Why no Weatherby's?

N

Northman999

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
225   0   0
Location
Southern Yukon
I've been looking around quite a bit at the long range precision stuff lately, and this site (way too much!) on the subject as I'm thinking of getting into this myself. I've got a few questions about Weatherby rounds and basically I'm wondering why I'm not seeing them in these long range platforms. My questions are:

1. Why doesn't the 30-378 totally own the long range 30 cal class with those crazy ballistics?

2. Why is the .338 LM apparently the cal to go with when the 338-378 seems more powerful?

3. Why no 378 Weatherby long range systems?

4. The Weatherby rifles are more expensive than your run of the mill Remington/Ruger/Winchester's, but seem thousands cheaper than some other long range guns out there, so why am I not seeing any cool pics or stories of guys with their all bubba'd up 378 Weatherby's?
 
In a more general sense...Weatherbys are powerfull, expensive, and hard on barrels, their accuracy is usually not up to custom/precision rifle standards....I know, I know, there is always the exception, but generally Weatherbys are, big game/long range hunting guns, that in alot of cases sacrifice accuracy for power. One example of how they do this is the free bore they use, usually allows hotter loading not more accurate loading.
 
Ben is right. Weatherby's are nice pieces of furniture that serve their intended purpose extremely well. When your target is the size of a cape buffalo's heart, they do a magnificent job.

A stock Corvette may be faster than a stock Camaro, but neither one will win a NASCAR race.

Precision is all about efficiency and accuracy. It doesn't take a 340, or a 378 to win tinsel at a thousand. When Lapua starts making brass for Weatherby, you might see more precision weatherby-based rigs.
 
actually.... Norma makes all the Weatherby brass, so it is decent stuff.

But it takes more than ballistics to win matches. Flat trajectory does not equal high accuracy
 
"...the .338 LM..." It's just the latest thing. It's not cheap to shoot either, but just adding the word 'Weatherby' to anything drives up the price.
 
I think it has more to do with the fact that it is near impossible to true up all of the nine locking lugs. The 300 weatherby mag has been used extensively in the 1000 yard competitions.
 
The biggest hurdle is COST. To tear apart a factory rifle for the action will put you in the same dollars as a full blown custom action so why bother.

If you have a multi lug action already, they are not ideal to set up for accuracy due to the headache of seating all those lugs. Again more costs.

When building a LR rifle, we go with very long barrels so a smaller case can produce some very nice ballistics. Less heat and wear too.

As for the cartridges, what was their mark of prowess (the belt) now becomes a hindrance in high pressure BR type shooting. Unless the chamber is cut specifically to tight tolerances, that area around the belt will enlarge making chambering difficult. Also, the front end of the chamber would have to be redesigned for the better match bullets and a shorter throat.

Can a belted case shoot well? Of course it can and cases like the modified 300Wby/STW do very well in unlimited 1000yd BR. Some the most accurate LR boomers I have owned had belts - 7RM and 300Wby but the reamers were not standard.

Today with way cheaper options like the RUM why bother?

In fact, between the RUM and the 338 Lapua, I would still recommend the RUM due to larger/equal case volume, ease of action choices, costs, availability.

If you wanted the biggest stick in town, why not just go with the modified 416Rigby or Chey Tac wildcats? Brass is equally expensive but performance is better/similar and no belts.
Jerry
 
Also for competition consider whether the round is allowed at the ranges and remember that from a pure accuracy point of view recoil is not your friend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom