Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Your thoughts on Weatherby Rifles

I'm in the market for a 30-06 and have been seriously considering a Mark V Deluxe. The name, Weatherby, seems to generate a fair amount of consternation on many of the gun forums. From what I have seen, they appear to be very well made and, although opinions on this differ, the look really appeals to me. I prefer a 24-inch barrel so I guess I'm looking at this rifle compared to a Model 70 super grade or--after I've seen one--Remington's new Model 700 CDL. I've been quoted $1450 on the Mark V Deluxe, which makes it a bit more expensive than the other models. I repect this forum more than any I've read so I've chosen to ask this here. In your opinion, am I buying a name/image or are Weatherby's actually worth the asking price in your view?

IMO, not worth the money.

Tony.

Hi Bighorn,
I have read the same opinions that you have and franky I don't give them much credence. They remind me of the S&W 29 vs. Redhawk or Marlin vs. Winchester, or Camaro vs. Mustang, or "Tastes Great vs. Less Filling" debates. Most of the Weatherby "wisdom" started with "I heard from a guy at the range that his brother-in-law's friend read about a guy in Africa who ..."
OK, having started with my version of this history, let me offer my own opinion (which, like a certain part of the human anatomy, everyone has and they all stink).
My stable has included 4 Remington Model 700s in a variety of calibers (6mmRem to 8mmMag, Savage 110 in 300Win, Marlin 336 in 35 Rem, 45-70 and 450Marlin, Rem 742 in 30-06, Winchester M70 in 30-06 and a few 22s and shotguns. I also have Weatherby rifles in .224 (Varmintmaster), 257 (SS), 30-378 (Accumark) and .416 (Euro).
I have handled and shot a few Sako rifles as well, but never owned one.
Overall, the Weatherby actions are the smoothest I have ever cycled. The short bolt lift is not noticable until you go back to the 90deg bolts of the other rifles. Triggers are smooth with little to no creep and the stocks seem to fit me perfectly. When I shoulder one of the Weatherbys, I do no "squiggling" around to get a perfect sight picture and felt recoil with even the 416 is never uncomfortable.
Comparing the Rems, Wins and Savage - for me, none are as smooth and the difference in bolt lift is apparent. None of these seem to shoulder as naturally.
Having said all of that, my advice is always to go to the shop and throw a version of each to your shoulder quickly, without thinking about it. Whichever feels most natural and lines up best is best for you. Actions and triggers can always be made better/smoother. Accuracy with the Weatherbys is truly all that the factory says it is (and in my experience, far better). Velocity over my Oehler 35P is at least factory spec. I have yet to find a confirmed case of any of the negative stuff some have posted. When I checked into one particular negative claim, the "source" told me "I never said anything of the sort. Further, I feel exactly the opposite and have regularly used my Weatherbys for dangerous game."
I like my Remingtons (just bought a new Ti in 300SAUM and a used Classic in 8mm Rem). I like the Savage 110 - seems indestructable and is very accurate. I have nothing bad to say about any of them. I really like the looks of the Remington CDL
Is a Weatherby worth it - only if it fits you correctly - then I would say "Yes". BTW, that price seems higher than I would have expected. Have you looked around?
Stay well and good luck,
Paul

I currently own Five Weatherbys, 3 DeLuxe, one UltraMark and one Accumark. They are the most consistently accurate rifles I've owned as a whole and yes I'm one of "those" who likes the often-eschewed "Weatherby Look." Having said that, I would not own a Weatherby that was not in a Weatherby caliber. Part of the reason I do like them is the ballistic performance of most Weatherby offerings. I really like the looks of that new Remington CDL, but in a 3006, I'd go with a Model 70 Supergrade. I have one in 300 and it'swonderfully accurate and well finished rifle for a bit less money than the Weatherby. Hell, look at them all and pick the one you like best. jorge

Bighorn,
I've had two, a .257 wby and .270 wby and they were OK.
They both shot great close range (100 yard accuracy) less than an inch. It was at the longer ranges their groups seem to spread more than conventional designs? I don't know why?

