I'm getting a 30-378 Weatherby. I am looking for the right type of bullet that is around the 200 grain mark. Wanting something that will open properly from from 200 yards to 1000 yards. I also handload for my rifles. I am looking at hunting mule deer, elk, moose, ect..
Finding the right bullet to hunt with.
- Thread starter Hawkes
- Start date
Hilltop
Veteran member
Welcome to the forum. Hawkes, I'll start by saying I'm no expert. My friend has one of these rifles and it really likes the 200 grain Accubond. My limited internet research found a lot of different bullets that will work but the Accubond was a consistently in the recommendations so we tried it and have had good results.
Please go over to the new members section and give an introduction. This is an awesome forum with a lot of great guys who are willing to help those that contribute back.
Please go over to the new members section and give an introduction. This is an awesome forum with a lot of great guys who are willing to help those that contribute back.
dan maule
Veteran member
I have a 30-378 WBY and agree with Hilltop. The 200 grain Accubond is probably your best bet. I was using 180 Barnes TSX and had really good luck with them but was scarred away from them due to the barrel fouling and I did not want to reduce the barrel life any more than necessary.
okielite
Banned
I have a 30-378 that likes Berger 210's. I've shot both the HSM and the loads from Gunwerks. I like that load when I am hunting right on the border of private as I've never had one go far. Best bet is to try a few different loads and see what you gun likes. Unfortunately they are crazy expensive.
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I'm old school and I love the performance of Nosler Partitions in my .300 Wby. I have shot them for years on everything from moose on down and wouldn't change if given any other bullet free! My 30-06 & 25-06 likes Sierra Game Kings which I have also used for over 50 years.
Dead is dead and the animal doesn't know what bullet made him into dinners for my family!!
Dead is dead and the animal doesn't know what bullet made him into dinners for my family!!
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
I just went through this process of selecting a 30 caliber bullet to develop a new load for my 300 WSM and I have 2 boxes of 200 grain Accubonds in shipment right now. I have shot the 165 grain Accubonds for years, with great results on elk, sheep, deer and antelope. I tend to like a high shoulder shot, with an expanding bullet for elk. I have been wanting to to extend my effective range to around 800 yards, and still have the bullet retain around 1500 ft-lbs of energy and expand property at that range. The Accubonds appear to expand well to velocities as low as 1800 fps from what I have researched. I am expecting to have a load for the 300 WSM that will have at least 1500 ft-lbs of energy and a velocity of 1800 fps at 750 yards. You should be able to extend that range with your 30-378 with that bullet.
Now...for very long range, the current mindset seems to be a higher BC "fragmenting" bullet with a lung shot to the ribs (not a bone breaking shot through the shoulders), although that is outside of my own personal experience. Although the BC is higher on the 210 Bergers (which I already have on hand) I elected not to go with them at this time. I DO plan to develop a load for them in the future, for longer range shots (over 800 yards, hopefully with dial in corrections using the Accubonds as my primary load for shots under 750 yards). My concern with the Bergers is that they kill by fragmentation and I have heard reports (again not personal experience) that they can do some significant meat damage at high velocities. Therefore, I have been concerned what the Berger (or other fragmenting designs) would do to meat inside say 200 yards or so. That is why I chose an expanding bullet (which I have had good experience with) for shots inside 750 yards with a 300 WSM.
Now...for very long range, the current mindset seems to be a higher BC "fragmenting" bullet with a lung shot to the ribs (not a bone breaking shot through the shoulders), although that is outside of my own personal experience. Although the BC is higher on the 210 Bergers (which I already have on hand) I elected not to go with them at this time. I DO plan to develop a load for them in the future, for longer range shots (over 800 yards, hopefully with dial in corrections using the Accubonds as my primary load for shots under 750 yards). My concern with the Bergers is that they kill by fragmentation and I have heard reports (again not personal experience) that they can do some significant meat damage at high velocities. Therefore, I have been concerned what the Berger (or other fragmenting designs) would do to meat inside say 200 yards or so. That is why I chose an expanding bullet (which I have had good experience with) for shots inside 750 yards with a 300 WSM.
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Sawfish
Very Active Member
I have used the 200 gr. Nosler Partition in my 300 Weatherby for over 30 years. Not one elk ever complained (or got away).
okielite
Banned
If you shoot an antelope or deer with a 210 berger out of a 30-378 it will damage some meat. The last antelope I shot with mine at about 150 yards. It shattered both shoulders and about a grapefruit size chunk of meat/shoulder was missing on the back side where the bullet exited.
I think you woud have extensive damage with almost any rifle if you hit an antelope on the shoulder. I try to hit just behind the shoulder so you only loose a few ribs especially on antelope since they are so small and the meat so tasty.
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sra61
Member
I have shot Barnes TSX in 180 grains for years out of my 300 RUM. I ended up with a load that was well above the advertised max because it just kept getting more accurate. I finally stopped when I started to see primer flattening, and backed off a touch, but it's still smoking! I've killed quite a few elk, deer and antelope and have never had a bullet perform less than perfectly no matter what the range was. The gun's still tack driving accurate and I have never seen any detrimental fouling. I love the Barnes TSX bullets and shoot them in my old .338, and my little .300 SAUM. I don't shoot anything else.
Okay, Highjack time... apologies but I just bought a 338 RUM and am trying to decide between the 225 TTSX and a 250 Accubond, Partition, Game King, or going whole hog with a 300 Accubond or SMK. I won't take a shot on game over 600 yards but I'm most interested in accuracy and flat out oomph at hunting ranges. This is my open country elk rig, the Whelen is still my go to for the mountains or anyplace I know my shots will be inside 300 yards. Advice, thoughts, fire away and thanks.