My Quandary

[Shootist43]

Back in the mid 90(s) I helped a coworker sell part of his aging father's gun collection. Then several years later when his father was in Hospice they asked me to help them sell the remainder of his collection and I agreed. Since I didn't ask for anything the first go around the old man told my buddy that I was to get two firearms of my choosing, prior to any sales being made. I chose a Pre-war Winchester Mod 70 equipped with an "Alaskan" scope and a poorly sporterized 03-A3. Almost 20 later I had the 03-A3 converted into a 35 Whelen and restocked. The model 70 is what is at issue. I suspect that way back in the day a former owner had the 30 - 06 barrel re-chambered into the latest and greatest killing machine of that era. That being the 300 Weatherby Mag. The rifle is in pristine condition. The scope is still relatively clear but nowhere near up to today's standards. My quandary is what to do with it. WHAT WOULD YOU DO??

BTW selling it to you is not an option.

 

[Ridgewalker]

How does it function and shoot as a 300 Weatherby?

 

[Shootist43]

Phil, I don't know. Never put a round in it. like all old Mod 70(s) it cycles smoothly and the trigger is great.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Hi Art,
If it shoots well as a 300 Wby Mag, I would change scopes and use it! If you don’t like the 300, rebarrel it and use it! I just passed up a pre-64 that was rebarreled to a 257 wby, although all collectors value is gone at that point it would have made a fine pronghorn rifle, kicking myself still!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Back in the mid 90(s) I helped a coworker sell part of his aging father's gun collection. Then several years later when his father was in Hospice they asked me to help them sell the remainder of his collection and I agreed. Since I didn't ask for anything the first go around the old man told my buddy that I was to get two firearms of my choosing, prior to any sales being made. I chose a Pre-war Winchester Mod 70 equipped with an "Alaskan" scope and a poorly sporterized 03-A3. Almost 20 later I had the 03-A3 converted into a 35 Whelen and restocked. The model 70 is what is at issue. I suspect that way back in the day a former owner had the 30 - 06 barrel re-chambered into the latest and greatest killing machine of that era. That being the 300 Weatherby Mag. The rifle is in pristine condition. The scope is still relatively clear but nowhere near up to today's standards. My quandary is what to do with it. WHAT WOULD YOU DO??

BTW selling it to you is not an option.

So I'm a little confused by your question. You want to keep it, but you don't like the caliber? So the question is should you re-barrel it to something you prefer?

 

[Ridgewalker]

Art, do you have something against the 300 Weatherby? It’s an excellent round.
I like Bullthrower’s idea of a 257 Weatherby as well, but I didn’t think it required as long of an action as the 300 Weatherby.
I’m assuming the action was opened enough to clear the long cartridge?

 

[Shootist43]

I'm thinking that I should get and try out some 300 Weatherby Ammo to see if the gun cycles properly and shoots well. I cannot imagine a gunsmith opening up the chamber and not reworking the action, but then again one never knows. I've been led to believe that Weatherby used thin barrels to reduce weight and therefore heated up very quickly. This being a Winchester barrel shouldn't have that problem. I have three other rifles in 300 Win Mag and one 308 Norma Mag and I don't know if a 300 Weatherby Mag is going to add anything to that mix.

Another possibility would be to ask a current 300 Weatherby to send me 4 inert rounds that I could use to cycle the action. I'd be happy to pay for shipping and will return them if requested to do so.

 

[nztimb]

As you have other 30 cal mags, the weatherby is surplus to needs (so to speak) so what about boring out the chamber, sweating in a sleave and re-chambering to the venerable '06 as it was meant to be. A good G/S should be able to do this so that it is as original. Is the 300 WM stamped on the barrel and if so could it be filled and vanish under a new blue job?

 

[ActionBob]

If the action is ling enough I'd redo it to a 300 H&H mag just because

On the other hand if it functions and shoots well as is, doing nothing other than using it would be the most logical thing.

 

[Dirtdart]

It sounds like you have the .30 cal magnums covered with your current battery Shootist43. Get some .300 WBY ammo and take the rifle in question to the range as is, just for the hell of it. You will know soon enough if it is a suitable replacement for one of the other .30 cals you own or if you want to keep them all. Need is a filthy word where firearms are concerned.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

It would make a grand 375 or 458 lott

 

[Newboomer]

Seeing as you have several 30 cals, I agree with Wyatt in making it a 375 HH.

 

[BeeMaa]

It sounds like you are feeling a bit of guilt because the former owner gifted the rifle to you.
As such, you feel a little obligation to keep it the way it is.

Bottom line, he had it rechambered to the latest and greatest...and you have no obligation to keep it there.
It's YOUR rifle and I bet if you asked him, he would say to do as you please.

He trusted them to your care because you are of like minds and cared for him, not just his rifles.
Use the rifle as it was intended to be used in whichever caliber you see fit.

 

[Shootist43]

It sounds like you are feeling a bit of guilt because the former owner gifted the rifle to you. As such, you feel a little obligation to keep it the way it is.

You hit the nail on the head with that comment. As suggested I should probably pick up a box of Weatherby ammo and see what the old girl can do. Truthfully I haven't picked up the rifle and handled it for give or take 20 years. If the scope is still as clear as I remember it I'll probably use it. Hopefully everything is still zeroed. I'll start off at 25 yards and move out to a hundred if warranted.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Being the most likely beneficiary of this change i'll need to put some thought into my answer.

 

[Areaonereal]

If it was. 06 originally, then the bolt face was opened up, and possible work on the rails to accept the 300 Wby. If the mag length and rails accept the 300 Wby then shoot it as such or rebarrel to a 300 h h or possibly a 375 h h. I have 300 Wby, my second one, and now I remember why I sold my first one

 

[Red Leg]

The rifle has little collector value because of rebarrel or rechamber work. From your description, I assume it is still marked as an ‘06? Or did the gunsmith put on a new properly marked .300 Weatherby barrel? If the latter, it would be easier to resell as an interesting “shooter.” If the former, it is a potential lawsuit sitting in your estate unless it has clearly been engraved a .300 Weatherby.

Turning it back into a 30-06 will not turn it back into a collector piece. I would use it as it is. If you don’t care for it, then sell it as a shooter, insuring it is properly marked in its current caliber. Sadly, it’s nostalgic value likely will be meaningless to anyone else other than it is one of your guns.

 

[bruce moulds]

before goint to a h&h case, try feed from the mag first.
the wby might have required feed rails to be opened up for the almost parallel case, and the h&h tapered case might feed off to one side.
the only fix for this would be to build up the rails and reshape them.
going to a 30/06 would require a new boltface, also expensive however it is achieved.
if it shoots as is, why not unload other rifles to make a place for it.
it would be an extremely versatile piece of kit.
bruce.

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Shoot it ! Work up some nice mild handloads first and give them a go Then , when you're confident that the gun is safe to use , you can start using factory ammo. It may interest you , but THIS is what a .300 Weatherby Magnum can do .

 

[Red Leg]

Shoot it ! Work up some nice mild handloads first and give them a go Then , when you're confident that the gun is safe to use , you can start using factory ammo. It may interest you , but THIS is what a .300 Weatherby Magnum can do .View attachment 305227 View attachment 305228 View attachment 305229
View attachment 305230 View attachment 305231

It was this very sort of nonsense back in the day that earned the Weatherby and the people using it their less than stellar reputation in Africa. Too many clients tried to emulate their magazine heroes with chronically bad bullets on game that was too big, too dangerous, or too far. Within its limitations, a great rifle. But this sort of silliness got people stomped.