OT Weatherby 300 Magnum

Dean · Mar 26, 2011

Not being a gun guru, I need some advise from the collective wisdom of the board.

I have a late 1980s vintage Weatherby 300 Magnum with left hand action, walnut stock and similar vintage Redfield scope. I bought it in the early 1990s unfired from the original owner and have fired about a dozen rounds through it trying to sight it in but find it a bit much for my aging shoulder.

Not being a hunter or or serious collector I am trying to decide whether to keep it around for collecton value or sell it. I do not know what it might be worth in todays market.

It has always been kept in a sock inside a humidity controlled gun safe but it just sits there and I will likely never again fire it. I have 4 or 5 boxes of factory ammunition with it.

Anyone have any thoughts for a 60+ year old who does not need to sell it.?

Dean

Mike (WA) · Mar 26, 2011

About the best way to determine value is to take it to a gun show. You don't have to have a booth or be a vendor- guys take their gun, and shop it around at the various professional sellers. You'll find out pretty quick whether there's much demand, because its a very competitive environment- if a guy wants it, he'll make you a decent offer on the spot, because he knows the guy at the next booth will get it if he doesn't.

60 acre hillside · Mar 26, 2011

Ask a thousand $

Johnny form MI · Mar 26, 2011

Look for what the same gun sells for on www://gunbroker.com

Bill of TN · Mar 26, 2011

IMO, the best way to determine the value is to watch a similar item sell at auction on gunbroker.com or check the retail site gunsamerica.com

If you see a couple sell for x dollars, and your is in similar condition, you"ll have an idea what the market will bear.

TimV · Mar 26, 2011

Just checked there myself--a bunch of similar guns for sale, with asking prices starting around $1000 and going up from there. Problem with Gunbroker is it's infested with dreamers who will post their gun a dozen times at twice the going rate hoping for a sucker--apparently they don't charge high enough listing fees to prevent this. Still, it's probably the best place to check pricing provided you realize the difference between "asking" price and "selling" price.

GordoSD · Mar 26, 2011

Another good site for ascertaining gun value is the "Gun Library" at the Cabela's site.
Your rifle in 98% condition, with the Redfield scope (which adds maybe $25) is worth about $900 retail.
If you have a Cabelas nearby run it into their Library and see what they will give you. They work on a 50% markup. If they off you 600 you will see it for sale there the next day at $900.
If you have any 200 or 220 gr round nose ammo I would like to buy that. Email is open.
I've shot one in Africa, Yukon Terr, AK, CO, SD, OR, MT and FL. Perhaps 150 animals taken. NEVER had to shoot one twice.No better one shot rifle.
You can have a Weatherby muzzle brake installed for about $100, which will reduce the recoil about 40%.

RGMartin · Mar 26, 2011

Japanese made I would assume?

What grade?

The basic MK5 in condition described is a $900-1000 gun on a good day at retail. Wrong time of year to be selling too. Current economy means they don't sell unless you get into the $700 range. Being a left handed one makes it even tougher to find a buyer.

Wby factory ammo should bring $30-40 a box on gunbroker.

Though not the equal of yours, I picked up a rt handed, MK5 SLS in 300, with 5 boxes of ammo in the not too distant past for $700. Great rifle.

If you can wait till late summer to sell it might be worthwhile.

Gun guru · Mar 26, 2011

How bad do you want to sell it?
www.gunbroker.com is a great site to sell firearms. But....prices are depressed right now due to hard times by guys that need the money so gun collections are sold off to pawn brokers and the prices have gone down. A dealer that I know recently bought over 30 guns from guys that lost their job and have to pay bills. I would guess your Weatherby is worth $600 or so. Go to Gunbroker and find out.
Lots of gun buying was going on after Obammy got in. But that heavy buying pace has slowed and money is tight.
Ammo prices appear to have dropped a little also.

Dean · Mar 26, 2011

Yes, Japanese made MK 5.

Dean

Dean · Mar 26, 2011

Sorry, Gordo, most of my ammunition is 180 gr partition.

Dean

Dean · Mar 26, 2011

Thanks, guys.

I've no need or even desire to sell it but I've far too much stuff and will one day need to start getting rid of much of it.

My only son lives 1800 miles away and is not interested in my place or most of my stuff.

I'll probably hang onto it for the time being.

Dean

RayP(MI) · Mar 26, 2011

Well, one of my hunting buddies has a similar one. They are a fantastic gun. Probably over-kill for whitetail deer, but for large game, it would be hard to beat. Would be my choice for that. Lefthanded would be fairly uncommon as well. Whatever you do, don"t let it go cheap. They were very expensive to begin with, and hold their value very well. That vintage may well have been built in West Germany, by one of the finest arms makers around. Weatherby didn"t make their own, but had them made to their specs. Later models, also well built were made in Japan. Check on the barrel, and see where made. Sounds like it isn"t even broken in. Whatever you do, don"t let it go cheap. I"d think of it as an investment. That being said, I"d keep it around as a salable item when you get despirate. (I shoot a .240 Weatherby, and am very fond of it.)

RayP(MI) · Mar 26, 2011

OOPS, answered before I read replies below - Japan, still a very fine gun.

OT Weatherby 300 Magnum

Dean

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Mike (WA)

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60 acre hillside

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Johnny form MI

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Bill of TN

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TimV

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GordoSD

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RGMartin

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Gun guru

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Dean

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Dean

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Dean

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RayP(MI)

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RayP(MI)

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