300 WBY vs 340 WBY: Battle of the Brothers

In this video I compare the 300 Weatherby to the 340 Weatherby. Both share the same case. Which one is more powerful? Which one has flatter trajectory? Come find out!

[@michaelthurston4117]

I have had both and sold my 300 and keep the 340. I love it. It's a great gun

[@jameswilson5562]

I own both the 340 is way more than the 300

[@davidshaban7309]

Absolutely l also have both

[@outdooranalyst8697]

My 300 weatherby is in a Winchester model 70 xtr and it has been my go to for everything from Blackbuck to Buffalo for years . I picked up a 340 in a Weatherby Mark V with a break this year and I can say without a doubt it is so much more comfortable to shoot. I highly recommend a break for the 340.

[@criticalbo]

I saw one of those Winchesters in 300wby a few years ago. I should have bought it just for the novelty of it.

[@jaybailleaux630]

When i was a kid back in the 60s and 70s, the 300 Weatherby was considered the ultimate magnum during the magnumitus days. 300 Weatherby was what white collar and insecure blue collars workers bought. Us poor folks used 270 , 30-06 and 7mm Remington magnums. Us deer hunters from the southern states felt we need heavy artillery if we had a chance to hunt Elk in the Rockies. I kow for a fact 300 Weatherby can take Elk at long ranges because I witnessed it first hand more than once. Im not an owner of a 300 Weatherby but hunted with those that do. It is too much gun for me. If needed a big gun , i think the 340 would be it. A 250 gr. Partition fired from a 340 Weatherby would be devastating. If you were on a plains game hunt in Africa but was threatened by a Lion or Buff. I think the 340 Weatherby could do the job to protect you from fangs and horns. The 375 Weatherby would even be better and legally able to hunt dangerous game in Africa.

[@bustabass9025]

I would argue that these two cartridges revolutionized the magnum rifle hunting and shooting game. Father Roy's concept of a .30 and .33 caliber bullet flying at such high velocities compared to then contemporary rounds, pretty much defined long range, sure kill hunting with heavyweight projectiles nearly 80 years ago! These two beauties definitely hit that sweet spot, and are still among the favorites in my collection for just about anything walking.

[@georgejohnsmith]

I did not know that Roy Weatherby was a priest.

[@jamesbromstead4949]

@@georgejohnsmith It's honorary.. just like Saint Browning

[@georgejohnsmith]

@@jamesbromstead4949 He deserves an honorary priesthood, I'll give you that. Because he was preaching a lot of nonsense. The marketing bs about the double radius shoulder on the case is one thing. It does not increase muzzle velocity (as claimed), but it is absolutely necessary from a case manufacturing technology viewpoint (he never mentioned that, did he?). Well, at least that lie did not hurt anyone. The other one, on the other hand, about his cartridges being so high-velocity that proper shot placement was not necessary, that caused a lot of suffering to many animals, and a lot of confusion to novice hunters. Roy is getting roasted in hell for that one alone. He is like the current Hornady marketing crew to me.

[@jamesbromstead4949]

@@georgejohnsmith Never meet your hero's, never date your cushes, and never mind the man behind the curtain.

[@georgejohnsmith]

@@jamesbromstead4949 Yeah, yeah. Ignorance is strength. I know. :)

[@AlaskanBallistics]

Both are great cartridges great video man

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks 👍

[@jrhunt414]

If you like 340 wby you’ll like 375 wby. If only we could get a Vanguard in 340 or 375.

[@markcox2870]

Vanguard is heresy to the Weatherby name :)

[@guypoulin6929]

​@@markcox2870 Yeah, Vanguard isn't a real Weatherby lol

[@hopefulballistics]

I would prefer the 300, but the 340 is cool none the less.

[@eduardoolaechea]

Both great cartridges! Thanks for the video.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for watching!

[@criticalbo]

I have both and every time I reach for the 340wby. Its the hammer of thor. Ive had them in custom built 6lb rifles and currently have one left that is a factory Accumark. I will always have a 340wby. Ive taken everything from antelope to Elk and the only animal that took a step after the first shot was funny enough an antelope buck. He ran 20 yds and tipped over. I took a bull at a measured 7 steps and at the shot it took him off his feet, as in up in the air and then straight back down collapsed.

