Custom hunting .30-378

[BGbasbhat]

Alright, I'm somewhat of a newbie; but I've been trying to read everything I can get my hands on....So, I sincerely appreciate any and all your guys' knowledge. But, I need some help...PLEASE!!!

My dad and I are going to AK next year for a grizzly hunt. So, being that my .30-30 wont do, I need a little more boom.

I like the versatility of the .30 cals; but I didn't want something that everybody and their brother has. (RUMs and WinMags). So I arrived at the .30-378, and kinda liked the Mark V action. Don't worry, I thought about the .33s; but I wouldn't be able to use it for anything smaller than elk.

Anyway, now I'm reading that the Mark V action might not be the best for accurizing and gunsmith work. Further, most of you guys aren't fans of the freebore anyway.

I would like to stick with the caliber; but I'm not set on a Weatherby gun, and I'm not at all opposed to doing a semi-custom or something of the sort...Especially since I was already saving for the $1600 Accumark!!! BTW, 99% of the time, I will be using this rifle for hunting. Later on down the road, if I get into benching, then so be it..But western hunting is my focus for now.

So here goes:

1. Would you recommend a better action for the .30-378? I've read that you can't really build them off Rem700s, so what would be preferred from a gunsmith's perspective? What would be most tuneable? I know Sako makes a production rifle in that caliber, so would this out of the box rifle be better? Is there an out-of-the-box rifle that would be better than the Accumark in that caliber, and be easily accurized?

2. I've seen some of you guys have put new tubes on your .30-378s. Since freebore doesn't seem to be conducive to accuracy (up for debate, I know..), do these new barrels have less or no freebore? If so, do you guys decrease your loads due to the increased pressure?

I think that's all for now. I'm completely obsessing about this, and I want to have ample time to be 100% comfortable with my abilities and gun for the hunt.

I look forward to your knowledge, and thanks again.

 

[Broz]

Hello BGbasbhat and Welcome,

My .338 Lapua is built off a Mark V action. So I don't see the problem, I shot antelope at 800 and a WT doe at 1137 this year.

I have two 30-378's both have the freebore. One is an accumark, the other has a 30" custom barrel. I have shot the custom with freebore to 1000 yards and held 1 moa easy.

As for the Sako, I am not sure about the free bore on it. But I would bet it has it. That way you can use the factory Wby shel ammo with out pressure concerns.

I am not saying I am a fan of freebore. I am simply stating my real experiences with the above.

PS. I just put a very nice accumark 300 WBY in the classifieds.

Jeff
.

 

[J E Custom]

Alright, I'm somewhat of a newbie; but I've been trying to read everything I can get my hands on....So, I sincerely appreciate any and all your guys' knowledge. But, I need some help...PLEASE!!!

My dad and I are going to AK next year for a grizzly hunt. So, being that my .30-30 wont do, I need a little more boom.

I like the versatility of the .30 cals; but I didn't want something that everybody and their brother has. (RUMs and WinMags). So I arrived at the .30-378, and kinda liked the Mark V action. Don't worry, I thought about the .33s; but I wouldn't be able to use it for anything smaller than elk.

Anyway, now I'm reading that the Mark V action might not be the best for accurizing and gunsmith work. Further, most of you guys aren't fans of the freebore anyway.

I would like to stick with the caliber; but I'm not set on a Weatherby gun, and I'm not at all opposed to doing a semi-custom or something of the sort...Especially since I was already saving for the $1600 Accumark!!! BTW, 99% of the time, I will be using this rifle for hunting. Later on down the road, if I get into benching, then so be it..But western hunting is my focus for now.

So here goes:

1. Would you recommend a better action for the .30-378? I've read that you can't really build them off Rem700s, so what would be preferred from a gunsmith's perspective? What would be most tuneable? I know Sako makes a production rifle in that caliber, so would this out of the box rifle be better? Is there an out-of-the-box rifle that would be better than the Accumark in that caliber, and be easily accurized?

