Did some swapping this weekend, and wound up with a Weatherby Mk V in 300 Weatherby magnum.

Tell me about the cartridge, I've had Weatherby Mk V's before and know they are tack drivers.

Also, any recommendations on getting a brake on it ?

It is a potent round and ammo is high. My dad shot one for years with no brake.

Kills at one end, maims at the other.

I would not get a brake for it, unless you never intend on shooting it without ear muffs/plugs.

Otherwise, you're set for anything North American can throw at you, as well as 95% of African game.

Decent cartridge, but expensive to shoot. $2.00 - $4.50 per round, generally. About 150 - 200 FPS faster than .300 Win Mag, and about 25% more recoil energy.

Probably the best cartridge ever chambered in a rifle for a man who's quarry includes anything in North America. It will kill it. Deer to Moose.

If you want a real gun you are holding it.

Ignore the recoil. You aren't taking it to a dove shoot you should only need to shoot it once in the field.


If you want to something to shoot paper with at the range all afternoon with no recoil trade it for an AR.

The first time I used my 300 Weatherby to shoot at a deer was also the first time I've ever noticed recoil when shooting at an animal. Mine is not a Mark V though, it's a Winchester M70 classic with a 1/2" hard rubber recoil pad that I've since changed to a 1" decelerator. 😀 It's a great cartridge and can be used for just about anything on earth if you choose the correct bullet.

Use Weatherby factory ammo for the best performance, and tipped Barnes bullets are usually accurate in them.

God Bless Roy Weatherby! I am a fan of any and all of his creations. I have two .300Wby's that are as different as the day is long. One is a 40+ yr old MarkV Deluxe that loves 220gr Partitions and the other is an Accumark that will gobble up a wide range of bullets from 150-180gr but really shines with the 165gr TSX. Now all you need is a ..240Roy, 257Roy, .270Roy, .30-378Roy, etc etc etc. I wouldn't worry about a muzzle brake unless you're gonna be running 100's of rounds downrange.

I would trade this for a 257 W mag.

Don't develop a flinch.

I know a couple of folks that bought one and traded it in after a couple of trips to the range. It's definitely a step up in recoil over the 300 win mag, and its a sharp kick.

I've owned a few Roy's; a 257, a 340, and a couple of 7mms. Wanted a 270 for years but just never bought one. Oh, and if you're gonna shoot a Roy, then you really should reload just to keep it somewhat affordable.

Yep

Yes, brass for all of the Weatherby cartridges is expensive and can be hard to find. Try to find some 257 Weatherby brass right now online and you'll understand. 😀 Even if you don't reload, save your brass and find someone who can. 30-378 ammo starts at around $4.00 each for the cheap stuff and can cost twice that much.

I've shot hot loaded 45 / 70's ( like a mule kick ) . 300 win mags, 338's , 3 1/2 in turkey load, single action army 454 casull's with full house buffalo bore ammo ( the worst of the lot ) 300 Ultra Mags , 7 Ultra mags, , and haven't developed one yet

I'm serious about the 257... If anyone has one they would like to swap p.m. me. That's actually what I've been looking out for the last year or so. Mark V's in 257 just don't appear that much.

Got one just like it in a trade a year or so back. Only thing I don't like about mine is the synthetic stock. Plan to buy a Boyd's grey/black laminated to replace it. Ballistics on that round are fantastic. If you've got a wood stock on yours I'll trade stocks if you're interested. Mine has a stainless barrel.

I really don't think the kick is what causes shooters to develop a flinch. I believe the noise has more to do with it. I had a Browning .270 with a muzzle brake. Never again. EVER

Mark's outdoors had a used one about a month ago. Stainless steel with fiberglass stock. I almost pulled the trigger on it.

Sorry Robert . Mine has a synthetic stock as well.

You should not develop a flinch none of these guns kicks any harder than a 12 gauge shotgun with some duck or turkey loads and you don't hear the same people on this very board complaining about the recoil when they shoot a turkey.

The 180 grain Norma ammo is about $35 a box. Also. If you don't reload any want to shoot the rifle some you can always shoot that, then if you feel the need swap to another load for hunting. Although the $35 box stuff will flat smoke a deer. I just wouldn't shoot a moose with it or an angry bear.

You can always get a brake put on but I would shoot it first and see what it does.

