Weatherby Question

KingFisher85 · 10-16-2002, 04:26 PM

Theirs a very nice NIB Weatherby at FMs that I'm thinking on getting. The question is.
What would be the best big game caliber for it? I DO NOT WANT A 30/06 or a 308!!
What about the 300 Weatherby?
What about the 257 Weatherby?
what do you think?

I have an older model 270 Weatherby but the safety is busted on it. One really nice long rang shooting caliber. Like it very much but I will not use it till I get the safety fixed.
I know how much they cost but I want a new one. I need info on the best caliber's.

Thanks

mudsucker · 10-16-2002, 04:36 PM

KingFisher, What are you planning on shooting with it? I have a Ruger modle 1b in 300 weatherby that i elk hunt with but it's to much for deer unless your shooting a long ways. I use a 30 06 for deer out to 400 or so but i know what it does and i range it first. havn't had the 300 with me for the long deer shots and it would be a better choice out that far but not good close, bullets go to fast and to much damage to animal..don't like cleaning up the mess!! makes me carful of where i place my shots if you know what i mean.

[ 10-16-2002, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: mudsucker ]

Fish4Fun · 10-16-2002, 04:57 PM

KingFisher85,

I have shot Weatherby's since the early 80's, and wouldn't shoot anything else now. I have a custom .257 and a couple of .300's. The gun of choice for me right now is the "Ultra Light Wieght Mag" in .300 Wtby. Out of the box this gun is shooting half inch groups at 100 yards. From my personal experience of hunting different states and animals the .300 is the best all around so far. Like "Mudsucker" said it will make a mess if you were to not place your shot well. I always take deer a little high behind the shoulder, never makes too much of a mess that way. For elk I punch them right behind the shoulder, always have had 1 shot kills so far. The bullet of choice is the 180 grain Nosler for the .300.

Hope this will help

Robert · 10-16-2002, 05:05 PM

Are the Wal mart Weatherbies any different than the ones at other gun stores?

KingFisher85 · 10-16-2002, 05:16 PM

I was also looking at a Weatherby in 300 win mag. Would you think that would be better then the 300 Weatherby mag? I almost think so.
I have been told that them Ultra Light Weight Mag have some kick to them? I know the colt does. Is this true or is it just like any other big game hunting rifle?
I would be hunting deer and elk with it but mostly elk.

I want to get this right. If I'm going to be spending over $1,000 dollars for one it's going to be set to kill and be the right thing for my deer and elk hunting.

[ 10-16-2002, 06:16 PM: Message edited by: KingFisher85 ]

Firedog · 10-16-2002, 05:18 PM

KingFisher, if you are looking for an elk gun the .300 would be an excellent choice. I have been trying to decide between a .300 win and a .300 weatherby myself. Will come down to what I can find in the gun I want. Here is a Bulletin board that deals with guns.
Acurate Arms Reloading page

nerta · 10-16-2002, 05:59 PM

[img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] Have you considered a Dakota instead of a Weatherby? You'll fall for one if you check them out. I think they have Weatherby beat hands down if budget allows. 300 is a great all aroud cal. with the best bullet selection if you roll your own. :smile:

blacktail · 10-16-2002, 06:16 PM

My suggestion would be to have the .270 mag repaired and use it for deer, then buy the .300 mag and use it for elk.

Be sure and use a premium bullet in both as the high velocity calibers can be tough on "standard" bullets.

I'd vote for 150 grain Partitions in the .270 and 180 or 200's in the .300.

Mike

Big TULE · 10-16-2002, 07:57 PM

King i shoot the 300 win mag, RUGER M77 MK II
And i love it, it will tear a deer up pretty bad if you are shooting up close but you can't beat it for long range. I was a wal-mart today and saw the 300 weatherby for 500 not a bad price for a weatherby, but i will never stray from my 300. If you get a 300 and don't want the kick do not, i repeat do not get the synthetic stock. I have the laminated wood stock and it kicks very hard, i can only imagine what the synthetic would do. Good luck and happy hunting. And if you ask a general question about which caliber should i get you will get 100 different answers, i just depwnds on the terain and shots you are taking. I recomend the 300 win mag for versitility.

Mtn Man · 10-16-2002, 07:57 PM

Personally, I really like the 7mm Weatherby. I have a Schultz & Larsen chambered in that, very nice shooting gun.

If I were looking for another big gun I would look very hard at the Lazzaroni's. They make very flat shooting gun.

KingFisher85 · 10-16-2002, 08:43 PM

I have no problem with the kick from a 300 win mag. I have found shooting a 300 win mag that a 12 GA with a 22 inch fully rifled barrel shooting 1oz slug kicks much more.
I have the Ruger M77 with the synthetic stock in 308win (I don't like the 308) and it kicks more then my old mans 300 win mag with a synthetic stock.
I might just save the money and go for a Ruger M77 with the synthetic stock and the stainless steel barrel in 300 win mag but would like to know:
1. How does it shoot?
2. What is the best ammo to shoot for deer and elk?
3. How much drop does it have at 100, 200,300, and 500 yards?
4. If I do get one, should I sight it in at 3 inches high at 100 yards or sight it in dead on at a 100 yards?