2. I've seen some of you guys have put new tubes on your .30-378s. Since freebore doesn't seem to be conducive to accuracy (up for debate, I know..), do these new barrels have less or no freebore? If so, do you guys decrease your loads due to the increased pressure?

I think that's all for now. I'm completely obsessing about this, and I want to have ample time to be 100% comfortable with my abilities and gun for the hunt.

I look forward to your knowledge, and thanks again.

First of all I think the Weatherby Mark 5 is one of the strongest actions made. !!!!

A while back White laboratories tested all of the commercial actions to destruction (Blew
them up) and the only action that they couldn't blow up was the MK 5. (when I find
this test results report I will post it).

Next the accuracy issue. The type of action has very little to do with accuracy if it is
installed with minium tolerances and precision.

And as far as freebore it does not hurt accuracy if the chamber is concentric and head
space is .001 or less. also it allows hotter loads (Higher velocity) with less pressure.

If you take a Weatherby factory load and try to use it in a non throated 30/378 it will
probably blow the primer because it will be to hot forcing you to load down losing velocity.

I have a 30/378 built on a # 7 taper shillen target select with a standard throat that will/
has shot a .092 (less than 1/10 of an inch) 5 shot group and is built on a Weatherby Mark
5 action using a 200gr nozzler partition .

Also I once had (wish I still did) an accumark in 30/378 that would shoot 1/4 MOA groups
(.174,.198 and .219 with different loads) so the rifle more than exceeded Weatherbys
specs.

As far as I'm concerned It is the only fractory action that is suitable and strong enough
for the 30/378.

The Mk 5 actions are well machined,stronge and have good triggers, plus they look good.

A custom action would be the only other option for the big 30/378.

Just my 2 cents based on lots of experience with Mark 5 actions.

J E CUSTOM

 

[jwp475]

The 30-378 can most assuredly be built on a Rem-700 action and are.

 

[cmfi3]

I shoot a 30-378 in a accumark. After a re-bed and re-crown job the accumark shoots very well (under 1/2 moa), freebore doesn't seem to be an issue.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I second what JE said. Yes you can put a 378 case on a rem 700 action, it is just not very smart. The 700 action is not nearly enough for this powerful cartridge. Don't try to blow yourself up.

 

[BGbasbhat]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. You all confirmed my thoughts about the action.
Considering the base of the .378 is only .03 in larger than a .300 RUM, I wouldn't doubt that it could fit on a 700. But, like you said LTLR, I wouldn't want to push the limit of an action. I'd rather have an action that is fully strong enough to do it.
I posted up a couple topics on some other sites (and searching for others) regarding the Mark V, Accumark, Weatherby, etc.... It seems some people talk bad about the freebore, and how you wont be able to hit squat with it. But as I've derived from you guys and others, there's no point in having a Weatherby cartridge of such high velocity/pressure without freebore. And you guys are obviously shooting some tack drivers!! I'm going to continue to read more about freebore and why people have this theory. Any idea?

Next question: Since I will be using the rifle mainly for hunting, do you think a Fibermark would be a better choice? The Fibermark is pillar bedded and a decent crown, and would save me 1lb....and is $400 less.

Thanks again, and I look forward to your replies

 

[Broz]

Next question: Since I will be using the rifle mainly for hunting, do you think a Fibermark would be a better choice? The Fibermark is pillar bedded and a decent crown, and would save me 1lb....and is $400 less.

Thanks again, and I look forward to your replies

Just a quick question? Doesn't the 300 and 338 RUMs have freebore??


About the Fibermark. Right now I have over a dozen Mark V's. I can't even begin to tell you how many I have owned or shot between the .224 and the .378 mag. I can tell you this. If I had to pick the most accurate modle out of all I hae owned. Hands down the USA Accumarks. The Kreiger barrels shoot well and mine have not been picky about loads. The USA accumarks are BC stocks with aluminum chassis and pillars. But I still skim bed them and float the barrel.

