Taming the 378 weatherby

[skydiver386]

In an article in the 1951 Gun Digest Weatherby wrote, "It doesn't matter whether you shoot (a game animal) in the ham, the ribs, the paunch, or the shoulder; you do not have to hit the heart, the lungs, or the spine in order to kill when using a bullet that disintegrates inside his body. I recommend you try a .25-caliber bullet travelling at 4,000 fps to shoot your next game animal, whether it be deer, moose, or African buffalo."

When a Cape buffalo escaped after being hit once with a .375 Weatherby, twice with a .300, and once more with a .470, Weatherby wrote, "You must hit them right unless the bullet has sufficient velocity to disintegrate. Now, I am going to try the 87 gr. .25 caliber on them -- this may have the shock we are after."

I think Weatherby was going down the wrong track concerning bullet disintegration. The use of factory loaded Barnes X bullets has probably made a big difference in the performance of the Weatherby rifles and cartridges, but I personally don't see the need.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Ok, so I’ve had a couple of glasses of Bordeaux, but explain to me why some people feel the need to reinvent the wheel?

Why do people choose to shoot off the wall calibers, in an attempt to ….. ………..?

Rather than using tried and true performers?


Eff if I know

 

[skydiver386]

Because variety is the spice of life.

 

[JimP]

In an article in the 1951 Gun Digest Weatherby wrote, "It doesn't matter whether you shoot (a game animal) in the ham, the ribs, the paunch, or the shoulder; you do not have to hit the heart, the lungs, or the spine in order to kill when using a bullet that disintegrates inside his body. I recommend you try a .25-caliber bullet travelling at 4,000 fps to shoot your next game animal, whether it be deer, moose, or African buffalo."

When a Cape buffalo escaped after being hit once with a .375 Weatherby, twice with a .300, and once more with a .470, Weatherby wrote, "You must hit them right unless the bullet has sufficient velocity to disintegrate. Now, I am going to try the 87 gr. .25 caliber on them -- this may have the shock we are after."

I think Weatherby was going down the wrong track concerning bullet disintegration. The use of factory loaded Barnes X bullets has probably made a big difference in the performance of the Weatherby rifles and cartridges, but I personally don't see the need.

You need to look at the bullets that were available and their performance way back 74 years ago in 1951. Fast forward to today's bullet technology and the Weatherby line is starting to shine with their ultra velocity cartridges.

Ok, so I’ve had a couple of glasses of Bordeaux, but explain to me why some people feel the need to reinvent the wheel?

Why do people choose to shoot off the wall calibers, in an attempt to ….. ………..?

Rather than using tried and true performers?


Eff if I know

But where would the fun be if we all shot the tried and true calibers/cartridges?

I shoot a few wildcats, not because they are really any better than factory rounds but because I enjoy working up the loads for them knowing that I am shooting something that there are a limited number of people out there that are shooting it. It is amazing at the shooting ranges that I have gone to the number of shooters that move over to my area when they hear what I have to shoot and the development of the cartridge. Sooner than later the subject moves to hunting and a number of them are amazed at the game that I have taken with them.

 

[Flipper Dude]

I like variety too. I like to shoot a different elephant or buffalo than I shot last time

Seriously, I’ve never been a guy to mess with what works, and that’s on me. Not a gadget guy. Some people are, and whatever you like , I suppose.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

In an article in the 1951 Gun Digest Weatherby wrote, "It doesn't matter whether you shoot (a game animal) in the ham, the ribs, the paunch, or the shoulder; you do not have to hit the heart, the lungs, or the spine in order to kill when using a bullet that disintegrates inside his body. I recommend you try a .25-caliber bullet travelling at 4,000 fps to shoot your next game animal, whether it be deer, moose, or African buffalo."

When a Cape buffalo escaped after being hit once with a .375 Weatherby, twice with a .300, and once more with a .470, Weatherby wrote, "You must hit them right unless the bullet has sufficient velocity to disintegrate. Now, I am going to try the 87 gr. .25 caliber on them -- this may have the shock we are after."

I think Weatherby was going down the wrong track concerning bullet disintegration. The use of factory loaded Barnes X bullets has probably made a big difference in the performance of the Weatherby rifles and cartridges, but I personally don't see the need.

Incredible. Old Roy was advocating blowing animals to pieces any way possible, even shooting them in the ham. It is hard to believe hunters from that era would buy into purposeful meat mangling. Most of them would have lived through the hardships of the Great Depression. Wasting meat was a capital offense in their mind. Had my dad read that article he would would have burned a potato sack full of dog shit on Weatherby's porch!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Because variety is the spice of life.

@skydiver386
Unless the wife finds out.
Bob

 

[Arthur Morta]

"I've had the opportunity to shoot the .378 Weatherby Magnum for some years now, and I can attest that it's a potent cartridge capable of delivering impressive performance. With proper stock design and fit, I've found the recoil manageable. By meticulously reloading with premium bullets as Peregrine VRG-3's, I've achieved consistent and accurate results. Furthermore, Having taken sound advice on the .378 from the renound (now late) Adriaan Rall and I stand under huge correction - Adriaan shot out a number of premium barrels in his hunting lifetime!

In my experience, the key to shooting this cartridge effectively lies in selecting the right rifle build and tailor-made loads for the application, equally important the proper technique makes all the worlds difference.
With practice and attention to detail, I've found that I can shoot my .378 Weatherby Magnum with confidence and accuracy, even surpassing the performance of those with their perceived experience using the lesser performing rifles in the same calibre...!

 

[skydiver386]

@skydiver386
Unless the wife finds out.
Bob

I have a completely different problem. My gal hunts and shoots, so when she likes one of my guns, it mysteriously becomes "Her gun".

 

[Flewis]

I’ve shot all the 378 based cartridges from 338-378 to 460 wby quite a lot and mostly from the bench. For me stock design is the most importance factor. I think it’s funny to read what the people who have never shot either have to say about it. The only one that I shoot that has a brake is the 338-378 and I have shot it a lot with out the brake. My advice is to shoot one before you pass judgement.