[@concreteandgrading]

Wow awesome man

[@Funting3417]

I have both of these, and I choose to shoot the 340 more then the 300. The recoil of the 340 isn't bad. I think the 300 is a real sharp recoil

[@brettmakoviney7120]

You know what my dad has both also and side by side I can't tell the difference!!??

[@Funting3417]

I need to send you a 340 cartridge so you can have one in your collection

[@rickycrazyhunter8530]

Definitely need to get you a 340. Once you touch the trigger on it you'll never look back.

[@bigracer3867]

Nice vid Weatherby man!🤘🏻

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks

[@thebleeb1681]

I just sold my 340 Accumark after 9 years of fun. It was an absolute elk hammer, and accurate as all get-out. I made the move to lightweight missile launchers as I get older while I'm still able to climb the West's backcountry.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

What did you get?

[@gerry6.8]

3 years ago I could have bought a scoped left hand Accumark 340 Wby with dies and brass for a reasonable price. Wish I would have, those are hard to come by.

[@robertblumer2578]

I have a friend I call Cowboy !!! He uses a .340 Weatherby Mag for Hunting Whitetail Deer and Coyotes here in Missouri !!!

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I'm sure it's effective

[@robertblumer2578]

@@ReloadingWeatherby I reload Hornady 225 grain SST’s over a heavy dose of H4831SC st 3,000 fps he loves them. He calls them Red Rockets !!!

[@johnvillalovos5082]

Nice video! I think the additional recoil is worth the added performance in terms of hitting harder. The additional bullet diameter and bullet weight can make a discernible difference for elk, moose, the great bears and similarly sized African game. I have a 338-378 and some loads are with 262 gr. Hammers that will do just that very nicely, I’m sure! Haven’t used them on game yet. About 2,950 FPS and over 5,000 ft. lbs. of M.E. But, I’m still looking to add a 340 to my collection! Love the .338 bore!

[@tacticalmattfoley]

Why choose a 340WBY when 338-378WBY exists? Seriously? If you can shoot a 300WBY, a 338-378WBY is no problem. Out of an Accumark with a muzzle break, the recoil of my 338-378WBY is easy to manage. Both push a 338cal pill, so why not push it faster? My 16gauge double barrel LC Smith that was my first experience with firearms as a 12YO has more recoil than my 338-378WBY..

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Just a personal preference. I think the 378 version is a beast. But it really needs a 30 inch barrel

[@tacticalmattfoley]

@@ReloadingWeatherby understandable!

[@johnvillalovos5082]

The 338-378 is definitely impressive to shoot. I agree, the recoil is not bad at all with the brake. But, you can definitely tell that the cartridge needs a longer barrel. The smoke produced with a standard 26-28 inch barrel reminded me of a muzzleloader! A bit of exaggeration, lol! But, not all of that powder is getting burned in a standard length barrel. But, with that said, in factory ammo it has about the same velocity and energy at a hundred yards, as a 340 at the muzzle.

[@markloomis1415]

The 340 Weatherby can be had with a #2 contour barrel which is lighter. The 338-378 always has a #3 contour barrel. I love long range shooting steel with my 338-378 but for hunting I like carrying my 340 a little better.

[@fritzd2116]

The 340 is a thumper. Had an Accumark years ago that I put around 700 rounds through? I remember running the factory 250 gr partition over an Oehler chronograph and seeing a consistent 2950-2990 fps. I could never even get close to that with hand loads? Best I saw was around 2830 with a heavy charge of RL25. Loose primer pockets after 2-3 loads in Norma/Wby brass. That was a bit disappointing. Never did get to hunt brown bear (or Hartmann’s Zebra) with it, but it sure thumped other big critters!

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for sharing

[@ek6478]

I was wondering is the 375 wby the same case as the 6.5/300 , 300,and 340 wby but just necked up more for the 375 caliber bullet?

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Yes it's the same case

[@WilliamKister]

I have a .340 Weatherby. When you get up to the 250 grain bullets is where it really starts to shine. For an all copper, that Barnes 225 grain TTSX is a good do it all bullet though. The 265 grain Accubond Long Range gives a big energy boost down range.

