Help buying my first Weatherby

[mcmurder77]

Hello all,
This is my first post, and I hope it’s a great one
As the title says I am looking to buy my first Weatherby rifle. I’m looking at the Vanguard First Lite Edition and I just can’t decide on a caliber. I am selling a couple of rifles that I do not use much anymore as I primarily archery hunt to fund this new project. I would like the rifle to be a great all around gun. To me that means antelope-elk, and good for elk at the 600yd range. My first thought was the new 6.5-300 but I have had a heck of a time finding consistent KE data on it up to and past the 500yd range. Maybe I’m just not looking in the correct place? I have also thought about the 300 Weatherby mag, but would it be too much for antelope and black tails? And what about the recoil?
The two rifles I am replacing are a .308, and a .300wsm. I would hope this next rifle will replace the other ones. My only other big game rifle would be a custom made 7mm Mauser from the 1950’s that I inherited. I assume I could use that for antelope if I drew a tag. Mainly I just want to make sure that whichever way I go the round will have enough KE to knock and elk down at the 600yd range, or possibly even longer, I don’t want them to get hit and run off forever.

Thanks!
David

[.257]

An elk at 600 yards or more to me means a 340 weatherby

[Blackbear3]

Welcome to the Nation!!! At 600' the 127 LRX out of the 6.5-300 will have over 1,500 for energy, which should be plenty on any elk. So the main factor at that range is how good a shot you are and how much you practice. I say go for the 6.5-300 for an all around cartridge for antelope up to elk.

[Blackbear3]

https://www.hornady.com/team-hornady/ballistic-calculators/#!/standard

[Michiganhunter]

Welcome to the Weatherby Nation.

[oregonmarkv]

I don't pay much attention to energy but my 6.5-300 with a 140g accubond at 3400 fps is going 2236 fps and 1554 foot pounds of energy at 700 yds.

[Jameson]

Welcome aboard.
JP

[PARA45]

Welcome to the Nation!  I'd say go with 6.5-300, or the 300 Wby. 

[mcmurder77]

THank you everyone for the reply’s! I am really looking forward to this rifle, it will be my first non budget big game rifle. I’m leaning heavy towards the 6.5-300. I’m going to top it with a Leupold VX3L 4.5-14x50 with a Boone a Crockett reticle, and a CDS dial system.

[DW5]

Welcome! Don’t think you can go wrong either way. 6.5 probably gonna be a little easier on the shoulder.

[224KING]

Get a 270 mag.Does the same job the 6.5-300 and does it way more economically.

[Elvis300]

Welcome to the Nation.  300 Weatherby for everything you said and forget about it. 😎

[mikemileski]

The 140 grain VLD Hunting bullet in the 6.5-300 has more energy at 500 yards than all of the 270 Weatherby factory loads, all of the 7mm Weatherby factory loads and half of the 300 Weatherby factory loads. Plus, it shots flatter too. Since you're starting at ground zero and have your pick of any of them,  the choice is obvious

Mike Mileski
Tucson, AZ

[Michiganhunter]

I would suggest the 6.5-.300. I own one in the ultra lightweight and felt recoil is truly negligible. I also have a .300 Wby and recoil is significantly noticeable. I use the 127 gr. LRX on all deer and on a cow elk. I have taken quite a few antelope with the .257 but my next one will be with the 6.5-.300 just because it’s new and I like it.
If I were to hunt elk a great deal more than any other big game, the .340 would be my choice. Long distances and ability to use heavyweight Bullets is why I would lean heavily towards the .340. I would practice a lot with a muzzle brake on it and if high decibels were a concern for hearing protection for myself and hunting buddies, I would leave the brake off. Otherwise I would leave it on.



://www.walmart.com/ip/Natural-Gear-Waterproof-Insulated-Parka-Snow-Camo-2Xlarge/191751259

[mcmurder77]

I think I’m leaning heavily towards the 6.5-300. So now that I have that mostly settled, am I going to. Price much difference between the vanguard models? The First Lite model looks cool and all, but am I going to missing anything functionality wise by going that route?