378 Wheatherby Magnum, opinions please

[Von S.]

As a person who makes custom bullets and a shooter of the 378 I am pretty much aware of it's limitations, liabilities, as well as it's attributes and reasoning behind it creation.

The 378 should really only be owned by someone who can easily withstand the recoil and have the commitment to become a extremely good shot, which all hunters should but seldom ever do with whatever round they hunt with.

The 378 was designed to shoot big game animals at long distance and this is the reason doesn't have open sites on them , though lately they have a line that has sights and includes the 458 in their chamberings. If the 378 is used close up it's extreme amount of energy is awesome. The 460 crushes whatever it hits short or long.

If you have no desire to take very accurate long shots on large animals, some of which may be of the dangerous nature, with enough energy to still put it down hard, then stick with something else.

When people first started killing dangerous game all over the world it was a given that you had to be close with what you had to shoot it with as it started slow and got slower and much less powerful every yard it went. Many today still feel that is still the only way to do it. Some will say that it isn't fun until they are running at you and when it's over you have slobber on your boots. And I do understand the many reasons why guides and the like was their client to shoot close. Where some are good shots, some can't hit a trash can lid at 50 yards and should someone take that 150 yard shot at a cape and just wound it the pH may have a tough time hitting it as well along with a tougher job of tracking it down and finishing it off.

Just as there are certainly varying degrees of dangerous game, there are also various degrees of dangerous game rounds, and Weather by just happens to be one of the best.

 

[IvW]

there are also various degrees of dangerous game rounds, and Weather by just happens to be one of the best.

Not by a long shot(excuse the pun), neither are the rifles they come in.

 

[Von S.]

Not by a long shot(excuse the pun), neither are the rifles they come in.

Hahahaha.....it it all good.

After 67 years of hunting and never loosing any animals .......though there was this squirrel that ran away after i hit him with a piece of gravel out of a rubber band slingshot...... I am confident that my "first hand experiences" in this subject hold more water than just hear say and rumor's.

I had a great lunch of hot shredded moose shoulder with fresh ground horse radish and mustard on Portuguese rolls.

Yummy!

 

[One Day...]

Hahahaha.....it is all good.

Yes, hahahaha, and it is all good indeed.

Our good friend IvW has a solid record of hating Weatherby (cartridges and rifles) and he must either have 75 years of experience reportedly backing as a pro an endless string of Weatherby-armed, exclusively inept or particularly unlucky clients all unhappy owners of variously defective Mark V, or he is the unluckiest man on earth when it comes to Weatherby because he reportedly has seen by himself more Weatherby failures than the entire rest of all of us put together. He also has a unique expertise about the Mark V as demonstrated in some of his writings, espescially the one who have undergone home-gunsmithing treatment...

All in good humor, all in good humor....

The times, they are achangin'.... bullets that hold together at high velocity are now chambered in Weatherby cartridges (hint: have been for decades), and the latest horror stories about greenhorns showing up in camp with a brand new canon they are afraid of are more likely to refer to a Remington Ultra Mag or a .338 Lapua, gee what is the world coming too LOL

PS: by the way, the current darling of the military and civilian shooting worlds, the .338 Lapua, is nothing else than a Weatherby shell with the belt turned off, and it essentially duplicates the ballistics of a .340 Wby. A really bad cartridge it must be LOL LOL LOL

PS: OK, one more, and the Weatherby shell is nothing but a .416 Rigby with a belt. So why is the .450 Rigby so good and the .460 Wby so bad? LOL LOL LOL

 

[IvW]

Hahahaha.....it it all good.

After 67 years of hunting and never loosing any animals .......though there was this squirrel that ran away after i hit him with a piece of gravel out of a rubber band slingshot...... I am confident that my "first hand experiences" in this subject hold more water than just hear say and rumor's.

I had a great lunch of hot shredded moose shoulder with fresh ground horse radish and mustard on Portuguese rolls.

Yummy!

