Which would YOU choose and WHY?

[displacedtexan]

Well, the deal was, I didn't know WHICH one I wanted. Lol. I thought I might make a more informed decision after hearing some input. Not sure I made the right decision until I go afield. The deciding factor was getting it for $1400 out the door! That helped me make my mind up!

Well, that makes sense! Lol

 

[TaperPin]

I’m not the person who would buy either, even though I love both companies, based on limited information about either rifle. Shooters are only burning up a fraction of the ammo we used to prior the Ukraine and the resulting shortages, so in my mind there aren’t enough data points to spend over a grand on rifles that are likely to not shoot well.

Remington and Weatherby have both produced heavy fluted barrels in the past that couldn’t outshoot a good pencil thin one. If I’m buying either rifle it will be just for the receiver and stock. A non adjustable Timney trigger will get replaced as will the factory Weatherby.

Don’t get me wrong, it would be great to have either if they are accurate, I just don’t have the gut feeling the factory barrels are up to it based on the limited reports of others.

 

[doc holiday13]

for $200ish more you can get a seekins

 

[Matt5266]

Neither, I'd just starve until I could make enough money doing ridiculous dances in the street for pennies until I had a little bit more for the Seekins PH2.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Weatherby has come a long way since moving to Wyomimg and getting new equipment as well as many better employees. I just watched a documentary on their new shop and was impressed. I have a few Weatherby's and all of them are shooters. I have a few Remington rifles as well and nothing to complain about with them. It comes down to plastic or wood really, if you can get the cartridge choice you desire.

 

[Doc Holliday]

So I have about $1600 available and am looking at rifles at that price point that appeal to me. I would prefer something I don't already have, BUT would grab whatever if it gave me the warm and fuzzies.

Narrowed it down to two. The names are both American icons, but they ain't Granddaddy's models. One is traditionally styled with several modern upgrades and available in many iconic chamberings, as well as several new, more cutting-edge chamberings.

The other is only available in iconic chamberings, but some with a "twist." It uses an old, tried-and-true action design (as does the first) with several - no, ALL other pieces very modern and as highly upgraded as the first option, if not a little moreso.

Prices for both start over the $1600 mark by just a few dollars, but can be had temporarily on sales for between $1500 and $1600 excluding shipping/tax/transfer, etc. The both WEIGH about the same, with option 2 being PERHAPS a quarter pound lighter.

Option 1 is more stylish with nice walnut furniture, while the other has very modern space-aged furniture. Both have the potentiguns al to be tack drivers. Both have the potential to be busts and give best groups significantly over MOA. Both are factory guns (obviously, at this price point).

Choice 1 is the Weatherby 307 Adventure and Choice 2 is the Remington 700 Alpha 1.

They have essentially the same action with fluted bolts and 90-degree throw. The Remington utilizes 8x40 screws for scope base mounting, not sure on the Wby. The Remington has a barrel heavy enough to allow threading the muzzle 5/8x24, and shorter, but a heavier contour than the Weatherby. The Remington has an AG Composites carbon fiber stock and capped muzzle thread saver. The 307 has beautiful walnut I grew up with and a brake already affixed. The Remington comes with a 3lb Timney trigger. Weatherby has a factory trigger, as far as I know, with may or may not be a plus. The Remington has a heavier profile barrel that is fluted to save weight and expedite cooling should the need arise. It is cut off to 22". Neither comes with any stellar accuracy guarantees.

Remington SAYS their tolerances have improved so that you can order shouldered pre-fits for home installation. Everybody says, "Yeah, RIGHT!! PROVE it!!" Weatherby makes no such claim, but offers a "blueprinted" action on the next higher model up (but not this one - the next breaks the $2000-price point).

In order to keep me under the $1600 threshold (including applicable taxes, shipping, and transfer costs), there are only 3 available chamberings available between the 2 choices. One of those choices is a no-go for me. That leaves each model with 1 viable choice for deer hunting out to 500 yards to keep me within my budget.

