I'm loading the Sierra 165 HPBT Gameking for the 300 Weatherby. I'm stoking it with 4831, one grain over max(no signs of pressure), with a magnum primer. The accuracy is terrific out to 300 yards and the performance is awesome. For $500, I'd be all over that deal.

I shot a 300 Wby Mag this past weekend for the first time. Put 8 shots through it. I can tell you for me, the only fun was having the guys sitting next to me asking "what the heck was that" when it went off.
It really kicked pretty hard. I like to shoot my guns, practice a lot with them. But after 8 shots I wanted no more. I can shoot my 270 all day, but this was something way different in my opinion.

Being a Greenhorn I would stay away from the 300 Wby. The recoil is too much for most people and even some seasoned shooters develop a flinch with the amount of recoil it can produce. The price of $500 is a good price. As everyone has stated the Remington, Hornady, & Federal factory loads are anemic compared to the Weatherby brand ammo loaded by Norma. There is a reason for this. The Weatherby ammo is designed around Weatherby rifles. Any Weatherby rifle in a Weatherby caliber has a free bored rifle throat and develops less pressure than a rifle with a standard throat such as the Winchester. American ammo is loaded to be safe in a Weatherby or any other brand of rifle chambered for the 300 Wby. My uncle owned a Model 70 XTR (the old post 64 action) that showed signs of excessive pressure using Weatherby brand ammo loaded with 180 gr. partitions. He switched to the Federal Premium loading and there were no signs of excessive pressure. He also had the same rifle in 270 Wby & using Weatherby ammo with 130 gr. Spire Points this rifle showed no signs of pressure. American factory ammo is loaded about 100 fps slower than the Weatherby ammo. There isn't a critter alive that will know or feel the difference if you put a bullet in the kill zone. You should ask your friend to go out with you and let you fire the rifle. If you can handle the recoil buy it and if not look to the 270 WSM or some other caliber with less recoil.

I have 1 with a wood stock and it shoots well .. I also hand load so ammo is cheap ..

You're right, it is in another league.That's why I wear a Past recoilshoulder pad when Ishoot my .300 Wby from the bench.As a matter of fact, I usually wear it no matter what I'm shooting. It just makes shooting from the bench a more pleasurable activity.

As to the original poster, if the gun (without scope) doesn't weigh at least 7.5 to 8 pounds, I think I'd pass on it. You want a little heft in a rifle chambered for something like the .300 Wby.

I once shot a friend's synthetic stockedWinchester Model 70 .30-06 and it was absolutely the most painful rifle I've ever had the misfortune of shooting. I don't know if it was the stock design, the light weight or what, but it would absolutely nail you every time you pulled the trigger. My .300 Wby Sako is an absolute *****cat compared to that thing.

Quit bein' so tight--- loosen up those purse strings, let the moths escape, grab some of that mouldy green stuff, go buy the gun, and have some fun!!! That seems to be a VERY reasonable price for a WIN-WAM in good shape.