The Moose must be real dangerous in your neck of the woods!

 

[IvW]

PS: by the way, the current darling of the military and civilian shooting worlds, the .338 Lapua, is nothing else than a Weatherby shell with the belt turned off, and it essentially duplicates the ballistics of a .340 Wby. A really bad cartridge it must be LOL LOL LOL

Not quite, it is actually a 416 Rigby case necked down to .338. Yes it is a great cartridge and the 460 Weatherby I butchered is now a 338 Lapua. It is indeed a lot of rifle and superbly accurate, but what it is not, is a dangerous game rifle.

PS: OK, one more, and the Weatherby shell is nothing but a .416 Rigby with a belt. So why is the .450 Rigby so good and the .460 Wby so bad? LOL LOL LOL

460 Weatherby has nothing to do with either of the Rigby's it is simply the 378 Weatherby necked up to .458.

Lots of reasons why the Rigby is the better choice..

Chamber pressure: 450 Rigby max 58 000 psi, 460 Weatherby 65 000 psi.
Recoil: The recoil is so severe on the 460 that it comes factory fitted with a muzzle brake.

Recovery time: Recovery time for the second shot will be a lot longer again due to the excessive recoil.

Headspace: 460 headspaces on the belt and the 450 on the shoulder.

Barrel twist: 460, 1:16 so firing heavier caliber bullets or the standard 500 gr at lower velocity may cause stabilisation issues. The 450 Rigby can shoot 550 gr bullets at modest velocity without this issue due to a tighter barrel twist.

Bullet performance: @ 2700 fps many standard bullets cannot hold up to the 460's velocity, increasing the chances of wounding.

Penetration: The same 500 gr solid from 450 Rigby @2300 fps will out penetrate the same bullet from a 460 @ 2700 fps.

Action: 460 Weatherby, only available from Weatherby, uses a push feed action, a no no on a DG rifle.

Accuracy: Due to the huge amount of recoil, most people just cannot shoot the 460 accurately enough. It will slowly beat you until you give up.

Extraction: Due to the tight tolerances of the chambers on the 460, as well as high operating pressures, extraction of spent cases are an issue.

I could continue but overall the 450 Rigby makes a lot more sense as a DG cartridge than what a 460 Weatherby does.

The biggest significant difference would be that the 450 Rigby is a good choice for African DG and the 460 Weatherby is a rather poor choice.

To each his own but the 378 and 460 Weatherby's are both bad choices for African DG.

 

[Von S.]

The Moose must be real dangerous in your neck of the woods!

I guess that they could be if you allowed them to get the upper hand on you, so "dangerous"?, not really, but far away?. They most certaily can be. Thankfully one shot from the ever so powerful 378 knocks Bowinkle right off his pins at a distance you wouldn't raise your rifle to.

Enjoy yourself.....life is short.....for some even shorter.

 

[IvW]

After 67 years of hunting and never loosing any animals .......

 

[Von S.]

Ok ....so now you just stopped being funny.

 

[Red Leg]

I guess that they could be if you allowed them to get the upper hand on you, so "dangerous"?, not really, but far away?. They most certaily can be. Thankfully one shot from the ever so powerful 378 knocks Bowinkle right off his pins at a distance you wouldn't raise your rifle to.

Enjoy yourself.....life is short.....for some even shorter.

I am sure it does. So does a 7mm magnum. An elephant or cape buffalo is a bit different. I am sure you have found plenty of opportunity to hunt them in your 67-year hunting career? Love to here about your experiences - perhaps include the outfitters as well? I am also truly in awe of your marksmanship. I haven't hunted for nearly 67 years, only for a bit over fifty-five. Know just a few others that have hunted similar lengths of time. I regret to say all of us have experienced the loss of a game animal - something larger than a squirrel. You must tell us your secret. After all, many of us with whom you are dialoguing get around a bit, and if you have it all figured out, it would be an invaluable contribution.