Some obvious differences and possible reasons:
The front stock screw goes into the bottom of the recoil lug, rather than into the reciever.
It must be a very special machinist that can get the nine locking lugs to have equal bearing pressure, or do they?
They are free bored to handle the pressure of their expensive proprietary factory (high presure) ammo. Except free boring is not what long range accuracy buffs are looking for.

Their 4 lb. triggers feel OK but not as good (personal taste) as a well adjusted M70. And unlike say a Remington, they don't seem to have a lot of people making special after market triggers etc. for them.


But overall they are still OK, especially if you like the look, feel, or fit. They will give you six shot groups of about 4 1/2" to 6" at 300 yards with proprietary ammo. Which although may not be great, isn't too bad.
And their ammo is as fast as they claim but they do need the full 26" of barrel.

I like my SBGM in .257 WBY very much. It is light, very
accurate, and is about as smooth an action as I have ever
tried. It is a keeper.

That said, if I were looking for a .30-06 in that price
range, there would be other brands I would consider; like
an older Browning Safari grade, an older upgraded SAKO, or even a custom rifle that would have all 'tweaks' in it. (My latest project rifle built around a SAKO L579 will come in well below the numbers you are planning.)

Good luck,
1B

If you like the "California" look of their stocks, it feels right in your hands and you can afford it why not buy what you want. I too like their look, low bolt throw and smooth action. I know that they've got some down sides, but what rifle doesn't if we get picky enough. I own four Weatherby's and wish I could afford more.

Jeff

Let me qualify my comment........I feel that for the money, you could go the full custom route and get a rifle that is more likely to be a tack driver than an over the counter Weatherby.

The only SBGM I shot had serious accuracy issues. I have seen, as this thread points out, many posters who have had good results with them. People like to say they shoot a Weatherby, which is part of the attraction. Me, I like accuracy. Compare the Rem Ultra Mags against the Weatherby rounds and they compare very favorable in performance. Remmy is lacking in the .257 and .270 magnum calibers however, and the 257 and 270 Roys are awesome rounds.

Like I said, if I were going to commit $1k + in a rifle in a standard caliber such as as '06, it would be a custom rig, based on a Remmy or Win action.

I usually go the semi-custom route........factory Rem barreled action in SS, bed in a Micky or HS stock. You can throw on bases and rings and still be under $1k, usually around $800 at that point.

That gives you an all weather rig, with a quality sythetic stock and usually shoots well under an inch. I have 5 just as I have described and they ALL are tack drivers.

Tony.

Hicountry,
I tend to think more along the same lines as you. I have a .270WSM in a stainless short action Win70 with a stainless Lilja barrel in a Mcmillan stock, and I would not trade it for any Weatherby! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But that said, part of the satisfaction of gun ownership is getting your pet just as you want it, if you like a mark V, or Super Grade or whatever......

Bighorn,
I'm getting the impression, you like wood/blue guns. You can get a satin stock supergrade or a shiny Browning A-bolt and still be able to afford a great scope for the price of the Mark V without a scope. If any of the others fit, feel and look as good.
But if they don't, if there is some reason you feel you are merely settling, I would suggest getting the one you want, even if you have to wait until you put aside more........

I agree with hicountry. For the money, you can grab a Rem 700 action, put a pacnor barrel and a Rick Bin special McMillan stock on it and have something that IS going to be accurate.

The only Wby I owned was a .300 Wby accumark. Frankly it sucked. Barely could make a 1.5" group at 100 yards, despite a LOT of effort, but most disconcerting was when the temp dropped down around the zero mark while on a hunt, the bolt stop somehow froze in such a way that when I worked the bolt on a wounded buck, the bolt came flying completely out of the rifle and damn near out of my hands into deep snow. If I'd of dropped that bolt (VERY close), I'd of lost the biggest buck of my life. As it was, I managed to get things put back together and get to a bluff and finish the job, but it was a damn close call. Between that and the less than stellar accuracy AND the out of box accuracy of the subsequent Remingtons I've bought, I'm not a big fan of Weatherby rifles.