Jeff

 

[britz]

One more thing to keep in mind here is that since you are used to shooting a 30-30 (pretty low recoil), have you ever fired a 30-378, 300RUM 338RUM, 340WBY... because they will have a lot more punch than a 30-30.

You can kill lots more with a smaller cartidge that you are not afraid of. For me personally I have found that the standard 300 win mag in a sporter rifle is the upper limit to what I can feel comfortable shooting with out a muzzle brake.

cant substitute power for shot placement.... no offence intended, just food for though.

Good luck, Mark.

 

[BGbasbhat]

Britz
Understood on the recoil issue. I have shot larger magnum rifles (.375hh, .375ruger, .338wm, etc.). The .30-30 was my rifle back in MO when I was younger and I couldn't see past 100 yards. Since then I've just been borrowing a .270 for mule deer here in AZ.

But, as an old timer once told me, "You never borrow another man's gun, truck, dog, or woman.......in that order." So I figured a big boomer was in order.

I've never fired a .30-378 before, nor known anybody who has one; but i'm sure it will take some time to get used to. Plus, I'm young and pretty hard headed, so that always helps!!!

Nevertheless, the concern is appreiated and dually noted.

 

[cmfi3]

Britz
Understood on the recoil issue. I have shot larger magnum rifles (.375hh, .375ruger, .338wm, etc.). The .30-30 was my rifle back in MO when I was younger and I couldn't see past 100 yards. Since then I've just been borrowing a .270 for mule deer here in AZ.

But, as an old timer once told me, "You never borrow another man's gun, truck, dog, or woman.......in that order." So I figured a big boomer was in order.

I've never fired a .30-378 before, nor known anybody who has one; but i'm sure it will take some time to get used to. Plus, I'm young and pretty hard headed, so that always helps!!!

Nevertheless, the concern is appreiated and dually noted.

A accumark with the accubrake on will probably have less felt recoil than the 270 you've been shooting. I hunt with the brake off of mine. You have to hold on to the darn thing, it pushes you pretty hard, but it doesn't seem to hurt (bite) me like some of the smaller mags have. To my suprise its actually pretty tolerable to shoot without the brake.

 

[jwp475]

I second what JE said. Yes you can put a 378 case on a rem 700 action, it is just not very smart. The 700 action is not nearly enough for this powerful cartridge. Don't try to blow yourself up.

Why is it not very smart? Remington makes a 338 Lapua on the 700 action and I have a 338 Lapua on the 700 Action built by Shawn Carlock. There are a lot of top smoths that can and will build one on a Rem 700 action. Chris Mathews (Long Shot rifles) George Gardner (GAP) have buil the 338 Lapua on the Rem-700 action

Here is mine

Another view

If one wants a repeater and a loaded overall length of 3.9" the Rem 700 is by far theasiest to do this with when teamed with the Seekin Detachable Box Magazine

 

[britz]

Britz
Understood on the recoil issue. I have shot larger magnum rifles (.375hh, .375ruger, .338wm, etc.). The .30-30 was my rifle back in MO when I was younger and I couldn't see past 100 yards. Since then I've just been borrowing a .270 for mule deer here in AZ.

But, as an old timer once told me, "You never borrow another man's gun, truck, dog, or woman.......in that order." So I figured a big boomer was in order.

I've never fired a .30-378 before, nor known anybody who has one; but i'm sure it will take some time to get used to. Plus, I'm young and pretty hard headed, so that always helps!!!

Nevertheless, the concern is appreiated and dually noted.

Prior to actually purchaseing the rifle I would suggest to look at JBM - Calculations - Recoil Input and some loading sites to compare the recoil. the 30-378 is a wonderfull cal, but one always has to sacrafice one thing for another.

 

[jwp475]

Install a good brake and then the recoil is negligible