I should note, I do tend to value the opinion of experienced dangerous game hunters. Particularly when it comes to - well you know - dangerous game. I know it's silly, but I have predisposition to value experience over bloviation. But that is just me.

 

[One Day...]

Sadly, another interesting discussion going down the drain of individual egos. Too bad really...

I personally do not find anything offensive in what @Von S. wrote, and he is completely entitled to his opinion that the .378 Wby "just happens to be one of the best" dangerous game rounds, especially when he insistently prefaces that opinion by qualifying its use on longer shots.

It is not my idea of DG hunting to snipe them at 150 yd, but there is little objective arguing that for that type of shooting, and with the proper bullet, the .378 or .416 or .460 Wby will deliver. This is not a matter of personal likes or dislikes, but an objective fact. We should all be able to agree on that. I do not own a .378 or .416 or .460 Wby, nor do I plan to acquire one - this is not my cup of tea - but I do not necessarily consider those who like them as lunatics, and I can see their point if they can shoot them well, which some people actually do.

And let us use our brains in these discussions: for example while superficially @IvW makes a great book point when he says "The same 500 gr solid from 450 Rigby @2300 fps will out penetrate the same bullet from a 460 Wby @ 2700 fps" the idea is correct on the face of it, except that the 500 gr .460 Wby does not start at 2700 fps but at 2600 fps (why exaggerate?), and at 100 yd - which is where it is intended to strike - the .460 Wby is down to 2300 fps, which - oh surprise! - happens to be the initial velocity of the .450 Rigby. So, what do we actually have? .460 Wby at 150 yd = .450 Rigby at 50 yd.......... my, my, my ! LOL
And that has always been the entire point of the Weatherby cartridges; and the entire point @Von S. is making; and that is what I meant in my rhetorical question: so why is the .450 Rigby so good and the .460 Wby so bad? I obviously meant: each in its own application, but maybe I should have not assumed that this was implied...

So, there is really no need for @IvW to be disrespectful to @Von S. I am sure many of us know hunters 75 years of age (heck, I hope to be one in a short 15 year!), so a 67 year hunting career is not all that uncommon nowadays, and it is quite possible to have never lost an animal. I do not fall personally in this happy category, but it does not mean that it does not exist...

As to calls for "proofs" if they are made, they should be made both ways: for example, as much as it would be interesting to know with which outfitters @Von S. hunted, it would also be interesting to know the PH license number of @IvW and for which African outfitters he guided; or maybe - and that could be a more appropriate request - maybe both of them could post a few pictures of their DG hunts, etc. etc.

Just because @Von S. is new to the forum does not mean he is not credible, and just because @IvW has been a very prolific (and quite opinionated) blogger on africahunting.com does not mean that he is credible as relates to his actual hunting experience (vs. theoretical knowledge) etc. etc.

OK, off my soap box LOL. Let us keep africahunting.com a place that is pleasant to go to...

460 Weatherby has nothing to do with either of the Rigby's it is simply the 378 Weatherby necked up to .458.

PS: @IvW, you may not actually have known this despite your vast knowledge, but Roy himself readily admitted that the starting point for his big Weatherby case was the Rigby case, so you are factually wrong in what you say. You may also not know this, but for many years before the recent "resurrection" of the .416 Rigby, the only way to get new cases to reload the .416 Rigby was to turn the belt off the Wby cases. It's a fact ;-)

 

[Red Leg]

Sadly, another interesting discussion going down the drain of individual egos. Too bad really...

I personally do not find anything offensive in what @Von S. wrote, and he is completely entitled to his opinion that the .378 Wby "just happens to be one of the best" dangerous game rounds, especially when he insistently prefaces that opinion by qualifying its use on longer shots.

It is not my idea of DG hunting to snipe them at 150 yd, but there is little objective arguing that for that type of shooting, and with the proper bullet, the .378 or .416 or .460 Wby will deliver. This is not a matter of personal likes or dislikes, but an objective fact. We should all be able to agree on that. I do not own a .378 or .416 or .460 Wby, nor do I plan to acquire one - this is not my cup of tea - but I do not necessarily consider those who like them as lunatics, and I can see their point if they can shoot them well, which some people actually do.

