through life without one ...
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Weatherby has developed a poor reputation in some circles in Africa - and the MK-V rifle also gets a lot of criticism regardless of chambering. African professionals in general don't get all googly eyed over high velocity the way we do here. Ideally, with a suitable caliber and bullet weight, 2400 fps seems to be the velocity aspired to in many of the newer African game cartridges. This velocity gives a reasonable trajectory to 200 yards, and with practice to 300. Although there are exceptions most African game is shot closer than 150. More importantly, 2400 fps assures good bullet performance. Game which is sensitive to bullet shock would be good candidates for the .378, and the lion comes to mind in this regard, and Ross Siegfried speaks very highly of the .378 for use on lion.
From my own perspective, I shoot the .375 Ultra, and when I began planning my Tanzanian buffalo hunt I settled on the 380 gr Rhino as the bullet I wanted to use. Shooting over a chronograph, I found that my loads would consistently give me just a smidgen over 2300 fps. For use in Africa, a .378 loaded with this bullet could easily hit the magical 2400 mark. With lighter bullets - like the 300 gr TSX - loaded to 3000 fps, the .378 would be deadly on the large antelope like eland, and with a light soft-point loaded to 2600, it would do fine for the light antelope. The bane of the one gun hunter in Africa is rifle sighting. This of course becomes problematical with multiple loads however, the piece could be sighted in with one bullet, with adjustments noted on the scope bell for other weights. Or one could simply follow the advise of Kevin Robertson - "Load your .375 with 300 gr. Barnes X's and use it for everything."
From my own perspective, I shoot the .375 Ultra, and when I began planning my Tanzanian buffalo hunt I settled on the 380 gr Rhino as the bullet I wanted to use. Shooting over a chronograph, I found that my loads would consistently give me just a smidgen over 2300 fps. For use in Africa, a .378 loaded with this bullet could easily hit the magical 2400 mark. With lighter bullets - like the 300 gr TSX - loaded to 3000 fps, the .378 would be deadly on the large antelope like eland, and with a light soft-point loaded to 2600, it would do fine for the light antelope. The bane of the one gun hunter in Africa is rifle sighting. This of course becomes problematical with multiple loads however, the piece could be sighted in with one bullet, with adjustments noted on the scope bell for other weights. Or one could simply follow the advise of Kevin Robertson - "Load your .375 with 300 gr. Barnes X's and use it for everything."
The 378 should be the ultimate long range gun but two things hold it back. The trigger on the MK V is OK but not the best for shooting at extreme range and the recoil of the round pretty much counts it out for prone or other ackward positions. Balistically its awsome.
I was at the range this last Thursday with my 26" barreled, stainless steel, Rem 700 LSS 375 RUM with a Magnum Kick-Eez recoil pad, and a Leupold 4.5-14 VX111 scope, this combo weighs in @ 9.5lbs. I shoot 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps and 300gr Partitions @ 2750fps.
I was really leaning into the bench while I was shooting which isn't something that I usually due with this rifle. I also had a strap-on shoulder pad on.
I took a total of 15 shots and that was enough for me for the day. I can usually handle a lot of recoil but "WOW" that was definately enough........
When I got home and finally took off my shirt my wife looked over and asked who gave you the hicky on your shoulder. I looked and saw a 2" wide 1" high area of bruising on my shoulder.
Believe it or not this rifle is one of my favorite rifle/cartridge combo's that I own.........
I was really leaning into the bench while I was shooting which isn't something that I usually due with this rifle. I also had a strap-on shoulder pad on.
I took a total of 15 shots and that was enough for me for the day. I can usually handle a lot of recoil but "WOW" that was definately enough........
When I got home and finally took off my shirt my wife looked over and asked who gave you the hicky on your shoulder. I looked and saw a 2" wide 1" high area of bruising on my shoulder.
Believe it or not this rifle is one of my favorite rifle/cartridge combo's that I own.........
That's what I think, though a lot depends on your upper body shape and facial structure. I had a Mk V in 378, hated shooting it. I have a 375 Wby that is much easier to shoot, but it has a straighter stock. I have the parts here to put together another hot 375, on an Enfield action. I might do another 378 on that. I figure a heavier stock, straighter comb, and wider butt (like the A-square stocks made by MPI) will help to dissipate a great deal of that recoil. I saw one like that, that Tom Burgess built back in the day, and that image always stuck with me. And it's companion piece in 416 Rigby, beautiful big bores. - danLOL!! The 505 was designed for me and weights 12 lbs!!
I hear that a large part of the problem with the 378 is the stock design!!
Since gone to a .416 Rem. 300s at 2900 for the light bullet load. Similar performance and 20-30 grains less powder means way less recoil. Plus 22” barrel and lighter gun.
My .416 Wby 112gr Re19 & 300gr TSX @ 3000 fps mv 26" barrel mild load (safe in my rifle only) with brake mentioned it don't kick bad at all.
My .416 Rem Mag 92gr Re15 & 300gr TSX @ 2900 fps mv 20" barrel max load (safe in my rifle only) no brake it got kick.
My .416 Rem Mag 92gr Re15 & 300gr TSX @ 2900 fps mv 20" barrel max load (safe in my rifle only) no brake it got kick.
In my first .416 Rem the load was 91 of rel 15. It went 2950 in 24”, cut it to 22 and it was 2900. My bear load in my next one was the 350 tsx at just under 2700. Worked very well.
Sorry to help derail this thread with the .416 stuff. The op asked about recoil. It’s huge, off the bags I would often end up with ear protection flipped forward over my eyes. It’s also the only rifle I could feel torque in my hands on firing. As in, the rifling makes it twist. Still think the 460 had more thought.
