300 Weatherby Questions

[Montanasloth]

So I'm new to the forum, been reading lots of great stuff on here for awhile though. Hopefully this is the right place to put this.

I have a question on about the 300 Weatherby. I'm thinking of starting off with a Vanguard (series 1 or 2 doesn't matter all that much to me) I'm thinking of putting it in a Bell and Carlson stock, upgrading the trigger and putting either a nice vortex or leupold on it. I would be using this mostly for Elk out to 500 maybe 600 yards. I would also like to be able to use it on Moose and have it for any other big game hunts I can only dream of going on. I'm not to worried about recoil as I've put a few shots through a 300rum that my father in-law has and after load development and sighting in the rifle would only have maybe 4-5 rounds a year as it would be strictly a hunting rifle. This is kind of a budget rifle as we have two kids and the whole 9 yards, but I have some time before they need the 270 and 30-06 handed down to hunt with so this project could be stretched over a few years to accommodate more expensive parts. Is this the direction I want to be going or do you folks have any suggestions of where I should start?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

IMO, the Vanguard is about as good a rifle as you are going to get for the price.

I personally wouldn't choose the action for a cartridge with the COAL of a 300 Weatherby using the longer high BC LR bullets because the magazine is a bit short... but that said, it should work just fine for elk out to 600 yds or more.

I have 4 rifles in Vanguard/S&W 1500 actions (same action) and happy with all of them. Two I did semi-custom builds with and the latest is a stock off the shelf 223, S2 version and shoots about 1/2 MOA.

Good idea to get a B&C Medalist. I like the S2 trigger as it is two stage, 3 position safety and breaks very clean. Only problem is I can't get lower than 3 lbs pull, but my smith will take care of that. I was able to adjust the stock triggers on the others down to 1.25 - 1.5 lbs with good clean break. One of them I swapped in a Timney which has a 3 position safety.

A Vortex would be my vote - great scope for the price.

Good shooting

 

[270Weatherby]

I did the same thing and have killed 3 bulls with my .300WBY S2, Zeiss 4-14

 

[Montanasloth]

I figured I would single feed a gun of that caliber

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I figured I would single feed a gun of that caliber

That'll work

....you'll probably want to shoot more than 5-6 shots a year if you want to take game out to 600.

 

[Montanasloth]

That is a fair point. It will take some time to work up to that since I would say that is out of my actual range, but practice makes perfect. I won't be shooting that far most of the time, but would like the capability and the skill to do so if the situation comes.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Once your load is worked up and rifled zeroed in, shooting to 600 yds won't be very difficult. If you zero to say 200, you'll probably want to shoot 300, 400, 500 and 600 to confirm your drops. Once you have good velocity and BC with confirmed drops, you should easily be able to memorize your adjustments out to 600. But you'll probably want to shoot to confirm zero and drops every year before hunting. You'll probably also want trigger time to learn to dope and adjust for wind. If you shoot a 100 rounds a year, your barrel should last at least 10 years. 50, 20 years.

If you load up say 50 rounds and use 40 to check zero, drops and do some trigger time, and leave 10 for hunting, then shoot what's left over after the season after the season, you can start with a fresh 50 the following year.

Shooting to 600 isn't all that challenging but wind will be a factor and nothing beats trigger time in learning to dope and adjust for it.

 

[Varberger757]

Once your load is worked up and rifled zeroed in, shooting to 600 yds won't be very difficult. If you zero to say 200, you'll probably want to shoot 300, 400, 500 and 600 to confirm your drops. Once you have good velocity and BC with confirmed drops, you should easily be able to memorize your adjustments out to 600. But you'll probably want to shoot to confirm zero and drops every year before hunting. You'll probably also want trigger time to learn to dope and adjust for wind. If you shoot a 100 rounds a year, your barrel should last at least 10 years. 50, 20 years.

If you load up say 50 rounds and use 40 to check zero, drops and do some trigger time, and leave 10 for hunting, then shoot what's left over after the season after the season, you can start with a fresh 50 the following year.

Shooting to 600 isn't all that challenging but wind will be a factor and nothing beats trigger time in learning to dope and adjust for it.

Little bit OT, but it's quite a while ago since we've had you on here, @MontanaRifleman. Nice to have you back!

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Little bit OT, but it's quite a while ago since we've had you on here, @MontanaRifleman. Nice to have you back!

Thanks Varberger, good to see you

 

[roninflag]

the 300 wby sounds good . powerful round. tell me about the 270 and 30-06?? they would kick less and you could try them right now while waiting. lot of hunt where you live. envious. ron

 

[Dosh]

the 300 wby sounds good . powerful round. tell me about the 270 and 30-06?? they would kick less and you could try them right now while waiting. lot of hunt where you live. envious. ron

Agree, those two calibers are proven hunters. Using them would allow plenty of time to develope the 300 Wby Vanguard.

 

[Montanasloth]

I am currently using the 270 as my main hunting rifle, working up a load for that and getting a better scope before hunting season comes up is my first priority, but I can't help but think ahead to the future and how my daughter and son will need rifles, and I want to have those two handed down since they each came from one of my grandfathers. I'm slightly spoiled with both of those rifles as my 270 can shoot factory loads into a group you can cover with a quarter and my 06 can put Remington cor-lokts into an inch group all day long. This is mostly why I want to get the conformation that building a vanguard will be the right choice. the 300 wby seems like it would do everything I want and a little more. I also want something a little different but not so different that I couldn't buy ammo in a pinch. While on this topic anyone have any thoughts on 165 grain vs 180 grain bullets for the 300 wby?

Thanks for all the replies as well guys, I appreciate the knowledge and ideas.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

While on this topic anyone have any thoughts on 165 grain vs 180 grain bullets for the 300 wby?

The heavier the better. I would go with 215 Bergers. IMO 165's are way too light.

 

[Montanasloth]

I'm actually going to try some bergers for my 270 as soon I can find an afternoon to go shooting. I like the idea of how they are supposed to preform, just haven't tried them. I'll keep those in mind.