Question about 338/378 Weatherby Mag...

[dammdoggs]

Anyone reload for this cartridge? If so, are you finding you need to crimp for hotter rounds? A buddy of mine is going to start reloading for this cartridge, and I'm wondering if we're going to get any bullet creep from the unchambered rounds...

From what I can tell of the factory ammo... if it is crimped, it's not much of one...

Thanks for any input someone may have on this..

[BrownBear]

A buddy of mine in one of the lower states has one he uses for long range elk sniping. He had the same concerns, and managed to get the bottom bullet in a magazine to set back, but he had to leave it there through 17 or 18 firings before it happened. Before he managed that, he did get some nose flattening when he had bullets seated way out.

He doesn't crimp, rather he polished a little off the expander button in his sizing die, then made sure he had a decent chamfer in the case mouths. He got that solution from me because I had to do it for my ultralight 375 H&H, and it worked like a champ.

My reaction is to shoot it first, maybe even do some "torture testing" like my bud did. I bet the answer is different for each brand of rifle, and maybe even from one rifle to the next.

[redale]

I have been reloading this round since it came out. I do not crimp. I have never had a round set back or creep out. Mine chrnograph at over 3000 fps. Te rifle is a weatherby.

[dammdoggs]

thats what I figured... thanks guys for the input

[back country]

anyone who "has to" snipe at elk instead of "hunting" elk is too dam n lazy for my taste and all you 338/378 afficianado's can have that overbore behemoth and your easy chairs ya sit in while you shoot (oops, h u n t with em) - before the hate mail starts flyin let me say that I went through that stage ... and grew out of it

[dammdoggs]

anyone who "has to" snipe at elk instead of "hunting" elk is too dam n lazy for my taste and all you 338/378 afficianado's can have that overbore behemoth and your easy chairs ya sit in while you shoot (oops, h u n t with em) - before the hate mail starts flyin let me say that I went through that stage ... and grew out of it

Although we will not be hunting elk... the nice thing about these large cartridges, is the ability to dumb them down and make it very pleasant to shoot, on any game... or bring it to the other end of the scale, and go whale hunting if you choose to...lol

Guess I'm not sure if you reload or not... but when you have the ability to construct your own ammunition, it opens the window of possibilities for ANY firearm...

I'm surprised it only took 5 posts before someone had to come in with the hate...lol

[Murphy]

Although we will not be hunting elk... the nice thing about these large cartridges, is the ability to dumb them down and make it very pleasant to shoot, on any game... or bring it to the other end of the scale, and go whale hunting if you choose to...lol

Guess I'm not sure if you reload or not... but when you have the ability to construct your own ammunition, it opens the window of possibilities for ANY firearm...

I'm surprised it only took 5 posts before someone had to come in with the hate...lol

How much down loading can you do with this big case? I've loaded a lot of ammo for this and the 3o and don't find it capable of down loading as one might with a 30-06 or 308. I've never found a propellant that would allow for good, light loads in this 416 Rigby sized canister.

As for crimping any rifle cartridge, there needs to be a crimp groove if you crimp. Without a groove, if you have a taper crimp you can squeeze them down some but I've not found that to do anything but make accuracy suffer. I don't think it is needed in these smaller calibers anyway.

[redale]

"As for crimping any rifle cartridge, there needs to be a crimp groove if you crimp." Murphy is correct, but also just because it has a crimp groove does not mean you have to crimp. I load 250gr. Hornady right to the crimp groove but don't crimp. I think I get better accuracy without the crimp as stated by Murphy.

[back country]

No "hate" but maybe a little "disdain" .... I just don't see the point in giving fuel to a fire that has no point - maybe we could come up with a cartridge that runs on JP-4 or s stick of TNT, now THAT would kill an elk ! I suppose as I get older (and older) I have less patience or understanding for a flippant attitude toward the game "we" pursue but I'll be the first to shoot a prairie dog so it flips 6' in the air (bloodthirsty) so I guess I'm a hypocrite ... I had to quit watchin' the outdoor channel since the "capitalists" took over playin' their shows of 3 guys huntin' (snipin' actually) nice bulls and bucks while sharing one specialty rifle amongst 'em, near anyone can learn (or be taught) to shoot long distances to some degree of success but a "hunter" that does not make, I do "hate" the focus on the shooting rather than the game ...

[dammdoggs]

How much down loading can you do with this big case? I've loaded a lot of ammo for this and the 3o and don't find it capable of down loading as one might with a 30-06 or 308. I've never found a propellant that would allow for good, light loads in this 416 Rigby sized canister.

As for crimping any rifle cartridge, there needs to be a crimp groove if you crimp. Without a groove, if you have a taper crimp you can squeeze them down some but I've not found that to do anything but make accuracy suffer. I don't think it is needed in these smaller calibers anyway.

Well since neither of us have reloaded for this cartridge before, I guess it is somewhat unknown how much they can be dumbed down (As far as what we know anyway). I reload for the 338 lapua, and I have found trail boss with a good 5gr base charge to be very accurate out to 100yrds or so (Thats the furthest I've shot it with the duplex loads), with the recoil of a 308... maybe slightly less

I guess the assumption was that, because these two cartridges are so similar, that we could get similar results.

As far as crimping goes, I never start off crimping, crimp groove or not. I only crimp if it is necessary (hot/heavy 454 casull rounds for instance). If I find I need to crimp, but the bullet does not have a crimp groove (Or it's in the wrong place), I change to a bullet that does, or I rework the load down to where it is no longer needed.

On some cases (The cases I bell), only enough crimp to close the case back up is used.