I have shot one in an accumark, and now shoot a 7mm Wby accumark. The accumarks are tack drivers with weatherby ammo. As for ammo if you shop around it can be had In the $35/box range I just buy 2-3 when I find it and stock pile it so I never get in a bind. Again it’s not s range gun, as the barrels will probably erode after 1000-1500 rounds but they are fantastic hunting guns. I would really like to find a left hand 30-06 to convert to a 338-06 but they are non existent it seems.

Looking at the 180 grain ballistic tip in Weatherby brand ammo.

You can use Remington 7mm mag brass. You just have to resize it, the neck will be a little short, but is ok. Also 264 win mag will work. I have saved a lot doing this.
They shoot fine.

You can use Remington 7mm mag brass. You just have to resize it, the neck will be a little short, but is ok. Also 264 win mag will work. I have saved a lot doing this.
They shoot fine.

I have a Boyds stock that was on a Weatherby vanguard rem 7mm mag that would most likely fit. I might sell if intetested.

None of the guns mentioned have over 50% of the felt recoil of a 12 gauge 3 1/2" turkey load.

Believe it or not , a hot loaded 45/ 70 does. It will loosen your molars.

I have the exact same rifle. Never hunted with it, but plan on taking it to Montana for an elk hunt later this year. The most affordable ammo I have found is Weatherby with the Norman Spitzer point. You can get a box of 20 for $40. Bass Pro and Midway USA have it at that price. Been a while since I have been to Mark's Outdoors, but they had it at the same price a year ago.

I just bought a set of dies for it and have buddy that is going to re-load for me.

I know they are hard recoiling loads but even with +p 350 grain loads it's only a little over half the recoil of a 12 gauge 3 1/2" turkey load. 37lbs of felt recoil in the 45/70 vs 62lbs in a 12 gauge turkey load. You've got to go up to a .458 win to get in the same ballpark as the 12 gauge Turkey loads.

Not my handloads... you cant buy these at the store. The pressures are for modern Marlin 1895's and similarly strong actions only. It's almost a 458 Winchester magnum in a lever action.

I'm with you.... I've got some 45/70 loads that will kinda make you concerned about leaving you with your retina detached. And will leave you wondering if shooting it again is such a good idea.

What they will do to a deer is impressive.


But I still find it quite confusing that so many don't seem concerned very much at all about their shotgun kicking all that hard, and then when we start talking rifles..... their shoulders start getting blown off beginning with about .308 loaded with 180's. On here... you would think that's a 500 Nitro.

I don't have a lot of experience with Turkey guns and loads. I bought a turkey shotgun a few years ago in a moment of weakness at Simmons and I've only fired 2 shells in it. It's only a 3" gun, but I'll guarantee that it kicks every bit as hard as my 375 H&H magnum.

Seems like a lot of work dodging snakes, swatting bugs and bruising your shoulder for a dumb ugly bird. 😀😀

12ga. 2-3/4 1.5oz load @ 1260 = 45ft lbs of recoil. I bet a bunch on here have at some point shoot doves with that load. Before $4 a box cheap shells were so plentiful that was a standard heavy field load.

Shotgun = Ok.

Rifle = In terms of recoil per Aldeer standards... you just died.

.300 Weatherby Mag = about 31ft lbs of recoil shooting a 180 @ 3200fps.



Reconcile that for me.

So; your not a turkey hunter??

Took my son to Texas when he was 18. He killed a brute with my .300. When we got back he wanted his own. Weatherby ammo is made by Norma. For Alabama, the 180gr ballistic tips work great.

This whole thing about recoil is beyond my understanding. The .300 recoil is a joke. I guess you just can’t be a pussy.

I have a 12 gauge Topper y’all can shoot a turkey shell in if you want to know what recoil is.

I got a S&W 916T 12ga that will hurt you shooting 1 Oz 3"slugs .

Ive got an H&R 3.5” 12 gauge. It’s BY FAR the most brutal kicking gun in my safe. WAY more recoil than my .338 win mag or .300RUM.

Check the classified section. This gun is for sale. 1150. Would trade for something cool but would rather have cash.

Understand wanting cash but if you were going to trade throw out a short wish list for us.... i.e. you might get a combo deal such as "I would trade for a Tikka plus $1k in cash, etc."

Never know what someone might have.

Anything in 243 ... lol

Nothing particular, I'm open to anything unique or different. Wheel guns, levers, high end scopes.... High end knives. etc.

Would trade for a top of the line crossbow... seriously. Like a 10 point or those new 400 fps PSE crossbows.