Weatherby .375 Mag.

[crslght]

I just came across a Weatherby .375 magnum. The stock and barrel both looked in good shape while the action had obviously fired a number of rounds. I wasn't able to test fire it because the seller didn't have any ammo and wasn't willing to spend about $100 to buy a box. Since I was able to get it for $300, I bought it without firing. I'm not real familiar with the weapon except to say I know it was intended for use in hunting dangerous game. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I don't have any first hand experience with it but it sounds like quite the find! I use a .375 H&H for elk and that's 200fps faster.

In case you haven't seen these:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/375weatherby.htm
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3332767

 

[Gordon]

You stole that .375 Weatherby. You CAN fire .375 H&H in it for $30 a box for the standard 270 grain stuff. That would be plenty for anything in the lower 48-at least! You will get about 100 FPS less than the velocity of a standard .375 H&H BUT will be left with PERFECT .375 Weatherby cases that can get you at least 100 fps MORE than any standard .375 H&H
BTW I'll give you $450 sight unseen if it is a Weatherby Southgate gun!

 

[crslght]

.375 Weatherby

Not familiar with the Southgate Weatherby. How would I determine if this is or isn't the case.

Just FYI, I took it to Cabela's for a quick check after buying it and they offered me $550. Think I'm going to hang on to it for a bit since I'm planning to go bear hunting in Canada next spring and was thinking of using it instead of my .300 WIN Mag.

 

[TonyRumore]

The early Weatherbys were built on FN actions and will have a traditional two lug bolt. Those are quite desireable collectibles. Later, Roy designed his own action with the 3 rows/collums making a 9 lug bolt.

I am not sure of the timing here, so maybe someone can fill in the blanks, but the big .460/378 Weatherby case was also made after the smaller .375 Weatherby. So I am not sure if there were ever any .460/378's made on FN actions or any .375's made on Weatherby actions.......

Tony

 

[Gordon]

Weatherby made .375 Weatherby on FN and other Mauser 98 actions until the advent of the MK 5 action. The FN actions are Marked Weatherby Southgate on the receiver. The larger .378/.460 Weatherby were made for a few years in the late50s early 60s on a Shultz and Larsen action then the Mark 5 action in the 2nd year of it's production.
I have a Schultz and Larsen cannon .378 and a Southgate FN .300 Weatherby. I WANT a Southgate .375 Weatherby as it is easy to reload for and more reasonable to shoot!

 

[SpeedAKL]

Has anyone fired both .375 and .378 Wby? Both are obviously going to feel like artillery pieces, but is there a noticeable difference?

 

[Leaky Waders]

I had been reading on the 375 weatherby for sometime. Recently got a 257 and won't be able to fire it until I get back to the states.

I was wondering how accurate 375 h and h was when shot from the 375 weatherby...same point of aim? Higher lower not enough for the average shooter to know the difference?

 

[Gordon]

My .378 Weatherby is an unpleasant cannon!
I hunt/shoot .375H&H alot and it is not bad , about like a 12gauge with magnum loads. A .375Weatherby shoots .375H&H about 100 FPS slower in the bigger chamber from my research. That should not affect POI much on that alone, but each riflle is different where it hits with various loads.

 

[crslght]

I've done a bit more examining and have removed the scope mounts. Under the forward mount it says "US MODEL OF 1917 REMINGTON" plus the serial number. So the question now is even though it has .375 WBY stamped in the barrel and the clasic Weatherby stock, is it really a Weatherby or is it something else?

 

[Jonny V]

The 375 Weatherby is one of the cartridges that started it all off for Weatherby. Any chance for some photos?

 

[Gordon]

it IS possible Weatherby made it in the great action shortage right after WW2 BUT it will be marked Weatherby on left side of action , not just .375 Weatherby on the barrel. The 1917 Enfield IS a good large bore action, maybe the best.

 

[dubbleA]

Has anyone fired both .375 and .378 Wby? Both are obviously going to feel like artillery pieces, but is there a noticeable difference?

Yes I have, there is quite a bit of difference. The 378 WBY is just nasty stuff without a brake. I compare the recoil simular to my 416 Rigby's. My 375 H&H is a pussycat compared the the 378.

I still have a few boxes of Weatherby 378 Wby 270gr Barnes X factory ammo from when I had one if anyone is interested.

 

[crslght]

.375 Weatherby Photos

Including some photos.

 

[Jonny V]

From what I remember, Weatherby started off with Mausers, but he ended up using a couple different actions before the Mark V was brought forth. I would have that looked at by someone with lots of Weatherby knowledge before I did anything with it. You never know, could be some sort of "one-off" thing.....

As it is, it's beautiful. You can fire-form brass for it, and then reload and shoot to your heart's content. I'm jealous.

 

[TonyRumore]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I believe the 1917 Enfield cocks on closing, not opening of the bolt unless it was converted. I don't think many guys are going to want a cock-on-closing big game gun these days.......

Tony

 

[Gordon]

Nice gun, but NOT a Weatherby manufactured one! They were proud of their Weatherby name and never abreviated it. They put their name on the side of the receiver on all the actions they used.

 

[crslght]

Curious, and pardon my ignorance, but why would cocking on opening or closing be a significant issue? If the rifle can't be fired until the bolt is fully closed, what difference would it make? I would think it wouldn't matter as long as the weapon is cocked and ready to fire at the same time as the bolt is fully closed.

 

[natman]

That's an Enfield P14 that's been sporterized, rebarreled and chambered for 375 WBY. Probably a nice gun, but not a Weatherby.

------------

The 375 WBY is a sort of 375 H&H improved with the classic Weatherby shoulders. OTOH, the 378 WBY uses the larger 460 WBY case necked down.

 

[S. Hill]

I agree with natman that it was not manufactured by Weatherby. It looks like a very nice rifle, but not one of theirs. The whole “California” look was made popular by Weatherby, and this is a great example of that style.

Cock-on-close isn't a problem, as long as you get used to the feel of pushing against the main spring as you close the bolt. Mr. Mauser thought that it was more efficient to cam the striker/firing pin back as the bolt was opened, and made the transition when designing the Mod. 98.