Next up, the 7-300 Weatherby Magnum

[terminator]

I think the same was said about the 6.5-300 here before Weatherby made it.

[wyominghunter]

The 6.5-300 has only been out for about a year, so the jury is still out. I think it is a decent caliber, but I wouldn't say it has a big advantage over the .264 Win Mag or 26 Nosler.

I have a friend who had a 7mm STW years ago...it was an erratic performer on game, so he got rid of it.  I just don't see much of a difference between a 7mm STW and a 7-300 Weatherby.

[weatherbyman22]

It is basically the only cartridge class that Weatherby can't claim top dog status in, "commercially available", and the motto around here is "Nothing shoots flatter, etc", added with the overwhelming popularity of long range shooting now days, there probably is a point and a place for the 7mm-300, even in a crowded market.
The 7mm-378 may be a bit much though, unless maybe they shortend it some, although you'd probably just be getting back down around 300 case capacity so that would probably be foolish, but perhaps the shorter, fatter burn column would make it less finicky and easier to work loads up?

It would definitely hurt the original 7 Bee's life span, which is an already great cartridge, but I wouldn't see it effecting the 6.5-300's much.

All in all as a huge fan of Weatherby, I would most certainly be interested in a super fast, new 7mm, although personally I would much rather see them hit a market in which they have nothing offered, and introduce a true varmint round, 20-224, 220 Rocket, or heck, even another run of the 224!

[WA Mtnhunter]

I am more than happy with both my 7mm WMs. Not sure that a 7/300 or 7/378 would bring much to the game except shorter barrel life and more expense reloading. The Weatherby clan seems to have a track record of solid business decisions, so I'm sure they will decide if the market is ripe for a new 7mm cartridge. I have four Mark Vs: a .30-06, 2 each 7mm Wby, and a .300 Weatherby. If that ain't enough firepower, I give up!

[danno50]

+1 WA If Weatherby had thought that the 7/300 or the 7/378 had a better chance then the 6.5-300 of winning in the market place thats what would have been developed. There are probably a lot guys there at the plant that want to be the next Roy Weatherby and stay up at nights throwing wildcat numbers around like a rubiks cube wanting to come up with the next best thing since ice cream. The 6.5-300 does have some ground to make up compared to the 70+ years or so of the 300Wby, 270Wby, and the 257Wby. But with good exposure, equally good performance in the field, and the shooting industry wanting the most flat shooting, hard hitting, and most accurate take anywhere rifle there is, the new kid on the block just might pull off an eclipse in the future.

[African Leadwood]

The 6.5-300 has only been out for about a year, so the jury is still out. I think it is a decent caliber, but I wouldn't say it has a big advantage over the .264 Win Mag or 26 Nosler.

I have a friend who had a 7mm STW years ago...it was an erratic performer on game, so he got rid of it.  I just don't see much of a difference between a 7mm STW and a 7-300 Weatherby.

I agree absolutley; the 7-300 is essentially the 7 STW. Erratic performance I blame on the projectiles. Good bullets perform more consistently and of course we seek consistently good performance. All that is worse that a bullet that is a poor performer is one that is sometimes good and sometimes bad as you never know what you have and don't turn down the shots you would with a bullet that is consistently bad!

[Chris338378]

The thing to keep in mind about speed is there comes a point when fast is too fast.  What good is a caliber that is so fast it "blows up" bullets in flight or when they connect with the target, not much.  To take that a step further how popular would a caliber be if there were only three or four bullets that would actually handle the speed?  Both of those would all but kill
sales and any popularity of that caliber.  These are the things that need to be considered when you're thinking about a 7-378.  I can tell you from my experience with my .338-378 if you hit a bone in a deer with it at less than around 150 yards you end up with holes that pretty much look like they were caused by a grenade. 

[JWDynamics]

You guys already nailed it. A 7mm-300 is essentially the same dimensions as a 7mm STW. So that already being done, you're looking at a different parent case. A 7mm-378 would be larger than the 7mm RUM, which is intriguing...

Necessary? Absolutely not. Cool and fun in its own way? Hell yes!

If I have an opportunity to justify another Weatherby rifle, I'll do my best.

[danno50]

+1 Chris and JW. No gain, no pain, or no need. Wildcat builds will go on, but to standardize one takes a lot of R&D $$$$ and you better be able to prove its worth to the Boss when you present it. Wildcats are a good discussion topic though.

[eford]

I think Chris makes an excellent point about only three or four bullets that can handle the speed of a 7mm-378 Weatherby. It no surprise that the 6.5-300 Wby (which we could call the 6.5-300 Adam) factory ammo comes in bonded or monometal bullets. I don't know what an ordinary, lead core bullet would do in a 6.5-300 loaded to the same level as the current factory offerings. I can see a 175 grain Swift A-Frame being a real smasher and the 150 grain Scirocco going really fast. We'll seeeeeee.

[oregonmarkv]

The regular bullets will work just fine, I  have been shooting 130 g BT in my 270 WBY and 115 BT in my 257 WBY at 3500fps for many years with great results.

[danno50]

I think Chris makes an excellent point about only three or four bullets that can handle the speed of a 7mm-378 Weatherby. It no surprise that the 6.5-300 Wby (which we could call the 6.5-300 Adam) factory ammo comes in bonded or monometal bullets. I don't know what an ordinary, lead core bullet would do in a 6.5-300 loaded to the same level as the current factory offerings. I can see a 175 grain Swift A-Frame being a real smasher and the 150 grain Scirocco going really fast. We'll seeeeeee.

The Shooting Times article kinda has the same view as eford? Quote:
Weatherby techs told me their go-to bullet—in any given caliber—for validating the company’s accuracy guarantee is typically a Barnes all-copper TSX, TTSX, or LRX. It’s just a theory, but my guess is that the tough, hard bullet jumps the freebore with less distortion than typical soft cup-and-core bullets do, leading me to think that possibly other monolithic bullets, such as Nosler’s E-Tip and Hornady’s GMX, should perform equally well.

Read more: http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/the-6-5-300-weatherby-magnum/#ixzz4diIx3Wh5

[Blackbear3]

Just left Reeds Gun Fair in Little Falls Minnesota. I talked to a couple different people that said the 7mm-378 Weatherby will be announced this Fall. I tried to pre-order one but they wouldn't take my money. Got a free Weatherby American Flag cap since I know terminator!!!

[eford]

Three and a half years ago I got a 6.5mm Creedmoor in a rebarrel job from a gunsmith. It has proven to be a great hunting rifle. Then, Weatherby comes out with the 6.5-300 Wby. Less than a month ago I got another rebarrel rifle from the same gunsmith, this time in 7mm Weatherby. Getting a 7mm Super Mashburn was going to be more than I wanted to spend. So far, the 7mm Wby has shown great accuracy with seven different handloads.
Now, a 7mm-378 Wby reported to be in the works woul make it two in a row for getting a rifle and being surpassed by a new cartridge from Weatherby. It isn't always about speed, but it sure makes shots flatter and brings more power. That's why Roy Weatherby made 'em.

[terminator]

Thanks for the heads up Doug.Now we want be the last to know.Sounds like a great long range round.Definetly gets my interest.