Author Topic: 30-378 in mauser (Read 5463 times)

henry1 · « **on:** October 30, 2008, 07:39:14 PM »

hey all, long story short a neighbor of mine has some .30 cal barrels for mauser action and said he would give me one for free, and help me build my first. So I did a little looking and came upon the 30-378. What do you guys think of the idea ect. anybody have any expeiriance with the caliber? I would love to hear about it. I have also thought about the .30-06 Ackly but am not sure yet. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
Henry.

Brithunter · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2008, 11:17:48 PM »

My thoughts on a 30-378 are WHY bother?

Like all Weatherby cartridges it's over rated and overly expensive to feed and all the Wetherby's I have seen or shot were not very accurate so why bother.

The 06 Ackley is a better cartridge and probably far more useful. You also need to take into account the fast rising costs of powder and in the AI chamber normal 30-06 ammunition can be safely used and that's available in lots of place unlike 30-378. In MHO it's a no brainer

but you asked soooooooooooo

billy_56081 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2008, 01:33:01 AM »

Unless this mauser acton is a magnum sized action I cannot seee the 30- 378 fitting it. Also you better have a long barrel to burn all that powder. I would guess you don't have a magnum length mauser action so going with a standard length mag is more of an option.

henry1 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2008, 04:00:54 PM »

Ok thanks for the input fellas.
Henry.

mauser98us · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2009, 06:29:30 PM »

Not gonna fit I concur with the Ackley, or you could go with the 30 Gibbs

oldelkhunter · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2009, 03:24:53 PM »

Case head is too big and the OAL of the cartridge means too much material will have to be removed from that mauser action.

Quote

Like all Weatherby cartridges it's over rated and overly expensive to feed and all the Wetherby's I have seen or shot were not very accurate so why bother.

At 90 dollars abox it is expensive to feed but saying that it is not accurate is pure nonsense. The 30-378 and some of its wildcat derivatives are used in long range shooting competition so not sure what you saw or shot.

Brithunter · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2009, 06:51:21 AM »

Well I have related this before the 30-378 that would have been better used as a boat anchor. The rifle is one of the much vaunted Weatherby MkV's their top of the line. It's a Stainless and synthetic stocked rifle chambered in 30-378 that spent years going back and forwards to Weatherby due to it's total inaccuracy. The only part that is original to how it was first shipped in the action. Weatherby replaced the barrel, stock, re-bedded it, re-crowned it and tweaked it yet accuracy was very poor. If it produced a 3 1/2" group at 100 yards that was good.

Finally the rifle was taken in hand by one of the US's top benchrest smiths who totally blueprinted the action and rifle it now shoots around MOA or a little larger most of the time. Stan perserveered, me I would have dumped the piece of junk. Then there was the MkV 257 WM, fancy wood and again poor accuracy. Din't get involved mush with this apart for shooting it at the range using factory ammo as I don't trust the owner where safety is concerned, next up another MkV this time a 460 WM with Magna Porting. Again fancy wood with the ususal weatherby styled stock and sorry the pistol grip area is awful. Well accuracy was about average nothing steller a mixture of handloads and factory ammo was used my reaction is that I would have none of these even as a gift. I prefer my P-H 1100M in 458 Win mag, looks better and shoots quite well too.

Now there is a guy at the club I belong to now after moving region that has a Weatherby MkV. This one is the best that I have seen and it also seems to be accurate but 1 out of 4 is a very poor batting average I would say. So on my personal experience I can say that thsoe I have handled and shot were 100% crap in the accuray department the one that appears to be good I have not had the chance to shoot myself as yet.

No not nonsense just what I have found.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2009, 12:26:16 PM »

Another option would be a cartidge based on the ultra mag case shortened so it will fit a standard length reciever. It would fall between the 300 win mag and the ultra mag in power and case capacity.

oldelkhunter · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2009, 03:26:43 AM »

Quote

No not nonsense just what I have found.

I know of a guy that has a 30-378 that is about 10 years old. He works for a accuracy gunsmith and his 30-378 inspite of its recoil is extremely impressive. He takes very long shots at little deer and absolutely loves the round. I had a Mark V 300 wthy in SS that shot so consistently well that it was boring and I can go on and on about them.

Hank08 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2009, 05:50:22 AM »

30/06 would be fine but if you have to have a mag then .300 win. mag is easy to do in a standard length action. The short mags might give you feeding problems.
I'm not fan of Weatherby rifles (except the old ones on M98 actions) but the Weatherby cartridges are fine and accuracy of the rifles and cartridges are as good as you'll find in any brand. I've owned and shot and loaded for the 30/378. It shot well but in any cartridge when the case gets too big for the caliber it gets picky as to what it will shoot. I know a shooter who has a 7mm/378 on a Mark5 action. He says it shoots well but even with the slowest powders it'll be interesting to see how long that barrel lasts. The 30/06 would be fine.
H08

chance_livewire · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2009, 06:10:21 PM »

chamber it for a 264 win mag ive killed more deer and coyotes with it than the plague. awsome round and it wont beat you to death.

iiranger · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2009, 06:18:15 AM »

You are in "a can of worms."

So you have a cheap to free barrel in .30. O.K. Threaded for a Mauser? Military Mauser? Mark X is the same. Mausers were designed around cartridges approx. 57 mm long. 8x57, 7x57, 6.5x55, 7.65x53. Etc. I think if you look hard you will find the Weatherby case is way too long for that action AND magazine --you want a single shot. Not to mention, a whole lot bigger around. Even the '06 is 63mm and a bit long. Doable, but not great with longest, heaviest bullets. So if you are thinking of rebarrelling a surplus military... not a great idea.

