I'm thinking about buying a Weatherby Mark V .30-378, anyone ever used one for 800+ yard shots? I've been told mark Vs shoot well, but can't find anything on whether or not it can make a good long range rifle.
Anyone here used a .30-378 before?
- Thread starter 585 Nyati
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Used to be very popular among the long range guys....not so much now. ...barrel life and punishing recoil both took their toll on it. Better powders have enabled other calibers to catch up ballistically, without allthe downsides.
The 300 Rem. Ultra Mag., will give you the same velocity with less powder.. But, to be honest, in less I was specifically going to shoot Berger 240gr 30cal. bullets or similar, I wouldn't get that large of a 30cal.... If you want something big although, go up to a .338 type cartridge and I think you maybe more happy. Oh, have a muzzle brake on all these mentioned! Check out Darrel Hollands Radial Brake, it would be hard to beat if you buy the over sized model..
I have a .338 lapua, but wanted something smaller that was still hot. Something I could carry easier and kill an elk with. Will the 300 RUM out do the lapua at longer distances?
Off the top of my head I would say no.. But, if you have a custom chamber done to shoot just 210-240gr 30cal bullets, it may surprise! It want be a 338Lapua, but you may enjoy shooting it more due to many factors. I swear I saw 240gr bullets somewhere, but I know they have 230grainers.. But if I could, I would have a long barrel custom chamber job for 240gr bullets in thirty cal.. It would be fun!
I have one. its braked, As such it doesnt kick harder than a .300 Wby. I dont shoot it much, preferring less recoil. It is devastating on game. I thought id try a Tbac 338 can on it, found out that the 338 can isnt rated for the 30-378. That should giye you an indication of its energy.
I had one and sold it. Too much work to make it into the type of rifle I wanted.
A 300 Win Mag is lighter, will take an elk with less punishment from recoil. Plus the Brass is cheap and easier to find.
The 300 RUM is good too, but finding brass is a problem.
I built a Savage 338 edge before the 300 RUM brass shortage and have been happy with it.
Still not a lightweight rifle, but a lot lighter than my 50bmg rifle.
A 300 Win Mag is lighter, will take an elk with less punishment from recoil. Plus the Brass is cheap and easier to find.
The 300 RUM is good too, but finding brass is a problem.
I built a Savage 338 edge before the 300 RUM brass shortage and have been happy with it.
Still not a lightweight rifle, but a lot lighter than my 50bmg rifle.
Berger does not make a 240. We use a 30-378 Sako for elk and push the 210 HVLD at 3200 fps. I had a Rum that would not even come close to that with a 26 inch tube. We have taken bulls out to 975 yards with bang flop results with this combo, that said after a muzzle break and a limbsaver recoild pad it still knocks the shit out of you. I recently got into a .338 lapua that is a hell of alot more comfortable to run. If you are up to the punishment of the round it will flatten bulls for you no question about it.
.30-378 is a monster of a round but mostly a waste. Your barrel life will be probably 800 or less Id say.
See here:
Allen Xpress Wildcats
Check out the .338 Allen Express, or any other .338 Lapua Improved variation. A .338 Lapua Improved will perform much better than any .30cal chambering hands down. You could run 300gr bullets at 3000fps give or take, matching or surpassing .338-378 Wby performance with less powder and way better brass. The only thing that is going to shoot inside a .338 L-IMP in the wind is a .408 Cheytac-based wildcat or a .50 BMG match load. No animal within 13-1500yd is safe, and you potentially have 2200yd or so depending on local altitude of supersonic range. Any .30cal load out there is going to be hard pressed to match that.
If it must be a .30cal though, consider a .300 Lapua or improved variation, or even .300 Norma. I understand this is a hunting rifle and barrel life is not a big consideration but that .378 Wby brass is expensive stuff and from everything Ive seen is not very good compared to the similar sized .338 Lapua cases. Just some things to think about.Nothing wrong with the .30-378, but there is better stuff out there.
See here:
Allen Xpress Wildcats
Check out the .338 Allen Express, or any other .338 Lapua Improved variation. A .338 Lapua Improved will perform much better than any .30cal chambering hands down. You could run 300gr bullets at 3000fps give or take, matching or surpassing .338-378 Wby performance with less powder and way better brass. The only thing that is going to shoot inside a .338 L-IMP in the wind is a .408 Cheytac-based wildcat or a .50 BMG match load. No animal within 13-1500yd is safe, and you potentially have 2200yd or so depending on local altitude of supersonic range. Any .30cal load out there is going to be hard pressed to match that.
If it must be a .30cal though, consider a .300 Lapua or improved variation, or even .300 Norma. I understand this is a hunting rifle and barrel life is not a big consideration but that .378 Wby brass is expensive stuff and from everything Ive seen is not very good compared to the similar sized .338 Lapua cases. Just some things to think about.Nothing wrong with the .30-378, but there is better stuff out there.
