Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Next Thumper...WSM or Taylor???

I have a .375 barrel blank (1:12") on hand and a lead on a reasonably priced .416" blank (1:14"), both in #4 Contours. I have a nice Model 70 Classic Stainless 7 WSM for a donor action for a WSM or an older Ruger M77 Tang safety in 7 Mag for a Taylor. Both actions feed their respective cartridges very well. I have a decent supply of virgin .325 WSM brass and .338 Brass.

Not interested in anything other than a .375 or.416 WSMorTaylor . Neither will probably see Africa but both may have a chance to get all expenses paid trips to AK or TX for bears, moose, pigs, nilgai, etc. I have plenty of other options so this is definitely a "want to" build but I do like short, handy rifles that pack a punch.

Anybody want to sell me on one versus the other?

I’d go with either a 375 or 416 / modified 338 brass. But then I dislike short fat cartridges and I’m not particularly attracted to short fat women either.

That is as solid of a reason as any! How about tall fat women?

They scare me.

I have a couple vanilla 375's and a 375 Bee, along with a 416 Taylor and a 458 WM.
I think your choice of a 375 will have greater versatility in the field, but my favorite of the lot is the Taylor.

Thanks. The versatility of the 375 is hard to beat...plus there are some pretty economical .375" bullets floating around. I went ahead and ordered the .416" barrel so will have both tubes in hand to help make the decision. Eventually I will end up with a WSM thumper and a Taylor...just a matter of which round in which platform at this point.

I also got an email from Pac-Nor yesterday stating that my .411 barrel is done so it looks like the .400 Whelen will be coming along soon. Probably won't move on the WSM or Taylor until that project is wrapped up.

I'll probably never afford a buffalo or elephant hunt, but I bought a 375 H&H anyways. I wanted to shoot something with it, so I took it on my first bear hunt in 20 years. I shot a black bear at 40 yards. If you can believe it, the 270gr Barnes LRX over penetrated!

The 375 is fun to mess around with. I say use it in NA on what ever you wish to!

I agree and thanks for the encouragement. Truth is, I can't think of much of anything I wouldn't shoot near or far with one of my .30 cals using good bullets. However, messing with the medium up to big bores has been a lot of fun and I don't see myself getting rid of the itch to play with them anytime soon.

I was visiting with a good friend a few days ago that is most likely moving back to AK in the next year or two. He has a lot of experience baiting brown bears in AK and at some point in the near future I will be sitting in a blind with him. Although I wont be shooting any brownies, I will have a black bear tag and having something with considerable punch at close range seems like a logical choice when brown bears are in the mix that close. Hopefully I can talk him into shooting with one of my thumpers "just because" and so I can see the actual performance.

The 338 brass will lend itself easier when upsizing to .375 than 416. 416 is possible (I've sized a few hundred for my 416 Taylor) but lost a little more than a few. Cannot remember loosing a case when sized to 375 Taylor. Can e mail you the .375 load data compliments of BW's old "416 Taylor" website from way back if you like. Also have the 416 data gleaned from there as well...
Best,
bhtr

That would be very much appreciated. Both Taylor flavors would be great.

medrivertradinggmail.com

While you may not be interested in other choices, I'm look to built either a .375 or 416 Ruger. They have served me well.

Those would definitely be the practical choice. No flies on either for sure.

But, of the choices you mention, WSM. Either .375 or .416 will serve you well.

I’d like the case based on the 338 the most.

I have a 416 Taylor built on a tang safety Ruger action. I took it to Africa in 2005 and used it for just about everything from Warthogs to Buffalo. I just pulled it from the dark corner of the safe and want to find a reduced load for it to use on deer. No point in letting it linger any longer. I plan on using 300 grain Hawk bullets. Any suggestions on data will be appreciated.