Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Pro or Con on Weaterby Mark V Ultra light

Anyone have any Pro's or con's on this rifle, My son's looking at a new one in a 270 win.

My son has one in .30-06, the older style with the dark gray synthetic stock and fluted stainless barrel. He's killed an elk with it and wouldn't trade it for the world.

As I just reported in another post I have a friend who owns a Weatherby Ultralight in .257 Weatherby. It shot perfectly lousy from the factory (and Weatherby really did not want to hear about it)It was sent to Hill Country Rifles and they made a shooter out of it.

I have two buddies who own the same rifle in 25-06 and both those rifles shoot quite well so long as you do not heat up that thin barrel too much.

Those rifles are sure a delight to carry.

It is the gun that converted me from leverguns to bolt actions. I have one in 338-06 and absolutely love it. Mine will shoot 1" or less groups but as said the barrel heats up quick. Great gun to carry and balance perfect.

I still love the lever actions but would love to compliment my 338-06 with another UL in smaller caliber.

I still can't understand the weatherby fascination by some, for that kind of money just have a custom built with a mickey handle.

I have a Weatherby Ultralight in 280 Rem.
It has me spoiled rotten with its accuracy and ease of carry. When I pick out a rifle to go hunting these days I usually grab the Weatherby because its so sweet to tote.
Weatherby triggers are a snap to adjust too. The are nice right out of the box but can be made even nicer in just a few minutes.

Unless your picking up a hell of a deal on a used one that you know shoots I wouldn't go there. For their price you can have a better custom that will no doubt out shoot it and if light is the big thing with you well just build the custom that way.

I have owned a .280 rem in one for years I also own two sako's
one being a model 75 SS .270wsm and the other a .308 model 75
grey wolf as well as a custom 6.5 remington mag. But i always
seem to reach for the .280 UL because it is so light and handy
it will shoot 3 shells sub moa then spread a little.Both sako's
are sub moa as well with the .270wsm at .75 and the .308 at.88
the 6.5 will shoot a incredible .25 i had it built by hart. I
still like the .280 best killed a 200lbs 11 point buck this
year in kentucky it had a 18.25 inch spread shot him trotting
in thick cover at 125yds. I don't know if i could have picked
him up and led him as quick with my other rifles. my UL is of
the older style blue grey stock with spider webbs. the barrel
is stainless with blackened flutes.

I have a SBGM in in 300 Win Mag which is virtually the same rifle configuration as the UL and it took me two years to get it to shoot after tinkering with the bedding. It shoots fabulous and carrys great with one exception. It absolutely will not shoot off a bipod. The stock interferes with the harmonics.

I'm not sure of the fasination factor but where are you buying a custom gun that comes in at 5-3/4 lbs for the price of a Weatherby UL. Mine was an exceptional deal at $850 NIB 6 yrs ago. Now I can pick one up out the door in a la caliber for about $1300 NIB. The only gun I know of at the weight is a NULA at $3000-3200. If you got another option, let me know as I am interested. Lets not forget the balance of the gun and 54 degree bolt lift that is as smooth as silk

I just picked up an amazing deal of a Fibermark lightweight in 270 win that weighs exactly 6 pounds and I really like the feel. I would suggest looking at one of these as well, because I believe the stock is made by Mcmillan, and the fit and finish of the one I picked up is first rate.

I don't think Mcmillan has made Weatherby's factory stocks for a pretty good while.

I have one in 257roy. If I knew now what I knew then I would be rollin' with a custom rig for even money. it is a nice rig and good to carry, but it is far from the greatest shooter I have owned and not the lightest either. It does seem to get a bunch more accurate when I aim it at critters....it never seems to miss.

a fair price for what you get if you can be happy with .75 moa tops.

My wife has one in .240 Weatherby and it averages .7 with 100-grain Partition factory loads, better with handloads.

Most I have seen shoot quite well, but the exceptions have all been in larger bores. This indicates to me the barrel contour is just too light to handle too big a hole in the middle.

I would also like to know where I could get a custom 5-3/4 pound rifle built for $1300 with a good barrel and McMillan stock, particularly one that shoots into .5 to .7.

Well I have a Remington Mohawk that I had redone. It's a .243 with a 26" Douglas 4 contour and a McMillan stock. I made no effort to build it light. With the scope it is a couple oz over 7 pounds. With a McMillan edge stock it would have made the weight you're taking about easy. My cost was $1150 that includes the donor action, Douglas barrel, stock and gun smithing. The gun consistantly shoots .5 MOA.

I've had 3. Still have one. I kept the .243 cause it's the best shooter I've ever had. Won't get rid of it. My wife and kids have killed a ton of stuff w/ it. Sold the .25/06 cause it would only do around 2" no matter what you fed it. Also had a .338/06 that I sold unfired, just cause I was into it right, and was able to double my $$. Wish I still had it. I got mine back when they were $850, too.

You tell em two fingers. DK

Thanks all, My son looked at the posting earler today before he left to go duck hunting in Arkansas, I'll have him check it out again when he gets back.

I just traded one to Daveh that shot as good as one can shoot. 7mm weatherby mag honest 3/4 groups at 3550 fps with barnes 120 gr TSX. DK

They are wonderful rifles and considering what you get, a GREAT value. Not to worry, the usual suspect (s) will soon chime in about how piss-poor inaccurate they were...right. jorge