.30-378 Weatherby Magnum

The .30-378 Weatherby Magnum is a cartridge introduced by Weatherby in 1996 that uses the same case as the previously existing .378 Weatherby Magnum and .460 Weatherby Magnum, necked down to a 30 caliber (7.62 mm) bullet. It is offered with bullets between 165 and 200 grains (10.7 g and 13.0 g) in factory loading, generating velocities able to exceed 3,500 ft/s (1,100 m/s) and muzzle energies over 4,750 foot-pounds force (6,440 J). The cartridge was the product of a design/development effort of 1958-1959 between Mr William L. Strickland at the U S Army Ballistics Laboratory of Redstone Arsenal Alabama and Roy Weatherby. The research development contract specified the development/production of a single shot rifle/cartridge combination which could provide a flat nosed and based, 80gr and 100 gr projectile velocity of 6000 ft/s. 35mm high speed motion picture cameras were used to photograph the performance and impact results of various projectile alloys while impacting different types of armor plate. The rifle was removed from the stock and mounted in a machine rest, the armor plate targets were 10' in front of the muzzle. The results of this testing have helped the Army in the development of effective battlefield armor and armor penetrators used on the battlefield today. In later years, projectiles fired in this rifle were studied and designed for hunting game at very long distances, and for marksmanship competition in excess of 1,000 yards (910 m).