Verified Old Faithful

[SJB358]

I have hiked that rifle a long way, it has some fond memories attached to it!

So, the mulie and the elk were taken with your .338 WM, Scotty?

Ha! Always the joker from the North! The 338 has a good track record as well, only it's my old man thats got most of the trophies with it.

 

[SJB358]

Great memories there, Scotty.

Don't get me wrong, guys. I do understand the merits of the 7mm.

Trust me, until I got the 270WSM I didnt have anything nice to say about the 270 either. The little fat guy changed my mind.

Once Nosler starts making some 220 ABs I will find the 325 to round out my collection!

 

[DrMike]

All kidding aside, those are a couple of fine specimen. There is no doubt that the 270WSM will work on game, as I've proven as well with two moose, an elk and a nice whitetail. However, there are no flies on the 7WSM. It has accounted for a fair number of game animals occupying my freezer. Either is a fine cartridge.

 

[widgeon]

I've heard great things about the 325. A friend of mine and his father have used it on African planes game with great success.

But!!!

It's an 8mm. :lol:

I do like that they named it 325. :mrgreen:

 

[SJB358]

All kidding aside, those are a couple of fine specimen. There is no doubt that the 270WSM will work on game, as I've proven as well with two moose, an elk and a nice whitetail. However, there are no flies on the 7WSM. It has accounted for a fair number of game animals occupying my freezer. Either is a fine cartridge.

Thanks Mike. They are both pretty super cartridges. I'm pretty happy to have them both. Plus, they are identical rifles. Even the same scopes! Just the mounting systems differ. Both shoot great!

 

[BK]

I really hope I get my Montana .325 on something next year. I should be a real hammer on anything I'm likely to use it on... mulies, cow or spike elk.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Scotty,

Like I told my wife, "guns are like golf, you can't play the game with just one club". :wink:

JD338

I like it! She don't but I'm not such a fan of her having competitive horses and dogs. We all have our vices.

Nice work Scotty. It's a sweet feeling when ya break out Mr Reliable and it doesn't let ya down.

 

[gerry]

Scotty,

Like I told my wife, "guns are like golf, you can't play the game with just one club". :wink:

JD338

When I explained why I have so many guns to my wife I used the example of her purses, she has them in all sorts of shapes and sizes. She was fine with that line of reasoning, did I mention she's a real catch

 

[SJB358]

I really hope I get my Montana .325 on something next year. I should be a real hammer on anything I'm likely to use it on... mulies, cow or spike elk.

It is killing me as I know where there is a 325WSM Extreme Weather, brand new in box for 800.00 local to me. Just isn't selling as most folks don't need a 325 for Va deer! Should it still be there in the Fall, I would likely bring it home. The 325WSM is a pretty cool round and would be that much better with some 220 AB's! It is my only gap in the WSM series.. But since I have a Whelen and 338, I haven't been chomping at the bit to get one.. I can only resist so long though.

 

[BK]

Good thing that's not local to me! I dig the WSM Extreme Weathers!

 

[DrMike]

Oh, that 325 will still be there in the Fall. Gerry, you did get a real catch. Now, go buy her another purse.

 

[RiverRider]

Ahh, yes...purses and shoes. I'll keep that handy!

Scotty, seeing a rifle put the first three shots out of a cold clean barrel *right there* inspires a lot of confidence, doesn't it? I have one that has proven itself in that way, but now I find myself wondering if the POI would change over a 10-shot string. I guess there's one way to find out...

 

[gerry]

I`ve used the shoes thing too :lol: it does help when you speak their language. I tell her how lucky she is to have a husband that has hobbies that bring home dinner, she actually agrees :shock:

 

[DrMike]

If you're not kicking the dog or beating the wife and you're home at night (except during hunting season), that's pretty good. Just remind her that if she gets upset, it'll only increase your group size and make you irritable. :grin:

 

[gerry]

If you're not kicking the dog or beating the wife and you're home at night (except during hunting season), that's pretty good. Just remind her that if she gets upset, it'll only increase your group size and make you irritable. :grin:

That is a high standard DrMike, will try my best

 

[DrMike]

Just being helpful, Gerry. Just being helpful.