And let us use our brains in these discussions: for example while superficially @IvW makes a great book point when he says "The same 500 gr solid from 450 Rigby @2300 fps will out penetrate the same bullet from a 460 Wby @ 2700 fps" the idea is correct on the face of it, except that the 500 gr .460 Wby does not start at 2700 fps but at 2600 fps (why exaggerate?), and at 100 yd - which is where it is intended to strike - the .460 Wby is down to 2300 fps, which - oh surprise! - happens to be the initial velocity of the .450 Rigby. So, what do we actually have: .460 Wby at 150 yd = .450 Rigby at 50 yd.......... my, my my ! LOL
And that is the entire point of the Weatherby cartridges; and the entire point @Von S. is making; and that is what I meant in my rhetorical question: so why is the .450 Rigby so good and the .460 Wby so bad? I obviously meant: each in its own application, but maybe I should have not assumed that this was implied...

So, there is really no need for @IvW to be disrespectful to @Von S. I am sure many of us know hunters 75 years of age (heck, I hope to be one!), so a 67 year hunting career is not all that uncommon nowadays, and it is quite possible to have never lost an animal. I do not fall personally in this happy category, but it does not mean that it does not exist...

As to calls for "proofs" if they are made, they should be made both ways: for example, as much as it would be interesting to know with which outfitters @Von S. hunted, it would also be interesting to know the PH license number of @IvW and for which African outfitters he guided; or maybe - and that could be a more appropriate request - maybe both of them could post a few pictures of their DG hunts, etc. etc.

Just because @Von S. is new to the forum does not mean he is not credible, and just because @IvW has been a very prolific (and quite opinionated) blogger on africahunting.com does not mean that he is credible as relates to his actual hunting experience (vs. theoretical knowledge) etc. etc.

OK, off my soap box LOL. Let us keep africahunting.com a place that is pleasant to go to...



PS: @IvW, you may not actually have known this despite your vast knowledge, but Roy himself readily admitted that the starting point for his big Weatherby case was the Rigby case, so you are factually wrong in what you say. You may also not know this, but for many years before the recent "resurrection" of the .416 Rigby, the only way to get new cases to reload the .416 Rigby was to turn the belt off the Wby cases. It's a fact ;-)

It is really much simpler than that One Day - IvW has rather broad experience in hunting dangerous game - in - well - Africa. You have at least a grand total of what? One buffalo - maybe two? And "longer shots" at dangerous game. What exactly does that mean? And who does that? Does Von S. have a lot of experience at doing that sort of thing with his trusty Weatherby? Where exactly, and with whom? Would love to hear about it.

Look, my admittedly limited DG experience informs me that most screw ups with dangerous game occur when hunters are either unfamiliar with their firearm or a bit scared of it. No one gets hurt when the bullet goes where it is supposed to go, and everyone is at risk when it doesn't. With the right bullet and the right man behind the stock, one of the big Weatherby's will do the job - not my choice because I hate the stock design, the lack of open sights, and the action. Other than that they are perfect. It should be the choice of someone who knows exactly what they are getting into and the limitations they represent. Probably not the best solution for someone wondering if they should get the Weatherby or a .375. Where am I wrong with that observation?

And with respect to civility, I don't believe it was IvW that started tossing out the deprecating "LOLs" or "HAHAHAs". Or perhaps I merely misread or misinterpreted your posts? In case you have forgotten, you are signaling that you and Von S. are laughing out loud at what IvW posted. A great demonstration of politeness, wouldn't you say?

 

[One Day...]

It is really much simpler than that One Day - IvW has rather broad experience in hunting dangerous game - in - well - Africa.