No "hate" but maybe a little "disdain" .... I just don't see the point in giving fuel to a fire that has no point - maybe we could come up with a cartridge that runs on JP-4 or s stick of TNT, now THAT would kill an elk ! I suppose as I get older (and older) I have less patience or understanding for a flippant attitude toward the game "we" pursue but I'll be the first to shoot a prairie dog so it flips 6' in the air (bloodthirsty) so I guess I'm a hypocrite ... I had to quit watchin' the outdoor channel since the "capitalists" took over playin' their shows of 3 guys huntin' (snipin' actually) nice bulls and bucks while sharing one specialty rifle amongst 'em, near anyone can learn (or be taught) to shoot long distances to some degree of success but a "hunter" that does not make, I do "hate" the focus on the shooting rather than the game ...

I agree with you to a certain degree. I can't stand the "Product pushing" on the outdoor/hunting channels/shows either... rarely do I watch them, because of that... There are plenty of people that are running around with these calibers out in the field, using them for reasons I would consider silly... but again, to each their own (Atleast thats my feeling about it).

I think the attraction to these kinds of "Big bore" overkill rounds, is as much about recreation as it is hunting (Atleast for myself, and the guys I shoot/hunt with). These exotic calibers have great long distance capability, and pushing these rounds out long distances, is fun IMO... The recreational "target shooting" aspect of these rifles is a blast (Pardon the pun), and the fact that you can also effectively hunt with then as well, is an added bonus...

[back country]

NOW YA GOT ME ... why in the heck would you want to "down load" this one, of all cartridges ? to the recoil of a .308 ? why not just shoot a .308 in a nice lightweight rifle that holds 5 rounds and is cheaper to load for in all respects ? ... and if I mistakenly stated that "I have not loaded for this round" I mispoke but it was when they first came out - the 378 "class" is what caused me to quit my custom handload and accurizing business in 2002, after "working" with 1/2 dozen in 300 then 338 that arrived at my shop doorstep I developed the worst flinch ever and that year's prairie dog shoot was a disaster, I was getting headaches and the people who sent me these guns ?? another story altogether - even the RUM pales in this bruiser's shadow (I think as that one I have not loaded for) market hype ... capitalism at it's best ! but we ALL have to pay the bills I guess

[dammdoggs]

NOW YA GOT ME ... why in the heck would you want to "down load" this one, of all cartridges ? to the recoil of a .308 ? why not just shoot a .308 in a nice lightweight rifle that holds 5 rounds and is cheaper to load for in all respects ? ... and if I mistakenly stated that "I have not loaded for this round" I mispoke but it was when they first came out - the 378 "class" is what caused me to quit my custom handload and accurizing business in 2002, after "working" with 1/2 dozen in 300 then 338 that arrived at my shop doorstep I developed the worst flinch ever and that year's prairie dog shoot was a disaster, I was getting headaches and the people who sent me these guns ?? another story altogether - even the RUM pales in this bruiser's shadow (I think as that one I have not loaded for) market hype ... capitalism at it's best ! but we ALL have to pay the bills I guess

Well... why does someone put a high performance motor in a crappy car? Is it necessary? No... but if the person doing it enjoys that aspect of his hobbie... whats the big deal?

Learning the overall capabilities of the rifle and cartridge is part of the appeal to me (And many others, BION). Will I ever use the majority of the developed rounds for anything but paper? Most likely not... but again, the aspect of load development (In my endeavors anyway) is not strictly for hunting purposes...

[redale]

[QUOTE=back country;957299]NOW after "working" with 1/2 dozen in 300 then 338 that arrived at my shop doorstep I developed the worst flinch ever and that year's prairie dog shoot was a disaster, I was getting headaches and the people who sent me these guns ?? another story altogether -

Interesting. My son and the next door neighbors son used to go to the range with me and they both loved the 338-378 full loads. I bet the 500yd ringer at the Three Forks range in Montana still has pock marks from that rifle. They were 14 years old at the time. Both boys still shoot and neither has developed a flinch. Neither have I for that matter. AND THE PRARIE DOG HUNTING WAS FANTASTIC.

[jkb]

No "hate" but maybe a little "disdain" .... I just don't see the point in giving fuel to a fire that has no point - maybe we could come up with a cartridge that runs on JP-4 or s stick of TNT, now THAT would kill an elk ! I suppose as I get older (and older) I have less patience or understanding for a flippant attitude toward the game "we" pursue but I'll be the first to shoot a prairie dog so it flips 6' in the air (bloodthirsty) so I guess I'm a hypocrite ... I had to quit watchin' the outdoor channel since the "capitalists" took over playin' their shows of 3 guys huntin' (snipin' actually) nice bulls and bucks while sharing one specialty rifle amongst 'em, near anyone can learn (or be taught) to shoot long distances to some degree of success but a "hunter" that does not make, I do "hate" the focus on the shooting rather than the game ...

We can own any rifle we want that's what is great about america till the "communists" get their way. Takes about the same amount of effort to learn you way around the woods as it does to become a great shooter! Some people can even do both.

[back country]

driving a fast car doesn't "hurt" anyone ... until that guy runs someone off the road or hotrods around and causes an accident -

I'm not goin' "here" no more ... shoot your 338/378 "full loads" at the "500 yd ringer" all week long, I don't care, ENJOY IT !!

"H U N T I N G" vs. "S H O O T I N G" I cannot and WOULD NOT impose person beliefs on any other (commie or liberal trait) BUT I will be pissed off when the "folks" who think it outdoorsy or manly to snipe at game without regard for that game ruin it for the rest of us .... "AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT" ...