Tell Me About the 300 WBY

[Coldfinger]

absolutely, I've got a year to get back in shape.

Find the steepest terrain to climb you can and take short breaths while moving up as fast as you can!

That's the spirit. I have seen way too many guys struggle on their way to the designated hunt.

Where in Montana you are heading?

Find the steepest terrain you have access to and climb it as fast as you can while taking the smallest breaths you can! Physical conditioning is great but there is no way I found to get used to the altitude difference from the 2500' elevation to 7-10000' elevation. Ps if a local says eat a banana, do it! Good luck the 300 wby will serve you well!

 

[usmc1383]

The stock Weatherby brake is pretty effective. It is a radial and so will blow any loose debris all over the place if you shoot it prone, but it is very effective at softening the blow and keeping you in a reasonable position to get your site picture back quickly.

Wow I have mine in weatherby kicks less them my 300 win mag in rem 700 don't know why . My 300 weatherby is 28 inch flute barrel had it about 20 years or so

 

[tomsd]

LOL - it also depends on age. I could not resist buying a beautiful - in very good shape - Japanese made (circa 1995) Weatherby Mark 5 Stainless in 300 Win that I saw on sale ($745 with a Leopold base and a brake) in my favorite gun store (Parkers) in my ole hometown of Klamath Falls, Ore. In the shop - it felt fine - but when I finally got it cleared here in SD - geesh - it felt heavy next to my 30.06. I guess at 74 - I notice those things - even tho I am 6 ft - 210lbs. In my youth - would have never given a second thought about packing a rifle that went around 9 lbs - with scope.
Now ? Probably have to have some young guide drive them toward my seated position.

 

[Murph1951]

Burns a lot of powder if you reload, kicks hard and you will develop a flinch, brass is almost impossible to find but if you have success probably the flattest shooting .30 cal you can get. From personal experience I had better "luck" with the 200 grain bullet than with the 180 grain. I only shot this at 600 yards. It is not a "go to" gun for hunting because of that **** recoil.

 

[BigDon]

I agree with all this. I'm trying to find that sweetspot of rifle weight and it is different for every person. Heavy enough to reduce the recoil but not so heavy that it wears me out. the Mark V is 8.5 without the scope, sling, bipod, etc. I'm guessing with everything added it would be over 10 and that's pretty heavy for a backcountry gun. A Weathermark is 7.5 without add-ons so it would be closer to 9 which is more manageable and still heavy enough with a break to get the shot.

You're only talking a couple of pounds in weight difference here. 8.5 lbs is Not a heavy rifle - it just isn't a 'light' rifle. I bet you've got 2 lbs of stuff you don't really need in your pack and jacket pockets! If recoil is any issue then a lighter rifle is clearly an even worse option - brake or no brake.

 

[thwatson2]

300 weatherby is a great gun for your choir. Before you invest in a new gun or upgrades like a brake, try shooting it it in different positions, like prone, standing and kneelin. Get some nice sticks. If it's acurate and recoil is manageable then use it As is, remember the lighter you go will increase recoil. Don't be afraid of the word "magnum" 300 weatherby is very similar to 300wm. Not too bad on the shoulder at all. Lastly, if the rifle works, do some exercises with it on your shoulder. Get a comfortable strap or harness to carry it comfortably. That extra 1 pound will be manageable with some preparation

 

[tooth doc]

The .300 WBTY if it shoots accurately and you can handle the recoil (an excellent muzzle brake will help mitigate this issue) would make an excellent elk chambering for up to 1K plus yards. Load it with 215/230 Berger and you're golden. However, "IF" you have a problem carrying a 8.5 in the MT wilderness esp. when it is guided, then it is not for you. The "NUT" behind the trigger remains the biggest factor regardless of rifle and chambering.

Getting in good physical condition, losing weight if needed will do way more for you than buying a gun that weighs 16 oz less. The 300 weath. Is a fantastic cal for elk. Practice, practice, practice. The 215, 230 berger or the 180 are all good choices. I prefer barnes .myself. good hunting!

 

[Idaho Hunter1]

We have had members of our family hunt and kill dozen of elk with a 300wby for decades and never had an elk walk off. Always shot them with Wby factory ammo in 180grns in the Barnes bullets. Range was 30yds out to 800ish. All done with the old wooden stock Japanese version that it sounds like you have. Your rifle will work like a dream.

As for weight, I'd try to lose a few pounds myself before I worried about a pound on the rifle. In percentages, that 1-1.5 pound reduction is the difference in the water retention from your sweat in the coat your wearing.

Over rated! If you were doing an extended backpack hunt and everything else in the world was skimmed down, then maybe I could advise to spend the money. Instead I'd spend the money on upgrading your glass, and ammo to practice with.

Best of luck!

 

[memtb]

jaw719, if you are in any semblance of conditioning, your rifle should serve you well. Use the money that you might otherwise replacing your Weatherby on very good boots, a quality sleeping bag, binos or such.

I don't know your hunting camp conditions or your hunting terrain, but many years ago a young man gave me some valuable advice......"Buy the best boots and sleeping bag that you can afford! If you don't sleep good, it will affect you after a couple of days! If your feet are sore and or blistered, you will not be able to hunt!" He went onto say, that he thought these things were more important than rifle, scope or cartridge. I thought this was a pretty wise statement from a man only in his late 20's! memtb

 

[Marine sniper]

I have killed more elk with a 300 Wby than any other rifle. I used to hunt with the 210 VLD and it worked fantastic- IF perfect bullet placement. The fact of the matter is Bergers can be awesome with most shot placements, but perform poorly if deep penetration is needed. My 210's never penetrated more than 12 inches regardless of the range. I have switched to Barnes TSX / LRX / and hammer hunters. The Barnes have nearly 100 % weight retention and in every rifle I have tested them in give great accuracy; 338 Lapua, 338 Lapua improved, 338-06, 300 WSM and 300 Wby. IMO the solid copper bullets are the best hunting bullets available.

Due to the fact the solid coppers retain so much weight you can go to a lighter bullet if desired.

 

[tooth doc]

Last time I told somebody they best hump it up some hills in their full hunting gear rifle and all then pull their bipod down and try to get steady on something at 600 yards, I got flamed for calling people out of shape.

I stand by my comment. If you can't climb some serious terrain then immediately fire off an accurate shot at whatever distance you decide is your limit, then you need more time in the gym. The problem is really light rifles is yeah you may get up to the mountain can you shoot that ultralight? There's two parts to this. Getting there is useless if you can't shoot the rifle half out of breath and make accurate shots

Amen

 

[wkdwdg66]

This bad boy is probly my most favorite of moose and elk.. shooting 190gr nosler and H1000 3/4 moa

How has the temperature stability of the H1000 been for you? I'm looking for the most stable powder that will fill the case.

 

[JustMe2]

Find the steepest terrain to climb you can and take short breaths while moving up as fast as you can!

Find the steepest terrain you have access to and climb it as fast as you can while taking the smallest breaths you can! Physical conditioning is great but there is no way I found to get used to the altitude difference from the 2500' elevation to 7-10000' elevation. Ps if a local says eat a banana, do it! Good luck the 300 wby will serve you well!

Not a good idea to take short breaths. As a distance runner, you learn short breaths don't keep the O2 in your lungs long enough for it to be absorbed. Runners concentrate on taking a breath, holding it for a second or 2 and slowly exhaling. Quick short breaths are not good, it's much better to take normal or slightly deep slow breaths.

 

[jaw719]

Well, since I live in Charleston I've got some work to do to find steep terrain. Highest and steepest we got is the Ravenel Bridge haha