 

[BK]

If you're not kicking the dog or beating the wife and you're home at night (except during hunting season), that's pretty good. Just remind her that if she gets upset, it'll only increase your group size and make you irritable. :grin:

Uh oh.

 

[Guest]

It must be something about .277cal stuff, Scotty. My 270'bee is my "old faithful," though I've taken to calling it Mr. Hyde. My Win94 in 30-30 is, of course, Dr. Jekyll. But here's the three shot group from my last outing with the 'bee, just to be sure all was still right with the world and nothing is out of alignment, cosmically speaking:

There's just something about being able to crank three right in there, on command, that makes me smile. And love my 'bee.

In fact, Widgeon, if you're really wanting to get a go-to .277cal, I'll suggest finding a nice Mark V in 270Wby and taking it home with you. I'd be more than happy to help you with load data, and there's nothing metric about it! If you get interested, good ones in the sporter version can be had for $600-800 on the used market, in excellent condition. And for your trouble, you'll get 130gr bullets humming along at 3400+. If that doesn't get your blood boiling, nothing will.

 

[DrMike]

That is a mighty fine group, dubyam. It almost makes me want to own a Weatherby.

 

[Guest]

Mr. Hyde is a real treat, Doc. I've probably told the story more than enough here, but I lucked into that rifle on a racehorse deal seven or eight years ago. I was picking up some foam earplugs at a WalMart in Gadsden, AL (small city of about 40k residents, I believe) and saw some "clearance price" stickers on the gun rack. Started looking at a blued Vanguard in 300Wby wearing a tan/brown laminate stock. It was nice, and priced reasonably well at $400, but it didn't crank my handle, so to speak. I handed it back to Mary, the little old lady who ran sporting goods, and she commented she had another one in the back in 270 that had a black stock, but she was afraid she couldn't sell it. I asked why, and she said the ammo was $70 a box. Hmmm...I'm now thinking 270WSM or something, and almost dismissed it. She said, "Why don't I get it out. Maybe you can tell me more about it." I said ok, as I'm always willing to help out. She goes to get it and comes back with a dilapidated box that looks like it's been hit by a truck. Duct tape all over, and shards of cardboard and styrofoam chunks everywhere. I'm thinking this thing is going to be a pretzel, and I notice in bold letters, "Made in USA" on the box. Now I'm way more curious than before. She cuts open the box, and pulls out a dirty, dusty US-made Mark V in 270Wby. She grabs a cloth and wipes it down, and after that it looks brand new. There's on flaw with the rifle - right along the outside edge of the barrel, at the muzzle, is a ding that put a tiny flat spot with a slight raised ridge. Purely cosmetic, and you'd have to look to find it. I'm looking at it and thinking there's just no way I can afford it (knowing it's a $1000 gun at normal retail). Oh, and I'd recently been bitten by the 257Wby bug, and wanted to load one up with 100gr bullets at 3500-3600fps for white-tails, so I'm already thinking about the extra $500 to get the barrel swapped. She asks me about it, and I tell her she is correct, that it's expensive to shoot, but I'm a handloader and could make do with it. She says she's waiting on final paperwork to arrive so she can process it through and put it out for sale, but would I buy it for $275? I nearly broke my arm getting my wallet out. I can't imagine the kind of purgatory I deserve for just saying, "Yes" when she asked, but I didn't bargain with her, and she set the price. Apparently the gun came in for about $250 inter-store transfer from Colorado Springs, so she got out of it with some profit, although minimal. It's easily the best shooting rifle I own, and a favorite for many reasons. It's also about to finally get glass worthy of the barreled action, as I picked up a Minox ZA5 in 4-20x50 back in December to mount on it. That will be the third scope on it, as I started with a Bushnell Elite 3200 in 3-9x40, then went to a Pentax Pioneer 4.5-14x42 (Burris FFII clone), but this Minox should be the last iteration. After this, I'm saving up for a Bell&Carlson Medalist, and then I'm done until the barrel is shot out.

Sorry for hijacking the thread, Scotty. I get carried away when I start talking about Mr. Hyde.