Weatherby Capra review/ First non mauser rifle.

[nocturnal_suicide]

Hey Rosklide gang.

I figured this would be a interesting write up. I have been hunting out west for about 8 years and during that time I have been lugging a 11 lb mauser up and down mountains from Colorado to Alaska. It didn't take long for me to want something lighter. I wanted to hold out to either build a custom rifle, or for something really special to come out and say "hey fatty buy me!" (I'm the fatty)

My current rifle is a springfield 03A3 that has been sporterized in 30-06. A few years ago I had the action blueprinted and re-barreled by hart rifles up in NY. (on a side note, totally worth the money and wait). The rifle consistently shoots .5 MOA from a bench. with a vortex razor hd LH3x15x42 and slencerco harvester it tips the scales at just under 12 lbs.

Well when I saw the weatherby capra, I knew I had to have one.

Not only will this be my first true "mountain rifle" but this is the first non mauser I have ever owned. I have a 30-06, 375, 416 and a 458 win mag, and a couple of OG 8 mm mausers of various manufacturers.

I have been scouring the internet and the moment I could find it in 280AI I pulled the trigger.

I received the rifle last Thursday. I looked it over and of course the first thing I did was weigh it. And yes, it is as light as they said it was. Mine came in at 4 lbs 7 ounces.

My goal with this gun is to shoot pretty much everything with it. I'm very much a quality over quantity kind of guy and I have always rather be really comfortable and confident with one tool then have a bunch of specialty rifles I don't get a lot of trigger time with.


FIT AND FINISH

overall very good. I noticed a small chip/imperfection in the stock around the rear of the receiver/bolt area on each side.

The bedding job looked competent. No one went in and trimmed/cleaned it up afterwards, but it looks to me just a cosmetic issue.

TRIGGER

The trigger on my model was 4.5-2.5 lbs, which I think runs a little heavy for spec.

The trigger shoe is a little wide but full disclosure i'm a timney guy and their shoes run a little more narrow than this.

STOCK

If i really try to flex the stock in my hand I can feel it oh so slightly flex. No palm swell, small wrist. I like it overall. My fingers rest nicely in the groove on the fore end of the stock. I have smaller hands for my size (it's my personality that really counts anyways), and it's very comfy to handle.

I'm 6 foot and I don't feel the stock needs to be any longer when I shoulder it.

The stock weighs 12.7 ounces, it's pillar bedded front and rear.

Overall really nice.

BALANCE

With the vortex razor 3x15x42 mounted the rifle balances right over the front receiver ring. And with the silencerco harvester, it balances about 2.5 inches in front of that.

It feels and points very naturally.

I mounted up my razor hd lh first gen 3-15x42. This won't be the final scope for this rifle. I will probably end up with a swaro z5, but this is what I have for now.

I bought some talley rings for it. If I was to use these rings on this rig permanently, I would probably bed them to shore up the slight gaps they have. That fit could be better. I know I have other options, but as of rihgt now, I have not drawn anything for 2026 so the urgency is a little low right now. (c'mon colorado).


I have 4 loads for it

hornady precision hunter
federal trophy copper
federal terminal ascent
federal berger hunter hybrid.

I probably won't be able to make it to the range for a week or two unfortunately. (business and pimping got keeping me down).

I'll keep you guys updated on how it shoots. And what recoil is going to be like.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[nocturnal_suicide]

PIcs of the bedding, balance point and the slight imperfections. Not complaining, I don't feel the need to post redundant pics that you can already see on weatherby's website.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Thanks for sharing. I’d be a little frustrated dropping over $3k and having little nicks. The weight is truly impressive.

I have the Backcountry 1.0 in the same caliber and it shoots the Barnes Vor-TX very well. It’s probably my favorite rifle, mostly due to how well it balances and carries. I do not like how they changed the stock to have that curve in it for the buttpad for the Backcountry 2.0 and now the Capra

Can you confirm how many rounds it holds? I thought I heard a podcast say 3+1, but all Weatherby’s info shows just 2+1. Kind of a deal breaker for me, I know they were shaving weight but a lot of western hunters, including myself, don’t hunt with a round in the chamber so having just 2 rounds seems like a sacrifice I’m not willing to make. My current Baccountry is 5+1 so the stick must have gotten a lot thinner?

What suppressor are you running and how much does it weigh all setup and loaded?

Awesome rifle I hope it shoots lights out for you. Please keep us updated. You are the first I’ve seen to get one.

 

[Woitey]

I too have been looking for a lighter rifle. And while I like what I see with Proof Research, I don't have 7K in the couch cushions. I've watched various Youtubers shooting these Weatherby's from the 307 to the Back Country and they all seem to throw the third shot. I don't know if it's the Youtubers, or sligthy differnt spec factory ammo. I'd like to know if either of your rifles does
the same.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I too have been looking for a lighter rifle. And while I like what I see with Proof Research, I don't have 7K in the couch cushions. I've watched various Youtubers shooting these Weatherby's from the 307 to the Back Country and they all seem to throw the third shot. I don't know if it's the Youtubers, or sligthy differnt spec factory ammo. I'd like to know if either of your rifles does
the same.

These are the only pics of groups I have. Unfortunately I don’t recall the order of the shots fired. Was odd to me my group at 200 yards was nearly the same as at 100. Only 3 shots, please forgive me as it was before I joined Rokslide and learned of 10-shot groups.

 

[Woitey]

I'm not a ten or twenty shot group guy. I don't have the money for it. Two shots unless your suppressed at range is likely all your going to get at an animal. And most state laws aren't going to let you hurl ten shots at an elk. So for me, three is perfectly fine, and your groups seem to confirm what I've been seeing on Youtube.