Weatherby

[Kachok]

Always wanted a MkV never could afford one, I guess I will just keep driving tacks with my Savages and Tikka When you boil it all down accuracy reliability and safty are the three most important factors of a firearm, and Savage and Tikka do that as well as any $2,000 rifle out there. I'll keep telling myself that every time I walk by a Sako 85 Deluxe.......drool.

 

[mshootnit]

the checkering and grip cap style on those weatherby's screams late 1950's to me.
Vanguards are not entirely howa 1500. Stocks are different. The Vanguard bolt assembly has relief holes in it while the howa does not. Barrel lengths and contours are different. Its kind of like saying an oldsmobile bravada and a jimmy are the same vehicle. Kind of true.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Vanguards are not entirely howa 1500. Stocks are different.

The stock of my Vanguard and Howa 1500 are identical. I did have another Vanguard with the Weatherby shaped stock.

The Vanguard bolt assembly has relief holes in it while the howa does not.

The Howa 1500 has the same relief holes. They aren't visible with the bolt closed.

 

[Greg Mercurio]

I have 3: 2 of them are Mark V Deluxe in .270 and .300 Wby, the third is a Vaguard Deluxe in .257 Wby. Great cartridges, not all that efficient, but they get the job done. The fit and finish are outstanding on all 3. The Mark V action is one of the strongest ever built. They shoot exceptionally well, and look as good as they shoot. They aren't for everone. Some people think black plastic looks great. I favor highly figured wood with forend and gripcaps of contrasting species. Different strokes. All 3 of them cost me less than $2000 combined. Don't get in a rush and you can find genuine bargains out there.

 

[TXSWFAN]

I bought this MK V .460 Custom because of the wood.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Pick up a Mark V and compare it to a Savage, Ruger, Remington, or any other consumer sporting rifle costing half as much.

I've compared a $2000 Weatherby Mark V to a $800 CZ 550...The Weatherby didn't have a $1200 fit and finish premium over the CZ.

Nor did it have a $1000 fit and finish premium over the Winchester M 70 Super Grades I have handled

 

[Gordon]

The old German and to a much lesser extent the Japanese Mark V is what had the top tier (yes I speak in best English terms, less embellishments) finish like European bolt guns but in the "California " look .
That .460 Mark V is drop dead beautiful as most Desert Irowood (a mesquite) are. I saw one in African Bubunga but is was much darker and purpleish and weighs 18 pounds which may have still not been heavy enough!

 

[BYJO4]

Weatherby has always made a fine, accurate rifle. The Mark V has always been top of the line and for years the only way you could actually get the Weatherby calibers. However, you can now get those calibers along with standard ones in the Vanguard. The Vanguard is about half the price but still provides excellent accuracy. The deluxe version with wood stock is very nice looking although the grain in the wood is not equal to the Mark V.

 

[TXSWFAN]

Gordan, thanks for typing the wood for me. I didn't know.

I'm also a fan of Capstick's writings. In one of his books, I remember him mentioning that the Weatherby platform wasn't thought of very highly in the European and African hunting scenes. From what I think I remember, the action wasn't satisfactory in regards to quick, follow up shots under stress. I wouldn't know.

 

[Gordon]

The extractor is NOT Mauser 98 type but much less robust is what that fuss is about. Also the Brits were spoiled on a darn near foolproof trigger system ,as the pre 64 Winchester shares but not the Weatherby ,and the MK V is fitted to tight tolerances in the lugs and raceways that don't like debris like sand or mud.

 

[DM~]

You guys must have been looking at rifles from a different Wby. company than i have owned/sold/hunted with!

The Wby's Mark V's i've been around have been heavy, some really poorly laid out stocks full of knots, and the only brand of rifle i ever owned that failed in the field!

I've sent back two Mark V's with knots so bad through the grip that i wouldn't even fire them!

Every 700 Rem. i've ever owned has out shot every Wby. i've ever owned, or a customers Wby. that i sighted in for them.

When i shot BR, i NEVER saw even one Wby. Mark V ever win anything, but there were plenty of 700 Rem., and 700 action rifles winning weekly!

As far as i'm concerned, they are over priced rifles that are not worth no where near what they cost! Personally, i wouldn't buy another even if the price was much less.

DM

 

[loose noose]

DM, I agree with you whole heartedly, I remember when they were manufactured in Southgate, California. I happened to tour the factory in 1971-72 somewhere around there. I was not impressed to say the least, allthough the wood they were using was beautiful Circasion Walnut, the way they sculpted it was not what I expected for a high dollar rifle. I ended up buying a Remington BDL Custom Deluxe in .270, and I still have that rifle. Took plenty of deer, antelope, as well as an elk, with that rifle.

