340 vs 338-378

[Jim1187]

Neither rifle appeals to me, but I do like the .340 Weatherby cartridge. Brass is cheaper or can be made from other sources, like Remington 375 H&H.
Put both cartridges in a stainless model 70 or 700 and I'd be reaching for the 340.

 

[Budda]

I went with the 340 Weatherby. The rifle was actually lighter than the 338/378 and even though it’s about 25-30 years old, it’s in mint condition. The bore looks pristine.

I got 256 rounds of brass/loaded ammo, dies, three sets of base/rings and 350 Nosler partitions in 210 grain to reload with. All for 1200.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Good choice, you'll be plenty happy with it. If any of the ammo is handloaded verify by pulling a couple apart to check the charge weight against loading data. Unless it's an extremely trusted person, it's worth the time to do that.

Bores typically look pretty good on used rifles in the larger cartridges. I have a friend that's a big Weatherby fan. He shot smaller cartridges for practice and the 340 was shot less (after working up loads), to verify zero and taken in the field successfully just about every year.

 

[TaperPin]

That’s great news! A light ish 340 will turn into a favorite rifle. Reloading components really add up quick and those 210’s have a great reputation.

 

[Choupique]

350 Nosler partitions in 210 grain to reload with

That's like $700 of bullets these days. You did really well on the price.

Does it have a brake?

 

[Budda]

That's like $700 of bullets these days. You did really well on the price.

Does it have a brake?

Yes. The rifle was sent back to the factory and a brake was installed.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Cover your ears, lol.

 

[Choupique]

These days I'm having some second thoughts about brakes. I finally found some electronic ear muffs I like (walker quad pros) and can tolerate wearing for 3 or 4 hours with very short breaks. I could tolerate hunting with a muzzle brake now i think.

 

[Sneakyt]

My dad has an older 340 Weatherby and its a beautiful rifle. I want to kill something with it someday. That being said Im not taking it unless its just for fun. If you hand load, the 340 Weatherby will do anything you could ever want... Too damn much recoil tho to shoot it enough to get proficient with it and costs too much to shoot. Its a cool rifle tho... Id save the coin and get the 340, put it up above your fireplace.... Then buy a $1000 tikka in a 6.5prc or 6.5cm with the savings and shoot that.

250 grns at 3,100 fps and 5,000 ft lbs is WAY different than any 6.5. The 340 is the way to go.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Thumbs up to the 340 Weatherby as well. Good choice.

 

[davsco]

i had a 340 wby left hand accumark i bought way back in case i ever went elk hunting. sold it as that wasn't in my future, but guess what, i ended up going elk hunting.

i'm not saying the recoil was nothing, but it wasn't bad, and it was def less than a 300wm tikka i had for a short while. good luck with yours!

 

[35WhelenAI]

So many things go into the felt recoil of a rifle. I think the small caliber light recoil has its place but there's no replacement for displacement to a point. A shooter can focus and know that you take one shot on a big game animal. It's not hard to focus through one of anything in life.