My brother in law has decided he wants a 270 weatherby. He is currently looking at a accumark or the ultra lightweight - can get them for roughly same price. What would you choose? He will be hunting the Idaho backcountry with steep mountains but is leaning towards the accumark cause he wants more consistent LR capabilities. I love the ballistics but don't know much about "real" weatherby rifles.

Also he will be shooting factory am miss he doesn't reload. Thoughts?

Ultralight, do not think he wants to lug an accumark around in that situation. I would also look at the 7mm Weatherby.

Yep the Accumark is not a walking around gun imo. I use mine for stand hunting over an open field.

What is everybody's thoughts good or bad on the Ultra Lieghtweight rifles? Pretty easy to get shooting straight or do they typically require lots of gunsmithing work?

Basically, my BIL is looking for a rifle that he can mount a scope on, buy some premium factory ammo for, get sighted in and practice with, and be able to go hunting and shoot out to 4-500 yards as needed.

I want him to get a standard 270 win for this task - espcially since the accumark is only 7.25. pounds and he could be 8.5 scoped up and ready to roll, but he is pretty dead set on the Weatherby round.

I have never seen a ultralight in 270 weatherby or 7mm weatherby not shoot. I have a donor that has been listed on GB and if it does not sell, it will be sent off to weatherby and turned into a ultralight

Accumark RC

MK V Dlx.
If your gonna do it, do it with style.

What kind of money is he going to spend on this rifle?

Personally,if I had the coin I would be looking at an offering from Cooper in either 300 win or 6.5X284. For a bit less money you could have a true light weight and accurate rifle from Barrett in their new Fieldcraft in 6.5X55 or 270 win.

If I'm not mistaken the Cooper is guaranteed to shoot 1/2 MOA. I would also be willing to bet good money that the Barrett will do considerably better than MOA in a 6lb rifle #2 barrel contour and 24" in their long actions. Maybe I'm just not well informed on Weatherby rifles but my thought was that the Ultralight really isn't all that light in their magnum calibers and you would be doing real well to get one that shot under MOA.

Here's a Cooper in your preferred caliber. I've no idea what it weighs but I would find out before buying it to lug up a mountain.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/923304817/Cooper-M52-Jackson-Excaliber-270WbyMag-black-gray.htm

Well, you've given him sage advice. I'm guessing at $60-70 a box for the premium stuff, he's not likely to to burn a couple of boxes in a range session.
If he's thinking he needs for more @ss, a 140 in the 7mag is 3200- 3300ish; and a 130 in the 270 Weatherby to 3300-3350 or so. Dropsies are nearly identical @ 500.
Mucho cheaper to feed the 7mm mag too.

But, if he's gotta have it, he's gotta have it.

If I didn't reload, I agree with Skane and would go with a 7 Mag, too. I understand the .270 Wby bug, though- mine is one of my favorite rifles! I would go with the Accumark if he wanted a turn key rifle like you described, light weight rifles need some "tweeking" more often than heavier guns, but as with anything- there are exceptions.

When I've found a factory load that happens to be accurate enough out to +300 yards it is usually after trying several different brands and bullet styles and loads.
Unfortunately, with factory Weatherby ammo, the choices are somewhat limited. I get that his heart may be set, but he should be aware that he may eventually have to reload or buy a caliber with more ammo options.

In regards to the rifle weight choices, how big of an ole boy is he? If he's built like an NFL linebacker, the difference in weight is probably nothing to him. It is to me.

No Accumark. Go light.

Any one with a 26" barrel.

I have a Mark V in 7mm Wby if he wants the choice of higher bullet weights for Elk. I also have a ton of ammunition for it. I'd make him a deal.

............................I own an Accumark. For steep country and for most it is not the best rifle to be luggin around. If he is truly bent on the 270 Wby, then go with the Wby ultralite.

I can understand your preference for the 270 Win. Tell your bro in law that for every 400 fps gain in MV given the same caliber and bullet weight, there is roughly a 100 yard down range #s advantage in terms of retained velocity and energy. Compare the velocity #s for a variety of 270 Win factory ammo (24" barrel) vs 270 Bee (26" barrel) Wby factory ammo. I don't think 400 fps separate them. So his downrange advantage using a 270 Wby would be around maybe 65-75 yards or so. To come really closer to the 270 Bee the 270 Win would need a 26" barrel and some good reloads using RL26 as one of the powder choices.

An alternative (money saving buying the rifle and money saving buying factory ammo) choice to the 270 Wby Ultralite would be the 26" barreled Browning X bolt LR (long range) stalker in the 270 Win. My guess, is that less than 150 fps would separate those two using factory ammo. A less than 50 yard downrange advantage for the 270 Wby.

Kinda like comparing the 300 Win to the 300 Bee. The 7mm Rem to the 7mm Wby. Or maybe a 300 WSM to the 300 Win......

If saving money is a priority with your BIL, a 24" or 26" barreled 270 Win (preferably a 26") given the same bullets, distances and game, will do anything in the field a 270 Wby can do.

Or 270wsm...

Tikka SS in regular 7mag

Another 7RM vote. I've experience with the 257, 270, and 7mm Wby carts and there's nothing they do that the 7RM doesn't accomplish equally as well. Even though I'm really fond of the 257 Wby, my 7RMs with 120s hang right with it. For someone that does not handload, this decision is a no brainer.

Have one built out of a Rem 700.

Yep, he could go Tikka Ultralight in 7mag and have a true mountain weight rifle that would likely shoot better than the Weatherby. It would cost half as much for the gun and cost half as much to shoot.