 

[goldie]

I have an accumark in 30-06 i got a few years ago for under 1000.00 from buds gun shop, with 1 year no intrest credit card.i paid it off 100 a month ,got to shoot it for almost a year before paying in full for it, & has been the most accurate 30-06 ive ever owned. that was a real good deal. also have a super varmintmaster 22-250 another great gun, got it for 1000.00 ,too. had others in the past,7mm 300 340 ,all were accurate,reliable, well made, real nice figured wood,been playing with mk v's since 1985.also have 2 mkxxII's, one from howa japan, one from nikko, japan, 1st class guns all the way. as far as quality goes. the ones made in germany by sauer were outstanding, so were the ones made in japan. the u.s. made ones are just as good, ive never had a problem with one. ive read dozens of wby guide magazines, & tons of gun magazines in the 80's & whenever or wherever wby was mentioned, it was the best.

 

[jmr40]

There is no doubt they make great rifles. I just don't care for their design or styling features. If you like them, they are a great rifle.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Excellent guns.

The Mark V action is TOUGH, and SAFE.. as well as very accurate. Sure, its expensive.
The Weatherby offers custom shop options even on the Vanguard line now. The Vanguard Deluxe is hands down better than any other sub $1000 deer gun, in my opinion. Fit and finish are top notch.

Not to mention the sub-moa availability.

The US-made (as well as german made) Mark V is probably the safest action for hand-loaders making wildcat loads. Its tough, and has several locking lugs, and over-pressure relief ports.

They look nice too. They stand behind their product very well, too.

 

[captain awesome]

Anyone that has shot one of these rifles and spent any amount of time with one, how accurate are their rifles? Sub-MOA?

Yes,
My dad owns a MARK V in 257 Weatherby, and that is a one ragged hole group at 100yards rifle with factory ammo. The first time I shot it, I fell in love, and promptly added the Mark V to my firearms owning bucket list. I will probably inherit my dads sooner or later(hopefully later) anyway.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Oh yeah.. and to those that talk about triggers.. Weatherby has some of the finest out of the box triggers I have ever felt.

 

[BigN]

I've always wondered the same thing...until I got a great deal on a Mark V. As someone said, pick one up and you'll know you have a piece of quality in your hands. No comparison.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

I can't let this one go without at least making mention of a problem with Weatherby.

No matter what else there is to say about them, the customer service should be better than having a rifle waiting close to a year now for warranty work. Polite phone calls have done no good so far, and BS as well as lying does nothing to satisfy the situation.

Hey, I HIGHLY recommend that you get on the phone and ask to speak to Ed Weatherby.

That is VERY un-like them. I'm sure he would appreciate the issue being brought to his attention, and may even personally see to it that you are satisfied.

 

[jehu]

I have mostly Sako 75's & 85's with one Vixen and one AV. Only have one Wby Mark V Super Predator Master 223 and it's a very well made and super accurate rifle, my go to GH gun.

 

[wgp]

I bought a used but like-new Mark V Accumark in .30-06 several years ago, loved it but it shot no better than my old Rem 700 so I sold it to my son so that it would not become a safe queen. It had an excellent trigger, the short-lift bolt and fluted stainless barrel, a real fine rifle.

Recently bought a Vanguard Sub-MOA in .25-06, again used, but have found it to be sub-moa even with first batch of handloads. The trigger was terrible, the worst rifle trigger I've ever pulled, but I dropped in a Timney and now it's one of the best. If you're looking for a Vanguard, you might try to find the Sub-MOA model, supposedly they are the rifles that are found to be the most accurate when tested at the factory, and then are pulled out and given the floorplate engraved with the Sub-MOA logo.

 

[ball3006]

My Dad had a 300 Wby on a Mauser receiver he bought in the early 50s. My brother has it now. Too much gun for me even though I shot it alot when I was younger. Everything I need done will happen with my M1....chris3

 

[dos0711]

Vanguard Series 2

The series 2 Vanguard has a wonderful trigger..smooth! It was advertised as sub-moa and it was...right out of the box! Maybe I got lucky, but it is a rifle that will stay with me to the end! .270 WIN caliber btw.

 

[lefteyedom]

While I like the Mark V action, and think the Vanguard is a fine rifle, nether will be my next "Weatherby".

My Weatherby ( when the tax return check shows up?) will be a Ruger 1B in 300 Weatherby.

A 26" barrel that the 300Wby needs, in a rifle that fits my 5'8" frame.

Maybe one day Weatherby will build a pretty single shot, till then the Ruger is my choice...

 

[Lloyd Smale]

got to admit that my experience with there customer service dept was crappy too. They want to sell them but sure dont want to stand behind them.

I can't let this one go without at least making mention of a problem with Weatherby.

No matter what else there is to say about them, the customer service should be better than having a rifle waiting close to a year now for warranty work. Polite phone calls have done no good so far, and BS as well as lying does nothing to satisfy the situation.