New barrel for my 30-378

Blacktail-hunter

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so I have called and talk to a handful of local and non local gunsmiths looking for someone that can re-barrel a weatherby 30-378 for me now I'm aware that it's not that popular of a caliber and believe me it's not my first choice but the rifle has a lot of sentimental value and would like to use it in Colorado this upcoming deer/elk season in remembering my grandfather who just passed away last January so if anyone has a good Smith that might be able to help that would be awesome!
 
The 1st rifle that I had rebarreled was a 30-378. I too was thinking I would rechamber in the same cartridge. The smith that I used got me to thinking if it was the right way to go and I wound up making a post just like yours here on lrh. That was when I joined the forum in 2007. I wound up going with a 30-338 Lapua improved and jumped into the wildcat world with both feet. Since then we have done lots of cartridges and this one still remains my favorite. Some nice guys here on long range talked me through my options and that was finally the choice that I made, and it was a good one. It sounds like you have a sentimental place for this particular rifle. If you are changing the barrel, making a change in the chamber won't make it any less the rifle that your grandfather had. The 30-378 is a great 30cal hot rod. It just has very expensive brass that tends to be soft and short lived because of the softness. I have not looked recently but back in the day that I had mine Weatherby did not recommend reloading their brass. Seems that I have heard that they have changed that stance.

Not sure what your goals ballisticly are but my short list for your bolt face size and staying 30cal are the 30-338 Lapua imp or 300 Norma mag imp.

Steve
 
I have to agree with Steve above.

If a wildcat or fireformig for an Improved doesn't turn you on then just go with a straight 300 Norma. Lapua makes brass and it's a darn fine round. On my short list of my next magnum build.
 
so I have called and talk to a handful of local and non local gunsmiths looking for someone that can re-barrel a weatherby 30-378 for me now I'm aware that it's not that popular of a caliber and believe me it's not my first choice but the rifle has a lot of sentimental value and would like to use it in Colorado this upcoming deer/elk season in remembering my grandfather who just passed away last January so if anyone has a good Smith that might be able to help that would be awesome!

Does it need to be rebarreled? Or does it just need to the right load? Try some RL33 and 230gr Hybrids .030" off he lands, I think around 100gr-103gr and Fed 215GM
 
Does it need to be rebarreled? Or does it just need to the right load? Try some RL33 and 230gr Hybrids .030" off he lands, I think around 100gr-103gr and Fed 215GM
Ok thanks that's awesome ya I have some stuff I was going to try in it. The 220 eld-x and the 210 VLD. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with the gun could use some paint cuz it looks like an old hunting rifle but more because my grandfather always wanted to do it and just never did but since time is short I think I'm just going to maybe try it the way it is for this Colorado hunt then find someone that can build his dream rifle for me
 
Blacktail, I've seen the 215 Berger hybrid shoot very accurately with slow burn powders in several 30/378's Including my own. The hybrids are made to go well with mag length loading. The factory Weatherby freebore prevents loading very close to the lands.
Good luck
 
Blacktail, I've seen the 215 Berger hybrid shoot very accurately with slow burn powders in several 30/378's Including my own. The hybrids are made to go well with mag length loading. The factory Weatherby freebore prevents loading very close to the lands.
Good luck

Not in a WBY mark V accumark the mag box Is longer.
 
Is there a trick to helping these bullets shoot better at mag length
If you are not able to get the accuracy that you want let me know. I would be surprised if our 181g Hammer Hunter didn't give you good sub moa accuracy with little work. Lots of guys are going to say that it is too light, that's fine. They will be a lazer performer past a 1000y in the 30-378. We have heavier long range bullets but the factory 10" twist will not work for them. We have heavier normal range bullets if your hunting range is 500y or less where bc has little effect.

With your eld's, seat them as long as the rifle will allow without touching the lands. Work your load up until you reach upper end vel without pressure. Then start shooting groups adjusting the seating depth after each group that is not acceptable. If you shoot a 2 shot group that is poor there is no point in shooting a 3rd as it will not make the group better. Just a waste. Shorten the seating depth with each group a 1/4 turn on your seating die. You should find a sub moa seating depth. This method is effective with most rifle bullet combos. Assuming there is nothing wrong with the rifle system. Some rifles will not shoot some bullets. Some bullets are tough to find accuracy.

If you can't find accuracy let me know. I'll be happy to try and help with your chosen bullet. If you choose to try our bullets, we guarantee that you will get accuracy or we will buy them back. Over a year now and we have yet to buy back a box! Only exchanged bullets when a customer purchased bullets that required a faster twist than they had.

Good luck,

Steve
 
Is there a trick to helping these bullets shoot better at mag length

No tricks just load to mag length. The free bore is your friend with the 378 based wildcats and with 4.000+ mag length possible without any receiver mods case capacity is still slightly over what you can use.

I loaded mine with 126 grains of powder and all I got was a huge fireball
and still no pressure. after reducing the powder charge until best accuracy was achieved I ended up at 117 grains. My rifle likes the 200 grain bullets
best and shoots them at less than 1/10th moa. (average 5 shot groups at .092 to .097) and it is Laser flat.

My experience with this cartridge has been that it is very load forgiving if you have the bullets that best match the barrel twist.

J E CUSTOM
 
Since you want it for hunting season you might want to find your own barrel blank and any other break and have it it hand to get it done in a reasonable amount of time... Gunsmiths vary on when they can squeeze your work in but if you had everything the chances are way better that you could get it done....Gunsmith dealing with 3-4 different venders and their holdups get the blame for all ....the out of stock and work time frame of others such as fluting, cera-coating, stock dipping, ect. that it requires to make a gun for their customers...I have fooled with 8-10... 30-378 and still own the one that was most accurate...If and when the barrel is washed I will have a 338ai Lapua built on it even though I am and 338 edge fan... Just something about those 300 grain Bergers and Elk Hunting that matches up well in my mind. ..Dave
 
Ya I'm thinking of just working out the best load I can and trying to make it work as is and then after season when I have the time to do it correctly I'm considering going up to the 338 class because it seems barrel and brass life is much better
 
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