stagpanther
New member
My friend's heirloom Mark 5 finally became smoking toast--and he needed a replacement for his upcoming African hunt. I was tasked to find one for him, a call to Weatherby was a futile effort--they had nothing in stock and a 6 month production back-up; they recommended trying one of their preferred retailers, so off I went.
Pickings were slim and sometimes confusing--but I eventually settled on a simple but very classic-looking Mark V sporter--my friend doesn't like "girlie" modern camo patterned stocks.
Weatherby has definitely upped their game with their new factory--and it shows in this rifle. Bore cutting appears clean and sharp at the muzzle with no signs of tool chatter, the chamber is nicely polished and the freebore to lands also is cleanly done. The biggest changes from older generations Mark 5's are the extensive use of ceracoating and modernization of their famous radial 9 lug in-line bolt--which now sports fluting and a shorter 54 degree throw. Like previous Mark 5 magnums the barrel is not entirely free-floated--although I have not yet removed the stock to examine the innards--it too has a "harmonics bump" that contacts the barrel, but unlike previous generations this one appears to be moved back a few inches towards the receiver--why, I haven't a clue, but I trust they know what they are doing and that it will have no problem grouping within their guarantee--I have yet to shoot a rifle of their's that has failed to do so. The trigger come stock with a pull just a smidgen under 4 lbs--which by coincidence is exactly where my friend likes them. My friend selected low rings to take advantage of the shorter bolt handle throw, though I personally don't especially care for a low scope mount on a rifle that has the significant Monte Carlo swell on the stock that are present in most Weatherby stocks.
Simple, lightweight, classic-looking and powerful--what's not to like?
Pickings were slim and sometimes confusing--but I eventually settled on a simple but very classic-looking Mark V sporter--my friend doesn't like "girlie" modern camo patterned stocks.
Weatherby has definitely upped their game with their new factory--and it shows in this rifle. Bore cutting appears clean and sharp at the muzzle with no signs of tool chatter, the chamber is nicely polished and the freebore to lands also is cleanly done. The biggest changes from older generations Mark 5's are the extensive use of ceracoating and modernization of their famous radial 9 lug in-line bolt--which now sports fluting and a shorter 54 degree throw. Like previous Mark 5 magnums the barrel is not entirely free-floated--although I have not yet removed the stock to examine the innards--it too has a "harmonics bump" that contacts the barrel, but unlike previous generations this one appears to be moved back a few inches towards the receiver--why, I haven't a clue, but I trust they know what they are doing and that it will have no problem grouping within their guarantee--I have yet to shoot a rifle of their's that has failed to do so. The trigger come stock with a pull just a smidgen under 4 lbs--which by coincidence is exactly where my friend likes them. My friend selected low rings to take advantage of the shorter bolt handle throw, though I personally don't especially care for a low scope mount on a rifle that has the significant Monte Carlo swell on the stock that are present in most Weatherby stocks.
Simple, lightweight, classic-looking and powerful--what's not to like?
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