Is this a statement of fact or an assumption? Based on his media posting; his memberships posting; a number of erroneous or out-of-context things he has written in this very blog in various threads (see examples above), I am wondering... Maybe you know his actual experience personally (?) and can vouch for it, which would be amply enough for me...

As to the civility of the writing, there are those who discuss and those who deliver uncompromising God-delivered truths that tend to come across as condemnation of other - obviously dreadfully misguided - fellows. Admittedly this annoys me a bit, especially when the universal "truth" being patronizingly delivered happens to be dubiously close to a personal opinion. I should likely be more tolerant...

Like you, I certainly do not have a lot of African game experience (22 animals total), but we certainly do not pretend to have more than what we have either, and I do not disagree that .375 H&H is hands-down an easier caliber to shoot than .378 Wby, and I would not dream of recommending a .378 Wby to anyone but the most experienced folks, but that does not make the .378 Wby a bad caliber, just a specialized one, that's all. That is the part that ticks me off a bit in all this: I can respect entirely somebody who says "I do not like it" (heck!, this is not my cup of tea either) but I find offensive to others, someone who tells them "it is not good."

 

[Red Leg]

Is this a statement of fact or an assumption? Based on his media posting; his memberships posting; a number of erroneous or out-of-context things he has written in this very blog in various threads (see examples above), I am wondering... Maybe you know his actual experience personally (?) and can vouch for it, which would be amply enough for me...

As to the civility of the writing, there are those who discuss and those who deliver uncompromising God-delivered truths that tend to come across as condemnation of other - obviously dreadfully misguided - fellows. Admittedly this annoys me a bit, especially when the universal "truth" being patronizingly delivered happens to be dubiously close to a personal opinion. I should likely be more tolerant...

Like you, I certainly do not have a lot of African game experience (22 animals total), but we certainly do not pretend to have more than we have either, and I do not disagree that .375 H&H is hands-down an easier caliber to shoot than .378 Wby, and I would not dream to recommend a .378 Wby to anyone but the most experienced folks, but that does not make the .378 Wby a bad caliber, just a specialized one, that's all. That is the part that ticks me off in all this: I can respect entirely somebody who says "I do not like it" (heck!, this is not my cup of tea either) but I find offensive to others someone who tells them "it is not good."

That is a legitimate point. Unlike a number of the professionals here, I don't know IvW at all. As I think about it, I have tended to credit his posts because I tend to agree with his observations. I'll be the first to admit that probably doesn't represent critical observation.

Otherwise, I think you and I are pretty much in agreement. In fact, it was ol' never miss brother Von seemingly slaying dangerous beasts at range that pushed my buttons. Somehow you and I ended up here. I'll buy in to your last paragraph entirely if you will grant me that the average Mark V was not built as a very good DG safari rifle regardless of caliber.

The 300 Weatherby Magnum is a comparative case in point. In a Mark V, I find it a miserable solution to a non-existent problem (I am a .300 Win Mag fan). On the other hand, put that chambering in a modern English or classic American style package, and one might just have the best general purpose rifle in the world. Put the .378 in something usable with the right bullet, and it absolutely would be a bit more of everything. (Though for what purpose, I can't imagine )

 

[One Day...]

That is a legitimate point. Unlike a number of the professionals here, I don't know IvW at all. As I think about it, I have tended to credit his posts because I tend to agree with his observations. I'll be the first to admit that probably doesn't represent critical observation.

Otherwise, I think you and I are pretty much in agreement. In fact, it was ol' never miss brother Von seemingly slaying dangerous beasts at range that pushed my buttons. Somehow you and I ended up here. I'll buy in to your last paragraph entirely if you will grant me that the average Mark V was not built as a very good DG safari rifle regardless of caliber.

The 300 Weatherby Magnum is a comparative case in point. In a Mark V, I find it a miserable solution to a non-existent problem (I am a .300 Win Mag fan). On the other hand, put that chambering in a modern English or classic American style package, and one might just have the best general purpose rifle in the world. Put the .378 in something usable with the right bullet, and it absolutely would be a bit more of everything. (Though for what purpose, I can't imagine )

We are in absolutely complete agreement.

