What Makes Weatherby So Special

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qman2

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There's a local pawn shop that has great gun prices from time to time. I picked up a .22 and a 20 gauge from them at half retail. I was in there today getting the 20 gauge and they have a Weatherby .270 Win. The price is $550. I don't know much about guns as my high power rifles were gifts from my father but I'm sure he didn't pay that much for them.

I've always heard folks tell off Weatherbys as though they were top of the line. Is this so and if so why?
 
The PRICE...nothing else! hehehe

By 'special', what do you mean?

Back in the day, Weatherby offered rifles of top quality and with outstanding aesthetics in calibers that far surpassed most other calibers and loadings of the day in both velocity and accuracy. The 'ammo' was accurate, not so much the rifles.

Look at the Weatherby line and you'll notice little things that you wont find on the 'other' brand, stock design, reverse combs, immaculate finish and blue ect...

They are pretty and they have the reputation, but that's about it, that's what you get for the extra dough!
Well...you do get the magnificent Weatherby calibers.....I think they use bottled water to blue with also, Perrier I do so believe!
 
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Once upon a time, a Weatherby was a semi-custom, low rate production gun with fancy wood, racy lines, and chambered in propietary Weatherby magnum cartridges with double radiused shoulders and necks.

Now, it is more of a brand, with at least two tiers of product, the lower end chambered in common popular calibers, such as the 270 Winchester.
 
Once upon a time, a Weatherby was a semi-custom, low rate production gun with fancy wood, racy lines, and chambered in propietary Weatherby magnum cartridges with double radiused shoulders and necks.

Now, it is more of a brand, with at least two tiers of product, the lower end chambered in common popular calibers, such as the 270 Winchester.
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I only partially agree.
Still with even with the inexpensive Vanguard, you have accuracy guaranteed in paper, something no other manufacturer does in that price range or even higher.
And the Vanguard is chambered for 2 Weatherby calibers (257 Wby and 300 Wby) other than the regular ones.
The "3 rings of steel" design concept (for both the Mark V and the Vanguard) is nice also.
 
$550 is half retail for many Weatherby rifles. It's retail for a few. It's 1/5 retail for some.

There are different models, different levels of finish and adornment, etc.

$550 would be a steal for a Mark V Ultralight in .270. It would be way too much for a beat-up Vanguard Synthetic.
 
plus you can join the Weatherby Safari Club...they have annual meetings, recognise outstanding hunting accomplishments and give away nice prizes.

my only Weatherby is a Mark XXII (not the newer restocked Anschutz) and i got it for the Weatherby look/style at an affordable price.

i've always equated Weatherby style in rifles with that of Browning in handguns...it's a look, at a price
 
On the Mark V, the small degree of bolt lift is special. However, I think you pay for the name more than anything else with Weatherby's. The Vanguards are nothing really special. The Vanguards are about the same price as Remingtons and other makes. The Weatherby's are nice. However, you can find a comprable Remington, Winchester, etc. for hundreds less.
 
With a lot of shotguns and rifles I have one Weatherby MARK V(338-378 Mag) which my friends call the "Colorado Cannon". Yeah, It is my go to gun for Colorado. It is accurate as all get out with a action smooth as glass. I feel confident when I pull the trigger on this one. Then that's just me.
 
On the Mark V, the small degree of bolt lift is special. However, I think you pay for the name more than anything else with Weatherby's. The Vanguards are nothing really special. The Vanguards are about the same price as Remingtons and other makes. The Weatherby's are nice. However, you can find a comprable Remington, Winchester, etc. for hundreds less.
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Tell me where I can find a basic Rem 700 rifle at the same price of a Vanguard synthetic ($399).....:rolleyes:
 
Let me tell you why my .257 Weatherby is special. 90 grain bullet at 3800 fps. Try that with your .243
 
One might as well ask if a mechanical watch, such as a Rolex, which is an inferior timekeeper to a quartz watch, is really worth $10,000.

Weatherby established a brand. Weatherby identified its brand with wealth, adventure, and African safari’s.

It has done well. People pay more for brand identity.

If you own a Weatherby, expect to pay more. The ammunition is very expensive for one thing.
 
Tell me where I can find a basic Rem 700 rifle at the same price of a Vanguard synthetic ($399)...
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The Vanguard is a better rifle at any given price point, than a 700. Hell, Remington doesn't even make a 700 that's ready to take hunting. Every one of them requires an aftermarket safety to meet my baseline requirements.

WRT Weatherby rifles, if you look through the on-line catalog, I don't think that you will see crazy prices, really. Compare them to any other company. Will you find the equivalent of a Weatherby Ultralight for less? No. What about a Lazermark?

Weatherby makes certain kinds of rifles. Some tend to be high-end. The Mark V, all told, is not overpriced compared to its competition, if you consider all features, specs, accuracy, etc. I personally really like the way their stocks fit, and how they handle recoil.

They also make budget rifles that work very well, like that $399 Vanguard.
 
