Weatherby question

[stiggy]

I am in the market to purchase a hunting rifle in the near future. I have found two Weatherby rifles that are the top two contendors. What is the difference between a Weatherby Mark V Ultralight and a Mark V Accumark? I found both guns in the "gun library" at Cabelas in Glendale, AZ.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Gun-..._/N-1103649/Ns-PRODUCT_NAME%7C1?WTz_stype=GNU

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Gun-..._/N-1103649/Ns-PRODUCT_NAME%7C1?WTz_stype=GNU

Please post your advice/oppinion regarding the two rilfes. Anyone have any experience? Thank you in advance!

 

[Leaky Waders]

I have a Weatherby Mark V Deluxe in 257 and am a member of the Weathery Nation forum...you may want to google that.

There is some weatherby knowledge on this forum too...waiting for Geno to reply.

 

[helotaxi]

Just a quick look at the links shows a difference of 2" of barrel, different barrel contours and 2# in weight.

 

[Strongbad]

The smaller barrel diameter plus there are some areas where they've removed a little bit of metal to save weight. Bolt handle, bolt body, etc.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Just what you'd think. the Accumark is a heavier more meaty gun and the ultra light is that a very light weight mountain rifle. I've found the accuracy on the Ultra lights to be very acceptable for the most part.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Both are used guns. Just making sure you know.
Price's are a tad high.

I'd suggest you look into the Vanguard Sub-MOA

I have a Vanguard (not moa model) but it is nevertheless a sub-moa gun with capable ammo.

The real question you should be asking yourself is do you reload?
If not, pass on the Weatherby chambered rifles. The cheapest factory load for the .300wby is about $40 a box of 20, or $2 per shot. Add a "premium" bullet and box goes to $60-80 a box of 20.
I can reload my .257wby mag for the same cost as my .257Roberts which is about the cost to reload a .30/30.

250rds of factory 300wbymag ammo will cost you as much as the rifle costs.
Not something you'll shoot very much.

Instead of the .300wby, I'd suggest you get the Vanguard in .300winmag. Rifle is ~500.00 NEW, and spend the rest on decent optics. Walmart and others carry the .300winmag for ~25.00 a box if you don't reload......There isn't really that much difference in the .300winmag and .300wbymag to justify the difference in price.
I have .300RUM, but I load it down to .300mag performance to tame the recoil, and I don't need the extra 300fps.
I reload and use mil-surp powders, so cost isn't significant for me.

 

[Geno]

Thanks LW:

The difference is going to be the basic amount of steel. The Ultra Lights (link: http://www.weatherby.com/product/rifles/markv/ultralight )that I held had the bolt handle bored free to reduce some weight. I do not recall if the UL had a #2 barrel or a #1. The link provided should clarify a lot. It is very light indeed.

The Accumark (IMHO) is a beauty. Then again, I like heavy rifles. Those have #3 barrels if I remember correctly. (Link: http://www.weatherby.com/product/rifles/markv/accumark ). I like that the Accumark has a stainless steel barrel. A word of caution, my Uncle Dave is the best shootist I have met. He sold his Fibermark for an Accumark and quickly regretted it, because his Fibermark was more accurate. Could have just been those two rifles.

I am quite simply a Weatherby fan. Customer service is great. Ed has responded to every letter I have ever sent to Weatherby, asking whatever I needed to know. As a note, my very first Weatherby Mark V was factory defective (a Fibermark .270 Wea Mag). It shot about 10" off the bench at 100 yards. Mr. Weatherby had that problem resolved in less than a week back to me, new barrel, letter of apology, a Weatherby baseball-style cap, and a Weatherby book to boot. All I expected was a new barrel. Sheesh! Can't beat that service!

You may want to look at Weatherby ammunition costs before you purchase that .300 Wea Mag. My current Mark V Synthetic is a .300 Win Mag. I payed either $699 or $799 new in the box about 4 years ago. I removed the synthetic stock and bought a Bell & Carlson Medalist for about $199.00. That UL even in .300 Win Mag is going to be a shoulder-thumper...6 pounds 10 ounces?! Ouch!

So, there you go,

Geno

 

[stiggy]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm trying to find a trustworthy review of the sheer recoil of the ultralight in comparison to similar rifles (I like numbers and graphs). I understand the recoil will not feel like a massage by any means but is 6.x lb rifle "too" light for a hunting rifle?

I'm hoping to go shoulder them both this weekend so maybe that will help in the decision making process.

Cheers!

 

[H&Hhunter]

I had a .300 Wthby in the Ultralight. Honestly it wasn't that bad. The Mark V stock is very good at mitigating recoil. I found it comfortable to shoot. I really didn't notice any difference between it and a standard weight Mark V other than a noticeably more pronounced muzzle rise in recoil.

I wouldn't hesitate to get an Ultralight in .300. I was forced to sell mine to a buddy who "borrowed" mine and shot a huge old bull elk with it way up in the mountains. He refused to give it back and sent me a envelope full of cash in it's place.

 

[Geno]

You might contact Weatherby's technical department directly regarding the perceived foot pounds of recoil. They are very helpful.

H&H is correct about Weatherby stocks. The angle of the comb really saves the face. Too, acquiring the crosshairs in a scope on a Weatherby rifle always has felt natural for me. It just fits.

Regarding my post on recoil, I should qualify my post with saying that I had several surgeries following a auto accident. That in part is why I prefer heavy rifles.

Geno

 

[Cop Bob]

I'm not a Weatherby kinda guy, but I did acquire one some years back, along with the dies, brass.. etc... it was an older (1960's maybe) 300 Weatherby Mag... I found to to be a very accurate rifle, kinda finicky on the loadings.. OAL, case length, all had to be just right, powder charges up or down from its sweet spot had a tendency to open it up as well... It required some pretty slow powders if I remember correctly..

I found it to be a very satisfying gun to shoot.. I shot it about 5 times.. I was satisfied..
I let my Uncle have it, and I loaded for him...