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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Big Bore Rifles

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mckinney
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/09
Posts: 1212
Loc: usa

.378 Weatherby
#334662 - 20/11/19 03:16 PM

Has anyone had experience with the .378 Weatherby? There is a very nice early Hartmann & Weiss in this caliber in Holts December sale - quite a nice looking rifle, which got me thinking about the cartridge. The recoil energy numbers look a little frightening at 77.1 ft/lb v about 20 for the .30-06, but the horsepower of the cartridge is about double that of the .30-06 at any range.

I'm slowly coming around to the notion that the Weatherby cartridges (and those early boxes they came in) can probably now be considered 'classic' cartridges. The .378 with a 300 grain round nose bullet is also a pleasing cartridge to look at, though not as much as the .375 H&H in my opinion.

Anyway, the Harmann & Weiss looks to be a very well executed piece of serious business.

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Homer
.416 member

Reged: 07/04/09
Posts: 3081
Loc: Canberra, Australia

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: mckinney]
#334663 - 20/11/19 04:16 PM

G'Day Fella's,

McKinney, my only experience with a .378 W/by, was visual ........... and I was content with that fact.
A bloke I know (Ray G), had a Mk V at the range one day, and just watching him shoot it (whilst he was standing), was painful.
Lots of recoil (but bloody impressive ballistics as well)!
Recoil was probably similar to a .300 W/By Mag ...... just more of the same.
What I mean by that is, recoil was Fast and Hard.

Hope that helps, and doesn't put you off the purchase.

Regards
Homer

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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rigbymauser
.400 member

Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1970
Loc: Denmark

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: Homer]
#334678 - 21/11/19 03:17 AM

If you are into Rock then buy the.378Wea...its a Rockstar!. No worse to shoot than a.458Win or a .416Rigby(about the same in felt recoil). 300grain @ 3000 ft/sec..thats why you like a .378Wea...why else get one?..

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mckinney
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/09
Posts: 1212
Loc: usa

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: rigbymauser]
#334689 - 21/11/19 12:19 PM

Thanks guys.

Homer - I've never actually watched anyone shoot a .378 Weatherby. But an older gentleman I used to shoot with years ago claimed that shooting this rifle pinched a nerve in his neck. He had been interested in the Weatherby cartridges and had progressed from the .257 up to the .378. By the time I knew him he had sworn off the high velocity stuff and settled on a pair of Browning Safaris in .375 and .458. He claimed the .378 recoil was worse than the .458 in that the gun snapped back violently, whereas the .458 was a strong but slower push. May be something to this? Could also have something to do with the Weatherby stock.

I can bench shoot a .416 Rigby for four or five shots once in awhile but have to be carefully prepared for each shot. A .270 Winchester in a light rifle starts to bother me after 10 or 15 rounds from the bench. That's about my tolerance for recoil.

I'll think on the auction listing. It may be that the gun will bring less because of the caliber.

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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: mckinney]
#334692 - 21/11/19 02:24 PM

Quote:

Thanks guys.

Homer - I've never actually watched anyone shoot a .378 Weatherby. But an older gentleman I used to shoot with years ago claimed that shooting this rifle pinched a nerve in his neck. He had been interested in the Weatherby cartridges and had progressed from the .257 up to the .378. By the time I knew him he had sworn off the high velocity stuff and settled on a pair of Browning Safaris in .375 and .458. He claimed the .378 recoil was worse than the .458 in that the gun snapped back violently, whereas the .458 was a strong but slower push. May be something to this? Could also have something to do with the Weatherby stock.

I can bench shoot a .416 Rigby for four or five shots once in awhile but have to be carefully prepared for each shot. A .270 Winchester in a light rifle starts to bother me after 10 or 15 rounds from the bench. That's about my tolerance for recoil.

I'll think on the auction listing. It may be that the gun will bring less because of the caliber.

I have shot a .378 Weatherby.. for me it was more severe than any of my 416's …. but hey, that's just me..

Personally I like Weatherby's in .240, 257 and 300.. think for their day they were awesome..especially the .257.. still have 2 of them in customs on Rem actions and Hart barrels.

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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casper50
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Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1342
Loc: Alaska

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: Ripp]
#334694 - 21/11/19 05:28 PM

I shot The bull below this year with my .378. Did a fine job. I'd much rather shoot the .378 than my .458 anyday.

click for image

Edited by casper50 (23/11/19 04:56 PM)

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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: casper50]
#334705 - 22/11/19 05:07 AM

Quote:

I shot The bull below this year with my .378. Did a fine job. I'd much rather shoot the .378 than my .458 anyday.

{img]https://i.imgur.com/8dJTObN.jpg[/img]

Believe all that is very much related to stock design along with weight and fit of firearm..

Had a .470 that kicked like a mule.. got another and its like shooting a 375H&H, piece of cake..

Have a very good friend who is a Weatherby dealer/collector.. shot one of his .460 Weatherby's numerous times, didn't find that horrible in any way.. so....