[@07Gixxer]

Im thinking of buying a 30-378 and rebarreling my 300 to a 340..... Or rebarrel the 30 378 and keep the 300...... Which one 🤔🤔

[@brettmakoviney7120]

You know my dad has every WeaTHERBY available and his love of his life his custom 300 my mom bought for him!!! I would stay with the 300,,,I've never seen anyone need anything more!!! But yeah that extra boom power is damn cool ❤❤❤

[@user-ku3is1on8n]

The Fourth edition HORNADY loading book has the 340 WEATHERBY shooting the 225 GR 3100 FPS.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I've easily hit 3100 FPS with my 340 Weatherby

[@timothythumma9589]

I have them both. The 2.0 300 & .340 Alaskan made in Japan. Recoil is subjective. Whether you “need” a .340 bee or not is up to you. I’ve many variants in .30 mags including wildcats and a number of .338 chamberings. I don’t own a Lapua but don’t need it cause my Alaskan can fill that niche cheaper. It just comes down to you. note: does one or the other kill anything deader? For me, I like heavy hitters specially in Alaska. Being 67 I enjoy the heck out of my .340 beers. Stay safe n have fun.

[@budlite8207]

I still have my MKV, left handed even. It just works. Recoil is less than my 300WIN mag. Its more like a slow shove. It's a cannon and I love to shoot it.

[@afader6898]

My 340, mark v 26 inch barrel, no break, shoots the 160s at 3500 plus, the 185s at almost 3400, the 200-210 at 3200 plus, 225 at 3100 plus, the 250 at 3000, 275 at 2800 plus, and 300 at 2700 plus, all with long case life, its a lot of rifle, if your main pursuits are elk sized and bigger animals, it is definetly worthy of consideration, my dads 300s, he has two vanguards with 24 inch barrels, 3200 with 180s is tops, my 300 win mag does 3150 with same bullets, barrel length, ruger 77, longer barrels are a plus with the weatherbys, i love my 340, wont trade it for anything, but for someone looking at the two, the 300 makes more sense, more and better availability of factory ammo and brass, its a little cheaper to shoot, and it does have less recoil, recoil being the biggest factor, i love shooting my 340, but others that have shot it, not so much, there no doubt you pulled the trigger, it has taken 16 elk so far since ive owned it, bought it new

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

340 Weatherby is impressive... it is my next cartridge. However I'm getting over 3300 FPS with 180 gr bullets in my 300 Weatherby and 3150 FPS with a 200 gr

[@afader6898]

I've seen you do it too, both my dads 24 in barrels can only get to 3200 with any 180 bullet, powder combo, can't get past that currently

[@wheelchairhillbilly]

I seriously desire a 340. I already have a 378 and a 300wby. Or, should I just get a 338-378 considering I'm an overbore fan. I love the 300 case, but I think the 340 is about the perfect diameter cartridge for it. Something about it I just don't know what, but I'm drawn to it. Maybe I should just get a 240wby. I guess I want them all.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

I feel the same way about the 340 Weatherby

[@guypoulin6929]

Get a 340. It'll be more expensive to acquire 338-378 ammo and brass. If you reload you can run 300 Weatherby brass through the 340 die and use it in your 340. Having a 300 and 340 is handy imo.

[@wheelchairhillbilly]

@guypoulin6929 A very good argument for sure. I can't disagree with your points at all.

[@guypoulin6929]

@@wheelchairhillbilly You won't be disappointed my man. I have a Mark V Arroyo in 340 and just ordered one of the remaining Mark V Lazermarks in 340. Glad I got my hands on one as they are discontinued now!

[@thomasdaum1927]

Do yourself a favor and get a break on the 340 . Especially if it is 8 lbs or under , recoil is substantial ! Also Barnes has or had a 185 X bullet that you could get really good velocity out of ! My favorite load was a 225 Hornady with 86.5 gr of RL 22 and a Fed 215 primer for 3050 fps !…

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Thanks for sharing!

[@davhuf3496]

For those armor plated elk! lol Great cartridges though.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

All of the animals I've killed with a 300 WBY were DRT

[@johnnydawson7675]

Hey, gun lover, thanks for that video!

