Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Weatherby Backcountry or Mark V Ultralight

I'm getting ready to get my dad his first new hunting rifle in over 20 years. He is a diehard Weatherby fan so that is all he wants (Good luck changing a grumpy old school Montana guy's mind). He has carried a heavy Mark V deluxe forever, but we have some long hard hunts coming up and he finally has admitted it is time for a lighter rifle.

We have been looking at both the Mark V Ultralight and the Backcountry, most likely in 30-06. I've been getting conflicting reports - some say both rifles shoot great, others say Weatherby's are the biggest waste of money.

Looking for good first hand user experience with either rifle to help with the decision.

I have a Mark V .300 wby mag Ultralight. It's not a bad rifle but so far it is so-so in accuracy. As much as they cost they should shoot better, IMO.

I think I'd look at the Sako M85 Finnlight, in the same price range. Or have a light rifle custom built

I had one that would consistently put three 150gr 30/06 bullets inside an inch. After that you had to let it cool, and it would do the same again. Those barrels are button Kriegers, I'm told, on the UL's. If I didn't hate the stock, I'd still have it.

The accuracy is what concerns me, especially for the price. It seems that is the single biggest complaints I hear.

I am yet to own an Ultralight I didn't like or wouldn't shoot. My current U/L in .280 Rem (bedded and Timney installed) shooting 150gr Partitions is flawless. In my opinion, reports of bad accuracy probably come from those who can't shoot light weight rifles very well. Though it is possible for a bad apple to be in every basket.

I have one of each, both in .30-06. The BC is a first edition, all stainless. It's a little heavier than the UL but I prefer it significantly over the UL, solely due to accuracy.

I replaced the BC trigger with a Timney. My son used it to kill his first buck so I guess it's his.



The BC clover leafs 150 NABs, the UL is inconsistent regardless of the load. If I could find another all-stainless BC I'd sell the UL and buy it.

The UL carries like a dream but my skills don't rise to its level.

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P

sts45,
It sounds like your Dad is 'old school'....I can relate, as to his love of Roy's toys. You might look at the Ultralight RC.
If you think accuracy is in question.
Has he read the book on Weatherby history?

Mark V Ultralight

My Mark V Ultralight in 270 Bee

My mark 5 UL in .25-06 has been a solid rifle shooting most hand loads, easy to find a suitable load for. Trigger could use some love / replacement but works fine as is. With the very thin barrel when load testing the rifle must be allowed to cool as mentioned above. Great rifle when one does a lot of walking in rough country.

I have not had a Mark V UL just had the plain jane #2 contour models and one big accumark 338/378 but I know a few shooters that have them in everything from a 240 weatherby to a 300 weatherby and I have not heard a complaint yet. If money was not an issue I would go with the UL if not there is not a freaking thing wrong with a Backcountry.

I had one in 300 Weatherby (my nephew has it now) that I took to Alaska with me. It was kinda funny (maybe nothing unusual for those that have shot a ton) but it would shoot three shot groups in the 1.25-1.5" range at 100 yards AND at 300 yards. It was accurate enough to get this done



and this



PennDog

Penndog,

Sure can't complain with those results!

STS45,

I like accurate rifles just as much as the next guy and if the rifle would have been shooting 4-4.5" groups at 300 yards I still probably would have been OK with it? But this one was consistently keeping 3-shots under 2" at 300 yards (many groups were under 1.5")?? Anyway it worked out well and my nephew has taken several deer with it in Alabama....hoping to use it for some bigger stuff soon.

Anyway this is can go in "for the what it's worth"!

PennDog

I think I would pay the extra for the Range Certified, just for peace of mind.

I like the basic SS Vanguard.

It's a great rifle at a great price around $500 street price.

The Back Country is a step backwards from that, IMHO...

I don't see what magic paint they put on a CM rifle or whatever that jacks the price up to over a grand, or that makes it a better rifle or a better value.

Not that the cost is the final arbiter...if they cost the same I'd still go with the SS Vanguard.

The basic SS Vanguard gets the job done and then some.

The weight is the issue over the Ultralight VS SS Vanguard. Plenty of accurate rifles in Vanguard weight.

Looks like the Mark V Ultralight in non magnum calibers is approx. 1 pound lighter than the Backcountry in the same caliber.

My WBY MK V ULW 30-06 will shoot Fed Blue box 150 gr. under a inch .
With Fed 165 gr. BT factory ammo 2 touching 3rd barely out.
The thin barrel will heat up quick,It is not a target rifle
made to shoot round after round.
A MK V ULW is a LIGHT WEIGHT HUNTING rifle.

If you want to save some money; find a used basic 6 lug MK V, black bead blasted. You can find them for under $600 sometimes. A stainless will probably come in about $100 more.They come in about 6.5lbs; then put it in a McMillan stock; Edge if you want lighter. You will have no more, maybe less, invested than a new Backcountry and a lot less than a ULW. Makes a nice package.