Weatherby Mark V thoughts?

I have 2 Mk V's, a 338 and a 340 Weatherby magnum. The 338 was made in Japan, the 340 by Saco in Maine (I think). The fit on them look identical, they will even accept each others' bolts with no problems.
 
The shop where I worked sold a lot of them, mostly to guys who were less interested in accuracy than in bragging that they owned a Weatherby. I always considered them overrated and overpriced, but still good rifles.

The "advantages" of multiple lugs and 54 degree bolt lift are pretty much hype; there is no such thing as a free lunch in physics.

Jim
 
The "advantages" of multiple lugs and 54 degree bolt lift are pretty much hype; there is no such thing as a free lunch in physics.
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I don't see the multiple lugs as an advantage or as being better but the short bolt lift is nice and I think the multiple lugs is what makes the short lift doable. Funny, I hate a lever action with a short lever throw but it is nice on a bolt gun.
 
They are a strong, durable design with the nine lugs and all that good stuff. The 54 degree bolt lift is cool but as long as it clears my scope I don't care.

You know it has to be a bit disheartening to Mark V owners when the cheap Vanguard beside them at the range is shooting smaller groups :eek: which is a pretty common occurance.

If a .300 Weatherby mag is what you want, the Vanguard is the best way to get it IMO. They are essentially a Howa which is based on (really an improved version of) an older Sako action. Sako is arguably a more revered name than Weatherby so if you're worried about status you get it with the Vanguard as well, albeit in a round about way.

Also I'd like to know why anyone would choose the .300 Weatherby mag over the .300 win mag or .300 RUM. I'm not being sarcastic, this is a legit question since the biggest .30 caliber I've ever owned is an '06. The weatherby fits in between the two in terms of performance but is more expensive to shoot than either one. Currently the only .30 caliber in my stable is a .308, and I would feel comfortable hunting anything in North America with it except for maybe grizzly.
 
You know it has to be a bit disheartening to Mark V owners when the cheap Vanguard beside them at the range is shooting smaller groups which is a pretty common occurance.

If a .300 Weatherby mag is what you want, the Vanguard is the best way to get it IMO. They are essentially a Howa which is based on (really an improved version of) an older Sako action. Sako is arguably a more revered name than Weatherby so if you're worried about status you get it with the Vanguard as well, albeit in a round about way.
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I've considered a Vanguard, but I decided I wanted a Mark V instead. The reasons being are that I like the short bolt throw, the 9-lug full-diameter bolt, the better finishing (even though the finish on the Vanguard is also pretty darn good too), the added weight to reduce recoil (I'm not going to carry either gun far), and just owning a Mark V. Accuracy on both is probably equal, but maybe in favor of the Vanguard.
Also I'd like to know why anyone would choose the .300 Weatherby mag over the .300 win mag or .300 RUM. I'm not being sarcastic, this is a legit question since the biggest .30 caliber I've ever owned is an '06. The weatherby fits in between the two in terms of performance but is more expensive to shoot than either one. Currently the only .30 caliber in my stable is a .308, and I would feel comfortable hunting anything in North America with it except for maybe grizzly.
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Reason #1 I want a 300 Wby Mag over a 300 Win Mag is that Weatherby Mark Vs aren't chambered in 300 Win Mag. Reason #2 is that I hear the 300 Win Mag doesn't offer a significant advantage in performance over the 30-06, and since I wanted a cartridge with some power I decided that the 300 Wby Mag would be a better choice. Reason #3 is that the 300 Wby Mag shoots flatter than the 300 Win Mag.
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Reason #2 is that I hear the 300 Win Mag doesn't offer a significant advantage in performance over the 30-06...
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I guess that would depend on what you consider significant.

I don't know about the .300RUM or any of the new super magnums, but I do know about things up to the Weatherby.

Using a 180gr bullet, and velocity for ranking, it goes, .308 Win, .30-06, .300 H&H, .300 Win Mag, .300 Weatherby. Each one offering about 100fps increase in velocity over the one before it. In equal length barrels.

The performance advantage to the big magnums is much less significant when you are talking a 22" barrel.

And then there is the fact that individual rifles do vary, sometimes a lot, from the published performance figures.

A friend had a .270 Weatherby for some years. Was quite happy with it, and its "high velocity". Until he got a chronograph. Then he found out, to his surprise that his high velocity Weatherby was actually giving him 35fps LESS velocity than his .270 Winchester.

What the specs say, I'm sure they get, but you or I might not get exactly that, from the gun in our hands.
 
My .270 WBY is a screamer. It handily beats my .270 Win and my .270 WSM. The heavier the bullet, the more substantial the performance gap becomes.
 
I checked to be sure, but Weatherby offers MKV in several non-Weatherby chamberings, including 300WM, 338WM, 7mmRM, 30-06, 270WIN, 6.5CM and 338 Lapua.

I own a 70's era MKV Deluxe, 340WBY, left to me. I also own and reload for among others 300WBY, 6.5x284Norma. If I was doing long action anyway I would go for the WBY.

People who bash the WBY's, are they hunting with them? Have they really shot one enough to burn out the barrel? If so they have my respect. Nine rounds and I'm groaning. I have shot twenty and regretted it.

300 WBY became very popular at Williamsport over 60 years ago, in long range competitions. Now there are likely more competition chamberings based on the 300WBY than any other. These are custom heavy rifles, that can go through two barrels in one season.
 
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