Got an interesting letter (!) from a Mr. Phillip Harney, who asks why gun "experts" seldom mention the .300 Weatherby as the best all-around rifle. Good question. Here are the answers:
First, the .300 Weatherby has committed the cardinal sin of becoming old. Introduced in 1944, commercial ammo was first available in 1948, which makes it either 63 or 59. Some cartridges, like the .45/70, are so old that they become trendy by dint of their sheer age. The .300, however, falls into that netherworld where it is Old News.
Second, as an all-around rifle, it is not a particularly good choice for the average shooter because it is a handful. Recoil is not particularly awful, but the noise and muzzle blast are considerable, and it's a lot more than many people can handle.
more...
http://fieldandstream.blogs.com/gunnut/2007/08/no-longer-trend.html