The Cartridges Of Weatherby

Guns Magazine, Sept, 2001 by Dave Anderson

.228 Weatherby

Based on the belted Holland & Holland case, this cartridge fired the 70 gr., 0.228" bullet used in the .22 Savage Hi-Power. Only a few were ever built, and the cartridge was never part of the commercial line.

.224 Weatherby

A high-speed .22 with a case featuring the distinctive double-radius shoulder and belt, it was offered in a special version of the Weatherby rifle called the Varmintmaster. As currently loaded, it fires a 55 gr. bullet at 3,650 fps.

.240 Weatherby

The .240 was introduced in 1968, though Weatherby experimented with it several years earlier. The .240 remains the hottest commercial 6mm.

.257 Weatherby

The .257, .270. and 7mm. Weatherby magnums are similar in size and capacity, and are all based on the .300 H&H case shortened to 2.545". Today, more than 50 years after its introduction, the .257 Weatherby remains king of the factory .25s.

.270 Weatherby

The .270 was the first of the belted Weatherby cartridges. Current factory ammunition is loaded by Weatherby in weights from 100 to 150 gr., including two 140 gr. loads.

7mm Weatherby

The 7mm is another early development. Factories offer ammunition in weights from 139 to 175 gr. If you're of the "one gun-one load" persuasion, the 160 gr. Nosler Partition at 3,200 fps is hard to beat.

.300 Weatherby

The superstar, the most popular by far of all Weatherby rounds, and one of the world's great cartridges. Current ammunition is loaded in weights from 150 to 220 gr. and includes fine bullets such as the Nosler Ballistic Tip, Nosler Partition and Barnes X bullets.

.30/.378 Weatherby

The powerhouse of Weatherby's .30 caliber line. Current factory loads yield 3,450 fps with 180 gr. Barnes bullets.

.338-'06

This relatively mild load is somewhat of an anomaly among the Weatherby line. The one load currently offered is a good one, the 210 gr. Partition at 2,750 fps.

.340 Weatherby

Announced in 1962, the .340 is based on the .300 case necked up to accept .338" bullets. Loaded with 225 to 230 gr. bullets, it shoots as flat as the famous .270 Winchester but with 100 gr. more bullet weight. Factory loads with weights from 200 to 250 gr. are available.

.338/.378 Weatherby

The third .338-caliber cartridge in the line, this one is based on the big .378 case. It adds some 200 fps to the already high velocities achieved by the .340. It hits fast and hard at both ends.

.375 Weatherby

This is an improved version of the famous .375 H&H cartridge blown out to straighter form for increased capacity and some 200 fps more velocity. It was dropped from the line after the introduction of the .378 in 1953. Recently it has been reintroduced, a good move since a 300 gr. bullet at 2,800 fps is about as much power as most hunters need or can use.

.378 Weatherby

Shortly after beginning production of his cartridges based on the .300 H&H case, Weatherby started looking for an even bigger case. He found it in the .416 Rigby. Weatherby arranged to have a belted version of the .416 case made, necked it down to accept .375" bullets, and in 1953 announced the .378 Weatherby.

.416 Weatherby

The .416 Weatherby, announced in 1989, has the same capacity as the Rigby case but is loaded to higher pressures. Where the Rigby fires 400 gr. bullets at 2,400 fps, the Weatherby version hits 2,700 fps with the same bullet weight.

.460 Weatherby

If there was ever an "in your face" cartridge, the .460 is it. Weatherby took the .378 case, expanded it to take .458' bullets, and loaded 500 gr. bullets to 2,700 fps with a muzzle energy of over 8,000 ft./lbs. Current loads have backed down slightly, to 2,700 fps with 450 gr. Barnes X bullets and 2,600 fps with 500 gr. bullets. So far no one has complained about any lack of power.