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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500Boswell
.400 member

Reged: 21/07/06
Posts: 1276
Loc: Queensland

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: Ripp]
#334722 - 22/11/19 03:12 PM

Ive had three of them ,one had a KDF brake and was easy to shoot as a 30-06, the other had a Vais and the one I have now has no brake , I think the recoil is exaggerated ,ive shot about 40 Buffalo with 378 and if I did my part, it poleaxed them ,including one at 200 yards ,one of my favourite rounds ,I think mainly 375 H and Haters don't like, or envy the 378 .

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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: 500Boswell]
#334724 - 22/11/19 03:22 PM

Quote:

Ive had three of them ,one had a KDF brake and was easy to shoot as a 30-06, the other had a Vais and the one I have now has no brake , I think the recoil is exaggerated ,ive shot about 40 Buffalo with 378 and if I did my part, it poleaxed them ,including one at 200 yards ,one of my favourite rounds ,I think mainly 375 H and Haters don't like, or envy the 378 .

I have NO doubt it poleaxed them..

No hate on this end..leave that to the liberals..

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39196
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: Ripp]
#334733 - 22/11/19 11:08 PM

I don't hate the .378. Just don't see the point of it. If you want more gun than a .375H&H, go to a .404 or. 416, or a .458, .500 etc. Same for the silly Weatherby .460.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Postman
.375 member

Reged: 25/09/13
Posts: 846
Loc: Canada

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: NitroX]
#334740 - 23/11/19 03:22 AM

The recoil isn’t heavy, but it is FAST!!! The blinding speed of the smack in the cheek is most distasteful to many. The bigger calibers push harder but often not as fast. It’s kinda like getting slapped fast in the face vs being pushed over by a heavy shove. The slap is fast and makes much noise and your head may even rock back a bit but a big push to the chest won’t hurt so much but will likely have you on your ass.

The difference and comparison between the two types of recoil becomes very obvious when one shoots the small calibers. A .257 Weatherby comes back fast but is so light it’s over before you know it and doesn’t hurt in the least. The .30-06 is quite a bit “heavier” but pushes slower thus feels less intimidating. Either way, a .257 Bee or a .30-06 is negligible in recoil and both are easily handled by most folks without breaking a sweat but they are different. Kinda like torque vs horsepower. A big tractor is a beast for power but will not outrun a Porsche and they both feel very different. Slow big push vs fast light push.

The other thing I find about the fast Weatherbys is that the report is much sharper and adds to the sensation albeit in an auditory way. I find that I am more equipped to deal with the slower bigger push and the absence of the very hyper sharp crack also makes me react differently. Practice with either will surely make one proficient, and conditioning is everything. Still, I don’t want to subject myself to the fast smack and the sharp noise that comes along with it. Kinda psychologically like the embarrassment of getting smacked in the face in front of a crowd - its just a distasteful experience, but if it happens to you every day I suppose it becomes the new normal

Edited by Postman (23/11/19 03:33 AM)

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39196
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: Postman]
#334759 - 23/11/19 01:52 PM

Yes true. And good comments on recoil.

My comment was more on the effect on the animal than recoil. For a similar statistical recoil, why bother with it, when a larger calibre is still more effective? No one, IMO, is using a .378 as some sort of long range big beast sniper rifle, so the velocity (and extra recoil) is un-necessary.

Weaherby's do nothing for me.

I never acted on it, for other reasons such as paying for it! But did look at the Vernon-Carron double rifle in .375 Vernon-Carron chambering versus a .375 H&H Flanged. The V-C chmabering offers maybe 300 or 400 fps more with a 300 gr projectile in velocity. In the end I would probably prefer the older, flanged, especially if a double chambered for it was lighter and handier.

Similarly the .500/416, far faster than a .450/400, reportedly kicks more like a .450 due to the extra velocity, so why not use a more effective .450? The new .416 Rigby No.2 would be the same, but has the name appeal.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Rolf
.333 member

Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 396
Loc: Germany, Bavaria

Re: .378 Weatherby [Re: NitroX]
#336662 - 15/01/20 11:06 PM

Gentlemen,

I developed loads and shot a standard .378 Weatherby (Japan production).

If you start at the minimum loads, you might get .375 H&H ballistics and recoil, so this is not a problem.
The factory loads (270 soft point and 300 soft point) are ugly to shoot (at least for me).
As written before from the NE members, the recoil is very fast!

BUT does not hurt with the correct clothing and a thick recoil pad.

My rifle was equipped with open sights only and without muzzle break, which is reported to be very good in recoil reduction.

I would recommend to buy this Hartmann & Weiss if you can tolerate 375 H&H recoil (with reduced loads in the 378 case) and load it up if you need :-).

best regards
Rolf

PS: I have to admit that I would buy nearly every rifle from Hartmann&Weiss due to the quality, so the given caliber would not be dominant in the "BUY"-decision...

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