Big Game

Ok, I need some help. I currently shoot a Weatherby 257 mag for varmit, pig, deer and love it. I will be going on my first elk hunt next year and maybe even moose or bear the following year and would like to buy a new rifle that I could use on big game. I would like to just buy one more rifle so I don't mind spending more for something on all the big boys but not sure what caliber would be best, the obvious choice would be a 300 mag but should I go bigger like a 338, 375. Any info would be appreciated (distance, drop, knockdown, kick, weight ect.)
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killerbee
i think 375 h&h is a little overkill, but some guys like to overkill?

i like the .338 alot cant say one negative about it.

me personally i love my .300 weatherby- it has taken all the animals you mentioned with a breeze.
mine is a mark 5, cuts it's own holes at a 100 yrd group. it shoot great with swift A-frame bullets, but shoots really good with anything i've tried in it- barnes , nosler, sierra- etc...

one more note- a 300 short mag isn't a bad way to go either. it's ALOT cheaper to shoot, which means you will practise more, and it will take care of all the animals you listed as well.
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In keeping with the Weatherby tradition, I would take a long look at the 340 Weatherby.
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300 Win. mag has been around a long time... and for a good reason. I'd definitely look at that for starters. Do you have any friends that have a .300 or .338? It might be a good idea to see if you can shoot a couple of those calibers to see what you like best.
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Tonoonyi
"wingmaster36" wrote:In keeping with the Weatherby tradition, I would take a long look at the 340 Weatherby.
 I would have to vote for the 340 as well. The 257 will do all the flat shooting that you can want. The 340 will thump the heck out of something way out to 400 plus yards.

Drawback is it kicks a little.
lol
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300 Win Mag is great because you can do anything with it, and ammunition is available anywhere.

If you are a die hard Weatherby guy and want to go big I would go with the 338-378. It is very expensive to shoot, but even out performes the 338 Lapua.

It all just depends on what you want your rifle to do.

Also, I would highly recommend a break to keep the kick down, but you have to be prepaired to wear hearing protection even to shoot it in the field.
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"bh107" wrote:
Also, I would highly recommend a break to keep the kick down, but you have to be prepaired to wear hearing protection even to shoot it in the field.
 I can't imagine pounding my ears in the field with something with a brake... most rifles are loud enough as they are.
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a_bow_nut
Inthe heat of the moment you really don't notice the bark of the muzzle. Secondly it's not quite as bad if you are the one shooting the gun as it is for the people that are next to you when it goes off.

I used to feel the same way about brakes but now that I know that I can shoot my gun without having to worry about it kicking the snot out of me lets me concentrate on the shot at hand.

If the noise is a real concern there is the option of the noise supression devices that are out on the market.
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gizmo1
I have a 300 win mag that I shoot a lot. I've killed several African animals with it along with deer,pigs,etc... My Gemsbok, Scimitar, and Wildabeest all were taken with it. They are very large heavy boned African animals that are roughly Elk sized and I would dare say significantly tougher. The rifle did a fine job shooting a 180 grain bullet . It has a 6 by 24 scope on it and the scimitar was dropped in its tracks from about 300 yards. I love the rifle and the great thing is there is a huge variety of loads available for it and even more if you hand load.
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dahlmer
I like the versatility of the 300 mag and 300 short mag. You can shoot big enough loads for all N. American game and you can tone it down for the lighter stuff like antelope.
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Thanks for all your input guys, at this point I'm thinking the 300 wheatherby mag and would like to open a new can of worms. Regular or lightweight and break or no break
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Thanks for all your help guys, st this point I think.its going to be the 300 weathetby mag. but would like to open a nrw can of worms. Regular or lightweight and break or no break. Thanks again
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"greatwhitehope" wrote:Thanks for all your help guys, st this point I think.its going to be the 300 weathetby mag. but would like to open a nrw can of worms. Regular or lightweight and break or no break. Thanks again
 That is a great choice. 300 Weatherby is a classic round that will do everything you want it to.

I prefer heavier rifles myself, and the weight has never bothered my while hiking with them. Of course I am young and in pretty good shape so I don't even notice the few extra pounds. I feel I'm more stable with a heavier gun, and the weight helps keep the recoil down.

As far as the brake question, the heavier the rifle the less you will need it. If you go lightweight, I would definitely recommend it. It really does make the gun easier to shoot, and gives you a better oppertunity to watch your shot. I have shot a lighter 300 without a brake and honestly it's a gun that was not fun to shoot. I've talked to guys with similar guns that only shoot them a few times to check the zero, hunt with them, and then put them away until next time they go out. It does have downsides like I mentioned before, but if you are prepared for them (hearing protection for you and anyone with you) then it's worth it.
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dahlmer
I'm not a big proponant of muzzle breaks. If you can shoot without it, that would be my preference. I find the noise more disturbing than the kick. Recoil seems to very greatly from one gun to the next. I find a good trigger seems to do more to help me manage recoil than just about anything else. A good recoil pad makes a big difference as well. If it is a big concern, get a hevier rifle that will absorb more of the recoil.
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