Keep in mind, I had a sample of only ONE Wby rifle to deal with, so hardly a scientific study.

My original dream rifle was a Weatherby 300 Mag.
So Twenty years or so back,I bought a New Markv West German Weatherby with a 2X7 Wby. Imperial scope on it.
It is the most accurate out of the box rifle(next to a Savage HB 223) I have ever owned.
I took the original box of shells and shot the first five shots into 3/4" dead on and 2 1/2" high at 100 yards. I have never changed it and only check it with Two shots yearly.
Every game animal I have fired this Rifle at has expired in its tracks including Four Elk and Two Bears. In fact I still have Seven rounds remaining from the original Four boxes of Cartridges. Why I have bought dozens more Rifles eludes me?
I have since gone to Classic rifles like Kimber,and a few Custom Rifles.
The Weatherby's are over priced, but I have found no disappointment in purchaseing quality.
IMHO I think if I were buying a 30/06 I would go for something cheaper which will serve you just as well and you can use the excess money for good glass.

Weatherby can be defined this way - SIMPLY THE BEST. I own 11 Mark V Deluxe models and looking to add more when I can find what I am looking for. No other rifle company can match their warrantee or guarantee(written accuracy especially). Get the Weatherby and you will not regret doing, so even in a .30-06 caliber. Lawdog
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I grew up wanting a MV in a weatherby caliber but never did because of all the horror stories. Well I finally found a new synthetic stainless steal version very cheap and picked it up. I figured if it didn't shoot I could retube it. I threw together some break-in loads and I couldn't believe the accuracy. I have alot of hunting rifles including some that cost alot more than my weatherby. I feel like the weatherby is a best buy, and I am very happy with it. The most important thing when buying a rifle is getting what YOU want.

Lawdog,
I got a Weatherby Ultra-Light 338-06 and I definately regret it. They have a guarantee and a warranty for sure and after a couple hours of phone discussions with their technicians and engineers they agreed there was a problem with the rifle.

Here is where I have heartburn with Weatherby. The rifle destroyed brass and was not accurate. They insisted that the brass problems were "acceptable" and only admitted a problem when the best group they could get it to shoot was 1.8". They recommended "replacing the rifle at no cost to the customer." All's good to this point except I can not get a 338-06. They have discontinued the caliber. They will not rebarrel it either. They will replace it with an Accumark in 340WBY.

I bought the rifle I wanted, a light weight 338-06. I did not want a big heavy 340WBY. Now I don't have the rifle I bought or that money to replace it.

For what I paid for the Weatherby I could have bought a Rem 700TI and had it rebarreled.

I have 3 Weatherbys and love them. When my shoulder can no longer handle the recoil of the .300 Wby and my hunting trips will be week-ends at the cabin ... The very same rifle you describe will be the one I want.

Get one and never look back, if by chance you shoot out the barrel ... Weatherby will replace it ... stock cracks (no matter how long you own the rifle) Weatherby will replace it. Like to see Rem or Win back their rifles like that!

unless they have discontinued the caliber!

mtmisfit,

Not trying to fan the fire here, but it sounds like Weatherby has done their part by offering to give you a new rifle of equal or greater value. If you still want a 338-06 sell the new Weatherby unfired and go get a rifle rebarreled to your caliber. Just a thought...... Suppose you're going to tell me to keep my thoughts to myself. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Jeff

George: three Weatherbys on a grad student's salary...you've got your priorities right!! gig em

I love my "cheap" Weatherby. It is a Weatherby Mark V Lightweight Synthetic in 280 Rem I had rechambered to 280 Rem AI. I paid $550 NIB 4 years ago. Shoots just about anything I reload under an inch. Even shoots Remington 280 Rem 140 grain factory ammo under 2" while fireforming. Gander Mountain has Sporters in standard calibers for under $1000 and Synthetics for, you guessed it, $550.

Whenever I buy another Remington in order to save a few bucks I always wish I had bought another Weatherby. I have both Weatherby calibers and non weatherby calibers and regret niether. My Ultra lightweight .308 shoots one hole groups with factory ammo and is a pleasure to carry as well. Just do it!