The Mark V is, in my opinion, a little better than a Rem 700 or Savage 110 because it has a true firing pin-blocking safety (fact, not opinion ;-), but it is by no mean my idea of a DG gun (no iron sights; no barrel band front swivel stud; no controlled round feeding; very limited capacity; and I would also add: detachable scope bases). I do not consider the Wby stock an issue because I am incapable of feeling a difference between it and a classic stock, so I am neutral on this one. I will take any day my 'improved' CZ 500 with added 3 position safety (https://www.africahunting.com/media/cz-550-416-rigby-rifle-mauser-66-458-lott-rifle.61217/) over a Mark V as a DG gun. No contest. Or, truth be told, my double .470 NE (https://www.africahunting.com/media/kreighoff-classic-big-five-470-ne.65769/)

Interestingly, although I have a .300 Win Mag (Mk 13 rifle), I also have a .300 Wby, and it is ... (drums roll please) ... a Winchester 70, a true "classic American style package"! And I agree with you that in this guise, it is possibly "the best general purpose rifle in the world" (see it at https://www.africahunting.com/media...stainless-new-haven-made-300-wby-rifle.61218/), although I am partial to a little more oomph on very large animals (Moose, Eland, etc.). Hence the next paragraph...

So, yes, I do own a Mark V (see in the same pic as above), in .340 Wby. Had Winchester chambered the .340 Wby in the Model 70 Classic Stainless, my .340 would be a Win 70, but that was not to be (sadly). I have consequently been the subject of much derision about the usual "murderous Wby recoil" and "piece of crap Mark V action" arguments, which likely explains why I probably have a bit of a soft spot about bashing the Wby rifles and Wby calibers shooters. All I can say is that mine is flawless, and I shoot it well enough... See some discussion of it in my recent hunt report at https://www.africahunting.com/threa...august-2018-plains-game-paradise.45017/page-2.

I do not have any use for a 150 yd DG gun (see my other recent hunt report at https://www.africahunting.com/threa...safaris-the-proper-way-to-hunt-buffalo.45092/) because my own concept of DG hunting is: up close and personal, but I can see the use of a .378 Wby for someone who does not mind shooting a buff at 150 yd. To me that would be lessening a Cape Buffalo hunt to the level of a glorified Black Wildebeest hunt, but to each his own, I reckon. Even Boddington commented in his book Safari Rifles, that the big Weatherby calibers gave unique opportunities at once-in-a-lifetime trophies slipping away at 150 yd, that no other caliber could...

 

[Foxi]

a friend shot it over decades and was totally thrilled. He said it was the best buffalo caliber ever and was on the road a lot with it.
But my buddy was also a strong guy, with 100 kg and got heavier and heavier (much to the chagrin of his dainty wife).
I must admit I have never shot it, but as a reloader I can say that 45% more powder than my .458 Win.Mag have my respect.
Regards
Foxi

 

[Foxi]

Short supplement
You can shoot far with it.
Buffaloes are the most coveted big game, everyone wants them.
But in September/October of the year, at the end of the season, every buffalo bull has heard it bang so often, that even the stupidest bull is careful.
Foxi

 

[Foxi]

Ok ....so now you just stopped being funny.

"After 67 years of hunting and never loosing any animals"

Sehr geehrter Herr von S.
Dear mr.v. S.

this is such an incredibly bold statement, which contradicts any life experience of a hunter who is longer in this profession at home.
Sine ira et studio.
Foxi

 

[Red Leg]

We are in absolutely complete agreement.

