Just outta curiosity ... who here has gone into a gun shop or sporting goods store that has ammo and hasn't found 300 WBY ammo (other cartridges perhaps ... but I've always found ammo for the Roy's 300). Heck, the last FOUR Walmarts I've been in have carried Remmy 180 gr. CorLokts for the 300 WBY!! I shoot a 300 WBY and typically always look when I go somewhere new, just incase there's a deal to be had. Granted the CorLokts wouldn't be my first choice at those velocities for a close shot on a bigger animal, but on deer's they're devastating!!
Recoil .... yeah its a LITTLE more punishing, but not as much as the hissy fit above would lead me to believe. I'm more inclined to believe the rifle's stock you were shooting was a poor fit for your body!
Lastly, Freebore, freeschmore <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Weatherby and Sako have been building accurate outta the box rifles for many years!!! Whilst you may want to play with seating depth ... is it really needed? Let's face it if freebore was a real hinderance to accuracy as MANY here would have you think, I really doubt the Weatherby line of cartridges would have survived!!!
By the same token there is NO flies sittin' on the 300 Winnie! An outstanding cartridge. I happened to choose the Roy while shopping for MY 300 mag and have no regrets. I didn't choose the WBY to part of a special, unique or different crowd as johnw would have you to believe. I have nothing to prove to him or anyone else.
You can listen to all the bullshit spewed here and elsewhere on the 'net, but the bottom line is choose which ever is more appealing to you, there isn't a loser between the two!!
Good Luck and keep us up to date on your project.