[@brettmakoviney7120]

You know my dad owns both,,and side by side they look identical 😊

[@paulmacghee5721]

I shoot 210 grain Nosler partitions in my .340 Weatherby Mark 5 and it’s like a laser beam. My rifle is a standard wood Weatherby stock and recoil is stout but no more than my Remington 700 in 7mm REM Mag. Actually less than my 3.5 “ 12ga. Mossberg turkey gun. I would like to try some Accubond bullets but have not found any yet. It seems that cartridges larger than .30 cal. have fallen out of favor lately but if I could only have one rifle to hunt everything it would be the .340 WM.

[@williamdunn8774]

I've got one - I'm 73 now, so not too much use. 8+ boxes of loadedAmmo (mostly 225 g Hornady w/86 g H4831 -chrono 3040 at 20 ft, plus a LT of reloading stuff - dies, at least 500 Sierra 215, 250 g and Hornady 225 g (not eld-x) - and no muzzle brake - This is the second one - first I had Mag-na-ported, and this one does really come back (I have a 458 too, which can almost be painful . Have 3 -200 WBYs (2MKV, one VG), all 26", 2-257s, and a 240 as well - the 340 will be going one of these days , since I'll be getting pretty recoil averse. If you really get desperate for one that's not quite perfect, but pretty close to it.... Several elk, but back in 1970-1985 when in Wyoming and SE Idaho. Someone below mentioned the 375 WBY - I had one back in early 70's - It was on a Left hand Mathieu action -which I put the Pendleton brake drilled into it. With close to no data, (Ackley, 82 G 4064) I looked at this as a scaled up 30-06 - and worked up loads with 270 G Hornady bullet - peaked at 97 G H414 with higg pressure, nuy no cratered primers and minimal bold head "shine". I was working near Grand Junction Co back then, and Fred Graves - former RCBS engineer fro Oroville Ca had just moved nearby and put in a 100 Yard shooting tunnel (used some 4 fy concrete sewer pipe with inserts at 10, 25, 50 and 100 Yds for testing, He was really interested in this oddball, so we ran several over his chrono - first shot was 3094 FPs, second (after he got over the shock of that velocity) went 3104. We'd expected mabybe 2900 if we were lucky!. WOW.! 378 level - But - big mistake - I sold the rifle, died and all dies and brass and 300 bullets for a paltry 600 in 1976 (idiot!) Start a family - 7Mm-300, 300, 340, 375, and 458 LOTT

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Wow! Thanks for sharing

[@gunman-6646]

Great information bro.

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Happy Thanksgiving

[@markcox2870]

No comparison between the 300 and the 340. Just like there's no comparison between the 340 and the 378. I have all of them. Buyer beware --- the 340 and above will rock you really. hard even with a muzzle brake.

[@johnvillalovos5082]

Yes, my 338-378 gets my attention even with a brake. Then there’s the muzzle blast and all the smoke! Very impressive though!

[@markcox2870]

@@johnvillalovos5082 A friend of mine hunted with a custom-made 338-378 single-shot rifle. That's all he carried all over the world. From 20-2000 pound game he never had to shoot twice.

[@sivaratnamasabaratnam8946]

30-378 is quite closer to 460 but not close as 300 to 340 as both have similar case capacity amount 98gr. Only 340 has more straight lane smooth push as it is more straight jacket from chamber than hollow diameter 300 with more bottling neck,so with 220gr ammo 300 didn't reach 3000fps but with 250gr 340 did!

[@ThemantleofElijah]

I have never owned a 340

[@terrysoule8441]

You need to live in Wyoming. Easier to get either rifle and easier to get factory ammo. Also, have appropriate game for either rifle.

[@jefferywilliams7687]

I own both. I prefer the 300 because I shoot it better because I shortened the stock. However, the 340 with a 210 Swift Scirocco II is outstanding. The bc is .507 and velocity can be pushed to 3,200. In addition, the Swift A-Frame in either a 250 or 275 is capable of killing a lot dangerous game. So why do I prefer the 300? Because I own a 378 Weatherby Magnum. It will shoot a 270 TSX at 3,140 FPS and about 6,000 ft lbs of muzzle energy. I think Roy and Ed had it right. Roy favored the 257, 300, & 378. Ed favored the 270, 340, and 416. I don’t think either one of the combinations is bad. You need to do a special on the 378 Weatherby Magnum. Mine is a Sporter with a 26” # 3 Contour Barrel with no brake. It is mind boggling the 3 shot groups I have shot at 200 yards with the factory 270 GR TSX. One whole. Off a bench it can give you a sore neck. Off sticks it is not that bad.