When I bought my Ruger 308 with the synthetic stock and the stainless steel barrel I paid $700 dollars for it.
How much are them Ruger M77 with the stainless steel barrels and the synthetic stocks going for now?
I ask to many questions. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]
But I still want a new Weatherby. :grin:
Hell I don't know what I want. :grin:
Thanks

HarpMan · 10-16-2002, 08:48 PM

King, this will be my first season with the WBY ultralight in 300 WBY mag. Shootin 180 grain FEDERAL PREMIUM sgb's, it is the only FEDERAL factory load and bullet that produces 2100 lbs at 500 yrds with only 32" of drop. I have shot alot this summer with a heavy TUFF country shooting bag it still kicks pretty good, but getting good groups. Leave next for Idaho Bulls. Get the 300 wby mag...

KingFisher85 · 10-16-2002, 08:53 PM

WOW :shocked: only 32 inches of drop and 500 yards. Now that's something. I caught a brown trout that was taller then that!

Big TULE · 10-16-2002, 09:03 PM

King i have the stainless with laminate wood stock paid 485 from FM They go on sale every year like 40 $ off mine is the light colored wood they also have a bluish colored wood stock in the laminate. I shoot 180 nosler's from the federal premium line for elk. I also shoot 150 grain remington core locks for deer. I sight in for zero at 200, drop on the 150's at 300 is about 4 inches, don't shoot alot passed that but i know it isn't alot. I dropped a 4 point bull 2 years ago at 275 yard with one shot with the 180's no prob, and dropped a deer this year with the 150 core locks. I know the remingtons arn't the best but my rifle likes them and shoot's well with them. I would not recomend the synthetic stock in the 300 i would go for the laminate stock, just giving you the heads up before you buy one. If you want you can meet me up at clark rifles one day and shoot mine a few times to see if you like it. I saw a guy up there shooting a synthetic stocked 270 and he was flynching everytime he shot it because he said it was kicking his ass.

KingFisher85 · 10-16-2002, 09:08 PM

Might just have to do that. I have about 100 rounds of 300 win mag ammo in 180 gr. to plink with :grin: . I also have a good size clear cut up behind the house that I shoot the 308 and all my other high powered rifles at.

Killertraylor · 10-17-2002, 08:46 AM

King - this post is right up my alley. I have a Ruger Mark II Stainless synthetic in .300 Winchester, a Weatherby Mark V (German) .300 Weath. Mag, and a .257 Weatherby in the new ultra lightweight.

The Ruger and the .257 both have Leupold 4.5-14 Vari - X III's on them. Very versatile scopes and excellent quality for the money.

Ruger Mark II .300 is a great gun, I've killed three elk with it and it shoots less than one inch groups at 100 yards with 180 grain Remington Factory ammo. I reload for it and got a 3 shot group down to .40 inches at 100 yards. I'll never hunt Elk with anything else - it's just a confidence thing.

The Mark V Weatherby is a phenomenal gun, and its also for sale. :smile: It has a nice black MPI Fiberglass stock on it and I paid over $1,000 for it new about 10 years ago. It has less than three boxes of shells through it and shoots 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with handloads and 1 inch groups with factory ammo. I'm selling it for $700. I just don't use it since I'm so fond of my Ruger. It has nice bases and rings, but no scope. I've got a brand new Leopold 3.5-10 Vari X III that I'll sell for $250.

The .257 mag is my favorite. I've killed two mule deer with it in the last three weeks (one in Oregon and one in Washington) and a few more deer a couple of years ago. All one shot kills. It's the best all around caliber for deer in my opinion and I have a friend who's killed several elk with it (read all about the .257 in Grits Gresham's book about Roy Weatherby, "The Man, the Gun, the Legend" and you'll be sold on the .257.) It's killed almost every animal on the face of the earth.

For the money - I'd get the .300 Win Ruger if I were you. You can still pick them up for about $425 if you shop around and the new synthetic stocks are nicer than the old ones. I do a lot of coastal elk hunting and the synthetic stock is the only way to go in that wet mess of a jungle. Mine has the old style synthetic stock and I added a sorbethane pad and it doesn't kick too bad. The Weatherby kicks less because the stock is designed in the same mold as the factory Weatherby stocks and they fit your shoulder and face real good with that high comb. Let me know if you're interested in the Weatherby - I posted it for sale here about a month ago and only had one guy interested and he asked if I took credit cards????

Good luck, and feel free to e-mail me if you have any more questions about these guns. Oh - one more thing - I'd guess that the Weatherby that Walmart is selling for $500 is a Vanguard - not the same quality as a Mark V and it doesn't have the 9 locking lugs that the Mark V has. Those 9 locking lugs make the Weatherby action one of the strongest and safest ever built. That Grits Gresham book has some good stories about Roy testing the Weatherby action by jamming a bullet in the end of the barrel, topping off a case with powder, compressing a bullet in the case and firing it. The barrel cracked open, but the action stayed put.

KingFisher85 · 10-17-2002, 03:51 PM

Thanks Killertraylor and Big TULE and the rest of you for your info.
I will not be getting any new gun till the end of the year or some time around there.