Who loads Weatherby factory ammo?

[Badgerland Hunter]

Okay, if this has been hashed in other strings, please point me (and us) there.

According to the FAQ on the Weatherby site, to the question:  Who makes Weatherby ammunition?  the simple one word answer given is Norma.

But, I thought I read somewhere recently that Weatherby is back producing its own ammo, which would imply its invested in its own high-capacity loading equipment and all the fixin's.

Where this really gets kinda confusing is for those of us who shoot the "bargain" priced Select^TM ammo loaded with the SP (soft point) bullet.  Some say that it's a Norma Soft Point.  Others I've read say it's a Hornady Interlock.

I just would like to know:  Who makes Weatherby factory ammo?  Or, who makes it now?  And, who's SP bullets sits on top their Select ammo?

[rockville]

For the 6.5-300 it’s not the Norma Spitzers. I think it looks more like the Hornady SP but Hornady wouldn’t say yes or no when I asked.

[Blackbear3]

Weatherby is loading 6.5-300, not sure what else.

[Badgerland Hunter]

Interesting you both mention the 6.5-300 since that's precisely the cartridge I have ... and am wondering about!

Yeah, so that's the toss up right now ... is it the Norma Spitzer or the Hornady Interlock?

Hey, Norma makes some fine ammo, but my guess is their Spitzer SP is more of the traditional cup-n-draw or cup-n-core type bullet.  At least with the Hornady Interlock you get some sense of less propensity for jacket and core separation, especially at 6.5-300 velocities.

I'll throw one more in the mix ... anyone think the Selects might be topped with Sierra Game Kings?

[Badgerland Hunter]

I asked and got an answer straight from Weatherby ...

     > In the 6.5-300, the factory Select 140 gr. Spire Point "SP" cartridge is topped with a Hornady Interlock.

     > If the code ends in "SR" then that's a Norma Spitzer.

     > Weatherby does not currently load Sierra Game King bullets.

I feel quite a bit better hearing that Weatherby is using Interlocks as my sense is it will hold together a bit better that a cup-n-core Norma Spitzer.

[Blackbear3]

Glad they got back to you, at least no more guessing on our 6.5-300s. Now if you could find out whos going to make the 7-378 ammo, I'd get 2 questions answered at once. LOL

[Krakka]

According to the 2018/19 catalogue they only list the SR bullet, maybe they have dropped the SP so that they still have a budget loading available.

[rockville]

I know my SP’s say SP on the box. I thought they were Hornady bullets glad to here which bullet it was now.
When someone told me they were Norma Spitzers I knew that wasn’t right just from the shape of the bullet. Hornady makes much more sense to me.

[Badgerland Hunter]

Hey, Chris!

Glad to provide some illumination / confirmation.  Yeah, on other posts where Norma Spitzers have come up, most guys say they get the job done, and I'd agree.  Someone from Weatherby at one time had also said the Norma Spitzers (SR code on the box) are pretty much like a Remington Core Lokt bullet, and those have slain millions of animals ... again, a good bullet and "dead is dead."

I just think the Hornady Interlock may have a bit of an edge over traditional cup-n-core bullets in that their design should reduce the risk of core separation.  I'm just figuring at 6.5-300 velocities and energies that may give the Interlocks a bit better terminal performance.

[rockville]

They knock the crap out of deer. I shot one deer with them last year. Granted it was a small deer but there wasn’t a guess where the bullet exited the deer. This was a 50 yard shot if I remember right. I had some days where this bullet grouped decent and other days it didn’t in my rifle. This bullet creates a huge wound channel.

[Badgerland Hunter]

Good to know, Chris!  Thanks for sharing your field results.

[marsiglia]

Today, I telephoned Weatherby and was told that the manufacturing of the magnum cartridges was moved in-house back in 2019. I was told that the marked, "Weatherby Select" "G300180SR", with UPC "747115419371" in .300 Weatherby Mag is no long available because the Norma Spitzer was discontinued.

I was told that the load that replaced it in the lineup is now priced at $69/box and uses the Hornady Interlock bullet.

[mbcowdoc]

On the Weatherby select,6.5 rpm it says Hornady interlock on the box