[@papajohnsy6659]

I mean we've seen it before right? Bigger bullet = bigger hole = less of whatever you shoot = better. I think we should all just grab a 460 and call it a day. Jokes aside I wanted to build 3 guns to hunt all non big 5 game in the world with the exact same trajectory out to 500yds, because math is hard when your heart rate is 160bpm. My big gun ended up being a 33 nosler, it was between that and the 340 and I liked the design of the nosler better. They're very similar ballistics so I think it's fair enough to lump them into the same category. My rifles are a 243 ackley, a 270 ackley, and the aforementioned 33 Nosler. The 300 weatherby is a fine cartridge, I've seen game taken with it and always am impressed by the ballistics. That said, when I need something bigger than a 243 I go to a 270, if I need something bigger than a 270 I want to send at least 200gr of bullet down range, if not 250. That is why I went with the 33 nosler. When a 140gr at 3000 isn't enough I want a 250 a frame or badlands bulldozer. If that's not enough I must be hunting elephants or hippos. I wish the 338s would make a bit of a come back, but America is wet for 30s, so I doubt it. Oh well, from the 338 federal to the 33-378, those of us that hunt with 33s always seem to have confidence that game will die in short order. The aforementioned 250gr bulldozer launched to 2800 in a 340 is hauling 2860 ft lbs at 500yds, at sea level. More than a 270 at the muzzle.

[@slimgrowden]

You can shoot 180 grain out of the 340 Weatherby they are moving 3,350 fps. Both great rounds no matter how you slice it.

[@ThemantleofElijah]

Why is this sped up

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Huh?

[@ThemantleofElijah]

@@ReloadingWeatherby lol the sound was in fast forward like all your voice content was sped up lol

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

@@ThemantleofElijah Did you have a different playback speed?

[@ThemantleofElijah]

@@ReloadingWeatherby I don’t know how do I check that lol I just went back to the video it’s still sped up

[@ThemantleofElijah]

I got it fixed I had play back speed to fast wifey had to help me lol

[@dustindias645]

I own both my 300 wby im shooting 200 accubond at 3100 fps my 340 wby i was shooting 250 sierras at 3050 fps but i dropd down to 225 ttsx at 3120 fps out my 340 cause hard to find 250 bullets love both but if i had to pick one id take my 340

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Impressive performance with the 340. Thanks for sharing

[@Seelos333]

+ Hands down the 340 outclasses the 300 all day with grizzlies and African lions That being said, the 300 is more versatile in a broader range of game

[@stephenkennedy3145]

300 will handle any grizzly all day every day

[@sivaratnamasabaratnam8946]

​@@stephenkennedy3145 300 WBY is too powerful for big cats! Even 375 H&H or W&R is over marginal for them.

[@jk-kr8jt]

RW, good comparison video on two outstanding cartridges. I shoot and use both and while the 300 can be a lazer beam the 340 just flat takes all movement out of game when it punches it. I think it's just the way that 338 bullets hit. The 340 definitely has a stiffer recoil but a 250gr bullet should recoil more than a 180gr. Still very manageable if you shoot it enough. BTW one of my 340s is an old "Fibermark" and the other is a "Accumark". The "Accumark" is heavier and has a break, but who wants to hunt with that. What I find interesting is that the 340 seems to be the end of the line in 338 efficiency. If you compare the 340 to the 338-378 you'll find your burning considerably more powder for a very marginal gain in velocity. The 338RUM in factory loads about equals the 340 but burns about 10gr more powder to do it. RW, happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Cheers, Jeff

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for watching

[@dustindias645]

I have a 340 and 338-378 and u are right i was disappointed of velocity from factory barrel with the 338-378 but now i trud action and installd a 28 inch hart match barrel now i get over 3200 fps with 250 bullets

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

@@dustindias645 I bet your 338-378 is a shooter

[@dustindias645]

@ReloadingWeatherby yes its a very accuarte rifle but it has no break and honestly its a hard recoiling rifle

[@georgejohnsmith]

@@dustindias645 How is the skin doing around the eyebrow above your dominant eye? Do you have many scars around it?