Krieger barrels and McMillon stocks on a stock rifle, sure you will pay some more but put that stuff on a Rem or Win and see what it costs. Plus as has been stated you get the magic Weatherby calibers.
 
In a word? speed. In a sentence, Mr. Wetherby once said, " speed kills..."
the 257 Wetherby mag, is still , the fastest, flatest , slowest dropping round i have ever read specs on. With a 100 yd zero, and depending on your load, the round only drops between 20 and 25 inches at 500 yds, simply amazing.
Like the dude above states; 90 grain bullet at 3800 fps- defies the brain, really.
 
The Vanguard is a better rifle at any given price point, than a 700. Hell, Remington doesn't even make a 700 that's ready to take hunting. Every one of them requires an aftermarket safety to meet my baseline requirements.

WRT Weatherby rifles, if you look through the on-line catalog, I don't think that you will see crazy prices, really. Compare them to any other company. Will you find the equivalent of a Weatherby Ultralight for less? No. What about a Lazermark?

Weatherby makes certain kinds of rifles. Some tend to be high-end. The Mark V, all told, is not overpriced compared to its competition, if you consider all features, specs, accuracy, etc. I personally really like the way their stocks fit, and how they handle recoil.

They also make budget rifles that work very well, like that $399 Vanguard.
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Absolutely agree.

The Weatherby page on the Vanguard has the slogan "This is perhaps the best value on the rifle market today." and I happen to agree...I love my Vanguard in 338 Win Mag.
 
I had a 30-378 and loved it but if not for reloading, I would not have been able to shoot it because of the cost of ammo. With the brake on, the concussion alone was devestating. You did not want to shoot it without the brake. Ending up selling it because I did not get to shoot it enough. Was an absolute laser. I used to think that all guns were supposed to be able to just line up and shoot to 400 or so yards just by aiming at the target without making adjustments for yardage.
 
When I was in the market for a new deer rifle a couple of months ago, I narrowed it down to a Weatherby Vangaurd and a Remington 700 ADL. After looking at both, and handling both, I decided on the Weatherby. The deciding factor was the target that came with the rifle. I looked at three different targets and picked the tightest group. Mine was one hole. With that guarantee it was a no brainer. For me anyway.
 
I am about to buy my third Weatherby. It will be my first Weatherby caliber though. I have a 243Win Vanguard that shoots 1/2 to 1/3 MOA all day long, a 300 Win Mag Vanguard that shoots 3/4 to 1 MOA all day long, and I am going to buy a 257 Wby.

In fact, the new rifle will be a limited addition rifle. It is being built for Weatherby's forum members at our request. Its design was voted on by the forum members. Hell, we even told Weatherby what we were willing to pay for it. They came in 59.00 over budget and then we voted for an additional $150 upgrade. All told the rifle is going to cost $1099. This is not a Mark V rifle either. However, it is a very special rifle to say the least.

I have copied the description from their website, so you can see what the Weatherby sales and marketing manager named Brad posted, to tell us about the rifle they are going to build us.


 Stainless fluted Vanguard Barreled action with blackened flutes, bolt and receiver
 Chambered in 257 Wby
 Sub-MOA accuracy guarantee
 Black with gray web pillar bedded stock
 “Members Only Rifle” and “1 of _____” engraved on floorplate
 Weatherby Nation logo on floorplate
 Letter of Authenticity
 SELLING PRICE - $1099
o Tax, shipping, and dealer transfer fees not included

NOTE: Our retail price for Sub-MOA accuracy guarantee ordered through the custom shop is $240, we are giving this upgrade to you for $150.
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You ask what is "Special" about Weatherby? They listened to their customers, they took an idea and ran with it. They are taking orders soon and Brad said in an e-mail to me that the order deadline will be sometime in October.

Now, I ask you... Have you ever heard of any other firearm manufacturer that has ever done anything like this? I sure haven't!

Needless to say: I think Weatherby Company is special and their products are even better!

Mikey!
 
If you look closely at the rear of the bolt you will see one major difference. The Weatherby's bolt sleeve is completely closed, which prevents escaping gasses from directly going into your face in the event of an accidental case rupture etc... The Howa rifles I have seen, do not have that feature. Some of the barrels on the Howa rifles are 20" or even 22", whereas the Weatherby Vanguard barrels are 24". The Bolt on the Howa is not fluted to reduce friction, which makes the Vanguard have a smoother feel when working the action. Other than that I am not sure what else there is, but for the difference in price, I would take the Weatherby Vanguard over the Howa, any day of the week!

Mikey!
 
You get what you pay for in many cases. Weatherby still has prestige associated with its marque. Folks are willing to pay for it. That's an OK thing.
 
I have 2 Vanguards currently. I only had to pay $349 for my non magnum 243 and $359 for my magnum 300. I don't think they took me to the bank too badly, do you?

Mikey!
 
If it is an older Weatherby built on the FN action, grab it quickly and run away smiling.......


Now, AB - we know your hatred of 1100, now the 700 is on your list?? :D

MY 700, bought new in 1980, chambered in 7mm mag, is accurate with its pet load
 
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