Weatherby Mark V

[old roper]

Wby does make 30-378Wby.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-378_Weatherby_Magnum

[stagpanther]

Wby does make 30-378Wby.

Looks like the same monster case as the .416 uses. I bet the the 30 warms the barrel up quickly.

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by stagpanther

Looks like the same monster case as the .416 uses. I bet the the 30 warms the barrel up quickly.

I had one back in the 90's and yeah it heats up pretty good and the concussion will really mess up a windshield if you prop across the hood of your truck. Don't ask me how I know. Ammo for the thing was 89.00 per 20 back then.

[Ricklin]

You are not the only one that has taken out a windshield via the rifle concussion method.
Unfortunately for us it was the company Sub, our Suburban. Was fun to drive that rig down to LA in the winter.

What's that tickin sound? In our case? Studded tires, nothing like studded tires on an 80 degree day.

[stagpanther]

I had one back in the 90's and yeah it heats up pretty good and the concussion will really mess up a windshield if you prop across the hood of your truck.

No offense, that sounds pretty funny, though I'm sure it wasn't at the time. Now I personally have a notorious habit of doing the wrong thing, I usually end up shooting off the hood when I'm too lazy or in too much of a hurry. The first time out with the .416 wby it was cloudy and drizzly--and I thought about it seriously and finally decided against it because I thought it could possibly put a nice dent in the hood--not to mention muzzle flip and sucker-punch me. Didn't think about shattering a windshield but maybe that's because my braincells have already been reduced to mush.

[old roper]

stagpanther, I did have one came with factory brake and first time I loaded case that took over 100gr. Never did hunt with finally sold it.

[stagpanther]

stagpanther, I did have one came with factory brake and first time I loaded case that took over 100gr. Never did hunt with finally sold it.

I load several big magnums and they can make short work of even an 8 lb keg of powder if you do a lot of load development. I just bought a set of dies for the .416 just in case factory ammo starts costing more than the rifle.

[GeauxTide]

My first rifle was a 7mm Weatherby Mark V, for the princely sum of $350.00 in 1969. Easy to load for and 154 Hornadys stayed around an inch. Weatherby brass was made my Norma and lasted 7 maximum loads. Only thing I didn't like was the thin 24" barrel. Impressive fireball with H4831.

[old roper]

Stagpanter, This from another site on dies I had made 30-378Wby,300Wby and 223AI.

https://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11615

[ligonierbill]

Impressive, Old Roper.

In preparing for my African adventure, I have had to be vaccinated for various 3rd world maladies, and there is a neighborhood pharmacy nearby that has been able to accomplish that (big chains won't). But no visit there is short, as the father-son team of pharmacists are avid (and affluent) hunters. Lots of discussion. And they use 338-378 and 300-378 Weatherby, with muzzlebreaks. Personally, I think Stagpanther's 300 is plenty. But if I'm going for ludicrous speed, I will go small bore: 257. Something about that round just appeals to me.

If you want a powder hog, try one of the old cordite rounds. I'm putting 90+ grains of scarce resource into every round of my 450-400, and it isn't even that hot. Oh well, it's all fun.

[TX Nimrod]

I’ve owned several Mk-Vs, my current Accumark for almost 20 years. In .257 WM it is a great rifle. Would a M70, M700, Vanguard or xxxxx perform as well or better? Don’t know don’t care, I like the Mk-V for what it is - a unique, strong and attractive action. It is very accurate with my handloads, I prefer a 120-grain bullet at 3350-3400 fps. My hunting load aggs around .75 moa - that’s an aggregate of five plus groups, not just one or two best groups. I’ve owned several .257s and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the cartridge. It still suits me when I have to reach out and touch medium game. I have other rifles for both bigger and smaller stuff.

BTW Mk-Vs use the nine-lug action for all the full-diameter Weatherby cartridges, not just the .300 and up. My .257 has all nine….


.

[Hawg]

One thing I liked about the MK V is the short bolt throw.

[stagpanther]

not just the .300 and up. My .257 has all nine….

I was just reporting what the folks at Weatherby told me a few days ago.

[Hawg]

My 257 Mark V had nine.

