I picked mine up, an older Vanguard, from a guy who didn't like the recoil or the trigger for $260. ...
If you want to spend the money on a RUM rifle, why stop there - go all the way to the 30-378 or get the Lazzeroni to optimize the caliber. A 300 Win mag might be cheaper to shoot but recoil is certainly similar depending on the stock and rifle weight. Personally for me the added performance of the Weatherby is nice to have and not much more money to shoot if you reload.
First, congrats on a heck of a deal on the WBY.
As to Remington RUM vs Weatherby .30-378 or Lazzeroni Warbird, .300 RUM rifles can be had for as little as $600. That seems to be $800-$1,000 or more below .30-378 prices and even further below Lazzeroni prices. That is more than enough reason for me to choose the RUM. Or to stick with the Ruger MKII .300WM that cost me $395 new.
Where a 3560fps 180g Warbird load comes in at nearly 49 foot-pounds recoil in an all-up 8.3 pound rifle, my .300 Win Magnum runs 180g @ 3033fps for just over 29 foot-pounds recoil. My .300 WM does what I want at the ranges I’m willing to shoot, with 13-20 fewer foot-pounds recoil than the RUM or Warbird. Recoil and 25-30g less powder per shot are additional reasons for me to stick with my Win Mag.
The difference between a RUM and a Lazzeroni is about 200fps with a 180g bullet (3359gps for the RUM per Nosler, 3560fps for a 180g per Lazzeroni). In practical terms, using 6” diameter PBR zeros, that results in zero ranges of 289 yards vs 304 yards and 600 yard ballistics of 2502fps/2502fpe and -36.9” drop/15.1” drift for the RUM compared to 2666fps/2840fpe and -31.7” drop and 14.0” drift for the Lazzeroni. And the Lazzeroni adds about 17% or 7 foot-pounds more recoil in an 8.3 pound rifle. Given the general availability of rifles, brass, factory ammo and reloading data, the RUM gets my nod. For bragging rights, which don’t interest me, the Lazzeroni would be the obvious choice.
I’m sure you will enjoy your WBY. If I found one at that price it would probably follow me home, although I certainly have no need for one.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