The Mark V is, in my opinion, a little better than a Rem 700 or Savage 110 because it has a true firing pin-blocking safety (fact, not opinion ;-), but it is by no mean my idea of a DG gun (no iron sights; no barrel band front swivel stud; no controlled round feeding; very limited capacity; and I would also add: detachable scope bases). I do not consider the Wby stock an issue because I am incapable of feeling a difference between it and a classic stock, so I am neutral on this one. I will take any day my 'improved' CZ 500 with added 3 position safety (https://www.africahunting.com/media/cz-550-416-rigby-rifle-mauser-66-458-lott-rifle.61217/) over a Mark V as a DG gun. No contest. Or, truth be told, my double .470 NE (https://www.africahunting.com/media/kreighoff-classic-big-five-470-ne.65769/)

Interestingly, although I have a .300 Win Mag (Mk 13 rifle), I also have a .300 Wby, and it is ... (drums roll please) ... a Winchester 70, a true "classic American style package"! And I agree with you that in this guise, it is possibly "the best general purpose rifle in the world" (see it at https://www.africahunting.com/media...stainless-new-haven-made-300-wby-rifle.61218/), although I am partial to a little more oomph on very large animals (Moose, Eland, etc.). Hence the next paragraph...

So, yes, I do own a Mark V (see in the same pic as above), in .340 Wby. Had Winchester chambered the .340 Wby in the Model 70 Classic Stainless, my .340 would be a Win 70, but that was not to be (sadly). I have consequently been the subject of much derision about the usual "murderous Wby recoil" and "piece of crap Mark V action" arguments, which likely explains why I probably have a bit of a soft spot about bashing the Wby rifles and Wby calibers shooters. All I can say is that mine is flawless, and I shoot it well enough... See some discussion of it in my recent hunt report at https://www.africahunting.com/threa...august-2018-plains-game-paradise.45017/page-2.

I do not have any use for a 150 yd DG gun (see my other recent hunt report at https://www.africahunting.com/threa...safaris-the-proper-way-to-hunt-buffalo.45092/) because my own concept of DG hunting is: up close and personal, but I can see the use of a .378 Wby for someone who does not mind shooting a buff at 150 yd. To me that would be lessening a Cape Buffalo hunt to the level of a glorified Black Wildebeest hunt, but to each his own, I reckon. Even Boddington commented in his book Safari Rifles, that the big Weatherby calibers gave unique opportunities at once-in-a-lifetime trophies slipping away at 150 yd, that no other caliber could...

Yes, but despite the opinion Boddington (who can be counted upon to have offered one somewhere on just about everything), I can't think of a dangerous game situation where I couldn't make the exact same shot with a .375 with a bit less fuss and bother - certainly at 150 yards.

 

[Von S.]

In the past 3 days I have fired 60 378 rounds at targets 6 inches in diameter ranging from 50 yards to 200 yards, all standing, 50 and 100 yards off hand and beyond that on sticks.

Did ok at 50 and hit the 3 plates that were 10 yards apart and 3 feet off the ground in pretty good time.

At 100 yards. 2 out of 3 was the best and the worst I did.

At 150 with sticks the best was 3 out of 3 and the worst was 1 out of 3.

At 200 yards on the sticks 2 out of 3 was the best I did and the worst was 0 for 3.

I rate my shooting as unacceptable and pathetic. But even though I missed a 6 inch plate there is no way in hell that any of the bullets would have missed a cape, with my performance in the last 3 days I would not go after one until my shooting improved.

There are 10 of us who have a deer camp. 7 of the guys when they get a deer is considered an act of God. One guy uses a 760 pump Remington and he stuffs a 10 magazine in and last year beat his record of 8 shoots by throwing 10 at a very shot to pieces animal. I asked him if he even bothers aiming or if he just fires from the hip and continues until the gun quits going bang. He paused and said"...the second one....definitely the second one."

Great guys....lots of laughs and I am sure that the crows love them all.

One once said to me that I sure did waste a whole lot of ammo practicing. My reply was that was because I only ever want to use 1 bullet when it counts, and that though was and has served me well over the years along with knowing anatomy, bullets that do more other than just fly straight and knowing when to pull the trigger and when to let that animal walk away.

That's pretty much well it.

Have a great day.