The .30/378 was designed for 1,000 yard target shooting. Burns a lot of powder. Expensive. Barrel life limited. If this is what you want... You might find a "magnum Mauser" action that will fit these barrels and this case. Expensive. As suggested, other magnums have similar range and enough power for north America. .264. 7 Rem Mag. In .30? .300 Winchester Mag. Tight fit, but doable.

As suggested, the .30/'06 is the North American standard. 1903 to 1950s as service rifle with surplus rifles and ammo and virtually free brass helps popularity a lot. Mr. Ackley improved it and did not recommend the improved version except with heaviest bullets. Mr. Gibbs blew the shoulder forward and got alot more. When the brass was common and cheap, this was great. Today when you buy brass?

.308 Norma [.30/.338 Winchester wildcat is almost identical] is another with great rep that should fit in a military action. Should. Takes work and time and skill. Belted case. You have to open the bolt face. Sounds to me like you have some homework to do and deciding. Your bucks. Luck.

tykempster · « **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2009, 03:51:43 PM »

Unless that barrel is going to finish past 30" the 30-378 will be throwing a nice fireball out of the barrel. If it's a 24" or shorter barrel, a 30-06 Ackley shooting 208 Amaxes would be respectable, between 24"-30" I'd look hard at a 300 Win Mag.

Swampman · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2009, 04:58:05 PM »

If you had a long Mauser action, the .300 H&H would be the one. The AIs are a waste of time.

http://www.reloadersnest.com/article_300hh_oct2803.asp

nomosendero · « **Reply #14 on:** June 07, 2009, 07:30:08 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on June 06, 2009, 04:58:05 PM

If you had a long Mauser action, the .300 H&H would be the one. The AIs are a waste of time.

http://www.reloadersnest.com/article_300hh_oct2803.asp

Really!! Do you think the 300 Wea. would be a waste of time? The 300 Wea. is just a blown out version of the
300 H&H, but with wea. shoulder. Just an "improved" H&H case.

Swampman · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2009, 08:38:20 AM »

The Weatherby actually provides enough velocity increase to make it worthwhile. Personally I'd rather have the .300 H&H than the Weatherby.

nomosendero · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2009, 09:41:40 AM »

I would rather have the 300WM than both with the H&H a distant 3rd, but to each his own.

Swampman · « **Reply #17 on:** June 07, 2009, 09:47:03 AM »

In a dangerous game rifle, those steep shoulders will get you killed. The old timers knew that.

nomosendero · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2009, 10:03:00 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on June 07, 2009, 09:47:03 AM

In a dangerous game rifle, those steep shoulders will get you killed. The old timers knew that.

Problem is, it would not be a dangerous game rifle.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2009, 01:59:15 PM »

I vote for the 30-06 AI I love mine

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** June 07, 2009, 05:01:00 PM »

Like the Bible, the .30-06 shouldn't be tamperd with. It's perfect.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #21 on:** June 08, 2009, 01:07:26 PM »

Swamp, you like yours like it is great Im happy for you I like mlne as an AI I like more options with mine. I can still shoot standard 06 ammo acurately or load it up if I want

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** June 08, 2009, 01:33:43 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on June 07, 2009, 09:47:03 AM

In a dangerous game rifle, those steep shoulders will get you killed. The old timers knew that.

I agree with the sentiment that of the .300H&H, .300 WM and .300 WBY, my first chice - by a considerable margin - would be (and was) the .300 Win Mag.

Last time I got charged by an elk or deer or antelope was ..... like never.

What is just as likely - or more so -to get you killed with dangerous game is a push-feed rifle like the Rem M700. The "old timers" knew that, too.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #23 on:** June 08, 2009, 01:52:24 PM »

Quote from: nomosendero on June 07, 2009, 09:41:40 AM

I would rather have the 300WM than both with the H&H a distant 3rd, but to each his own.

Ditto here, .300 Rem Mag by a wide margin. The H&H would be my last choice, also by a wide margin.

Swampman · « **Reply #24 on:** June 08, 2009, 01:59:33 PM »

The whole controled round feed thing is crap. The H&H is designed to feed. The others are designed to jam the rifle.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #25 on:** June 08, 2009, 02:25:33 PM »

I really I mean really hate this but I sorta kinda maybe agree with swamp. I have never owned a control round feed rifle. I have used push feed bolt guns. Never had a feed problem with any of them. All are mauser actions and again never had a problem feeding

Swampman · « **Reply #26 on:** June 08, 2009, 02:41:10 PM »

The Remington will feed every time, even upside down. If you short stroke it there can be a problem. That not the gun's fault.

Personally I'd hunt anything anywhere with a Remington 700.

JustaShooter · « **Reply #27 on:** June 08, 2009, 04:06:53 PM »

squirrellluck, unless I'm mistaken if it is a Mauser action, it is controlled feed.

What I like about the controlled feed actions is that they can extract rounds that push feed actions might not be able to. I've helped quite a few folks at the range extract stuck cases from their Remmington 700s. I've never had, nor ever had to help anyone who has had, a stuck round in a controlled feed action.

A stuck round would sure make it hard to take that follow up shot...

I'm just sayin'

Just a Shooter

Swampman · « **Reply #28 on:** June 08, 2009, 04:14:15 PM »

You guys really come up with some stuff. Bad reloads might stick. Factory loads (all that should be used on dangerous game) will never stick.

nomosendero · « **Reply #29 on:** June 08, 2009, 05:58:08 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on June 08, 2009, 04:14:15 PM

You guys really come up with some stuff. Bad reloads might stick. Factory loads (all that should be used on dangerous game) will never stick.

Oh really, then why did you say that non H&H rounds were DESIGNED to jam. You are doing well arguing with yourself.