I think you're picking up what I'm putting down !

Are you speaking from experience or basing this on internet hearsay? I owned own both rifles and I can tell you they are both great shooting rifles and accurate out of the box without making 82 different adjustments.

I've shot the Tikka and had friends that owned them. I've not had the Weatherby Ultralight or had much experience with it. I thought I wanted one pretty bad a few years ago but I let the reports of bad accuracy keep me from buying one. Regardless,I don't think you could make the argument that the Weatherby would be supremely more accurate, and the Tikka would still be close to a pound lighter and cheaper to feed.

I am glad to hear the good report on the Weatherby,and I didn't mean to sound like I was bashing it. As I said I thought I wanted one a while ago, but I've since handled some and different rifles and just prefer the stock designs of others over the Weatherby.

I'm the anomoly here. I actually own a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight in .270 Wby Mag. I have also owned the ULs in 7mm Wby and .257 Wby. All were well under 1" and with some loads would print around 1/2". I also have owned an Accumark in 7mm Wby Mag. It shot bug holes with everything you fed it but you do not want to be humping that thing around the mountains.

I also have an older Vanguard in .270 Wby Mag. A beautiful and fine shooting rifle but will not handle the pressures the Mark V will.

When I shoot my 270 UL off the bench, I DO NOT wait minutes between shots. As fast as I can cycle the bolt (and that's damn fast with a MK V), and settle back in on target, I squeeze off the next round. Just like if you were hunting, right? Shots 1&2 invariably go into one ragged hole and shot 3 will print up to a half inch out.

The rifle is well balanced, has a crazy strong and smooth action and is a joy to carry all day long. Can't say enough great things about the rifle and the caliber is still king of the 270s. Recoil with this outfit is very manageable. Mine wears a Swarovski 4-12 Scope.

I'd buy it again...and again...and again...

And do you shoot factory ammo?

And I see stock design mentioned in this thread too. I admit that I originally didn't care for the looks of the Weatherby stock design, the "Monte Carlo". An unfortunate name choice, I think. Once you understand the reasons it looks the way it does (mitigating recoil), it suddenly gets awful pretty and once you spend some time behind one, it makes all kinds of sense. The raised comb puts your eye where it needs to be on a scoped rifle, the angle of the comb is designed to direct recoil away from your face. The flat bottom on the forend makes for a more stable rest. I'm probably missing something. Still not my favorite look - but, goofy name (Monte Carlo) aside, Roy Weatherby was far ahead of his time with this stock, among other things.

SKane - I shoot factory and handloads but so far, with the .270 UL it's been only Weatherby factory ammo. Those will be neck sized and reloaded eventually. It may be hard to improve on the factory performance and accuracy though. They do a pretty good job. The loads I mentioned, 130 gr spitzer, were clocking an average of 3550 fps over my chrono. I'm getting almost identical stats with Weatherby 130 gr partitions.

Good to know - thanks!

A quick look at Gunbroker shows Weatherby factory ammo in 130 gr spritzer or spire point at around $36-$38. This stuff is clocking 3550 fps out of my UL. Partition or TTSX will run about $70-$85 for Wby factory ammo. Typically, I can't quite equal factory ammo velocity with my handloads, but I can get pretty close. Was the same deal with 257 Wby ammo. The 7mm Wby, I never had any factory ammo for. I don't know about anybody else, but even if I was forced to use factory ammo all the time, it's still going to be the smallest cost in my hunting trips.

Yep,

I have a Weatherby Ultralight in 270 Weatherby and it shoots great with factory ammo. Pretty much the same as yours. I have killed an ark full of deer and hogs with it and so far nothing has taken a step. Not one,not ever. I use nothing but weatherby 130 grain factory loads on game. They are going around 3500 fps and the effect on game is like a lightening strike.

I have killed a bunch of critters with a 7mm Remington magnum and the kills have not alwaiys been instantaneous. The extra impact velocity does seem to make a difference.

My shooting buddy has The Arroyo RC 270 wby and it is a real sweet rig , shoots 129lrx at 3500 fps , Not a weatherby rifle but i have a McWhorter in 270 wby and I love it . I shoot the 129 lrx at 3480 fps and will group the at 3" at 470 yards.

The guy wants a 270 Wby so that is what he should get, it seems like those who actually use them really like them. I have wanted to have a 270 Wby and came close a couple of times to doing it, going to have to scratch that itch one day.............

Oh and I sure wouldn't want to lug around an Accumark around the hills, the Ultralight is the one he should buy in my opinion.

ultralightweight Bee

I do like the danged 270's....

...........................Fotis.........Along with a few other rifles and cartridge choices I have been considering smaller than 30 caliber, owning a second Mk 5 but chambered in a 270 Wby is a short list possibility as I have always liked the 270 caliber.

Your above 3 shot group is very impressive. Velocity is too! However I'm curious about your charge of 71 gr RL22 behind a 150 gr LRAB. I take it that you worked up to that load and have no pressure signs?

Nosler lists their max RL22 load behind 150 LRAB as 66.5 gr.... Lyman shows 67.0 gr RL22 behind a 150 gr Barnes.

Those long range abs sure are soft. My 6.5x47 pua shoots the 129s at 2920fps and there isn't much left of the bullet under 100 yards. Not sure about the 150s at at 3285, although they will be slower in colder temps if that's a summer chrony read. I run the 140 accubonds at just shy of 3400fps in my 60cm (23.6") Sauer 202 with 7977.

Cheers

I have had no issues at all my friend....