[old roper]

igonierbill, Few years back I had 257Wby build used Kreiger 1/9 twist barrel shot that couple years, gave to my nephew. I now shooting 270Wby got Fluted Rock Creek 1/10 twist, 5r barrel. I got Wilson die blanks and had gunsmith use chamber reamer for seater/ neck bushing die. I didn't have Wby free bore done. I started with 150gr ABLR then 165gr ABLR and hoping some point using Berger 170gr.

I've only shot 2 factory Wby one was 30-378mag and 7Wby. I've read your post about going to Africa.

[Seedy Character]

The Malibu analogy is a good one.

A "hot rod" caliber put onto a more "common" rifle.
The How a is a very good action. The Weatherby is top class, all the way.

It is difficult to not appreciate the .257Wby in a Mark V claasic. After all, it was the rifle / cartridge of choice of John Wayne, Clark Gable and their hunting buddies.

[stagpanther]

I think around 2019 Weatherby changed some of their production line options with the opening of their new factory here in the US. For example, the spiral fluted bolt which I called them to make sure it was still the same 9 lug in-line radial.

[Rex Rugged]

I'm not as accomplished as most folk here but last year I bought a Mark V 270 Magnum. It took some time to find the right load, most likely because I had to learn the #2 contour barrel heats up very fast. I finally came up with a load, 122 gr 71.9-N560 VV that travelled at 3600 FPS. The first 3 shots were sub MOA then started to widen out after that. Killed the first bull elk at I shot at 360 yds with one shot so I kind of like this rifle and load. The funny, well surprising thing is this Weatherby has far less recoil than my Bergara 270 Win. That accubrake makes a huge difference.

[stagpanther]

The 270 wbymag I think is second or third in popularity in their line-up and as much as I like the 300 wby mag I think it is a better choice for most hunters, especially recoil sensitive ones. I've never shot one with a muzzle device--that must be very nice. For the hunters I know that use the 300 wbymag I would say the 270 would probably satisfy about 80 to 90% of their needs. With a 130 to 150 gr partition it's bad news. I'd be a little concerned about over-driving a light bullet but your success speaks for itself, congrats.

[Rex Rugged]

Stagpanther The newer monos are pretty darn good at what they do. They are built for speed and did an remarkable job of fragmenting and still the shank continued to penetrate completely through the animal.

[stagpanther]

Stagpanther The newer monos are pretty darn good at what they do. They are built for speed and did an remarkable job of fragmenting and still the shank continued to penetrate completely through the animal.

You mean like Weatherby's select ammo that uses Hornady's GMX bullets? I've shot some zeroing rifles' scopes and they are excellent. Ooops--I see you probably mean shooting the smaller bullets faster per your load above?

[Rex Rugged]

Stagpanther I reload because Weatherby ammo makes reloading an easy economic decision. LOL I loaded and shot Hammers but I would feel just as confident if I had used Barnes.

[stagpanther]

I reload all my weatherby cartridges ammo as well--but I don't do reloads for friend's rifles that I use so I use Weatherby's own select ammo on them (which I don't have to pay for and get to keep the brass since they don't reload; not a bad deal). I've never fired any of Weatherby's select ammo in any weatherby rifle that when shot in 3 shots could not easily beat their MOA guarantee when I do my part (except when they are shot-out, which does happen with them); often out to twice and sometimes three times the distance of their 100 yard claim. Bench guys might say 3 shots, so what--but for a hunter if you need more than three you probably have bigger issues than the rifle and ammo I would think.

[1972RedNeck]

My two favorite WBY cartridges are 300 and 375 (not 378). 300 is a great overbore varmint cartridge.

375 is a hammer on North American game and seems to be very efficient. Basically just the next step (or two) up from the venerable 30-06.

Don't think WBY offers any rifle in 375 but they might in 300.

Outside of the 375, 340, 460, and maybe 416, all of WBY's cartridges are overbore barrel burners.

Doesn't mean I don't want a 257 - just something to be aware of.

[stagpanther]

all of WBY's cartridges are overbore barrel burners.

Doesn't mean I don't want a 257 - just something to be aware of.

Yup--my experience/opinion too--and I too have always had a yearning for the 257. I've shot a couple of 416 safari MK 5's of a friend's--wasn't as bad as I expected--and even it could do a 3 shot group around MOA at 100 yds--which is actually harder than the smaller calibers simply because of the bullet's diameter.