Setting aside what the cartridges are for each, which model/brand would you choose and why?

The Weatherby is prettier, but all have a 1/2x28 thread, which would require me to use an adapter for many of my suppressors which are 5/8x24. So I would get the Remington.

Also, the Weatherby barrels are all 26 or 28 inches long, which is also not good for a suppressor, where as the Remington has either 22 or 24 inch barrels.

 

[Rotnguns]

So I have about $1600 available and am looking at rifles at that price point that appeal to me. I would prefer something I don't already have, BUT would grab whatever if it gave me the warm and fuzzies.

Narrowed it down to two. The names are both American icons, but they ain't Granddaddy's models. One is traditionally styled with several modern upgrades and available in many iconic chamberings, as well as several new, more cutting-edge chamberings.

The other is only available in iconic chamberings, but some with a "twist." It uses an old, tried-and-true action design (as does the first) with several - no, ALL other pieces very modern and as highly upgraded as the first option, if not a little moreso.

Prices for both start over the $1600 mark by just a few dollars, but can be had temporarily on sales for between $1500 and $1600 excluding shipping/tax/transfer, etc. The both WEIGH about the same, with option 2 being PERHAPS a quarter pound lighter.

Option 1 is more stylish with nice walnut furniture, while the other has very modern space-aged furniture. Both have the potentiguns al to be tack drivers. Both have the potential to be busts and give best groups significantly over MOA. Both are factory guns (obviously, at this price point).

Choice 1 is the Weatherby 307 Adventure and Choice 2 is the Remington 700 Alpha 1.

They have essentially the same action with fluted bolts and 90-degree throw. The Remington utilizes 8x40 screws for scope base mounting, not sure on the Wby. The Remington has a barrel heavy enough to allow threading the muzzle 5/8x24, and shorter, but a heavier contour than the Weatherby. The Remington has an AG Composites carbon fiber stock and capped muzzle thread saver. The 307 has beautiful walnut I grew up with and a brake already affixed. The Remington comes with a 3lb Timney trigger. Weatherby has a factory trigger, as far as I know, with may or may not be a plus. The Remington has a heavier profile barrel that is fluted to save weight and expedite cooling should the need arise. It is cut off to 22". Neither comes with any stellar accuracy guarantees.

Remington SAYS their tolerances have improved so that you can order shouldered pre-fits for home installation. Everybody says, "Yeah, RIGHT!! PROVE it!!" Weatherby makes no such claim, but offers a "blueprinted" action on the next higher model up (but not this one - the next breaks the $2000-price point).

In order to keep me under the $1600 threshold (including applicable taxes, shipping, and transfer costs), there are only 3 available chamberings available between the 2 choices. One of those choices is a no-go for me. That leaves each model with 1 viable choice for deer hunting out to 500 yards to keep me within my budget.

Setting aside what the cartridges are for each, which model/brand would you choose and why?

Can you try both out for fit and balance at a local gun store?

 

[Loo.wii]

Be financially irresponsible and buy a terminus Zeus action. It’s a r700 with the unique feature of a hand swapable barrel.

 

[OKHunter84]

I have a custom 700 I put together about 12 years ago. My best shooting rifle, but I sunk a lot of money into it to get it they way. The WeatherBy 307 would be my choice between your two options listed.

I did a rifle project this last spring and didn't spend a lot more then what your budget is. Bought a stock Tikka T3X blued, bought an Iota stock and had it rebarreled with a 22" proof research 7 prc barrel.
I bought the barrel used but new on here for $750. Whole gun was right around $2000ish without a scope. It's 8 lbs and 3 ounces scoped out and shoots great.

 

[Jaybird75]

Weatherby mark v deluxe and never lose money

 

[SAUMan]

The Weatherby is prettier, but all have a 1/2x28 thread, which would require me to use an adapter for many of my suppressors which are 5/8x24. So I would get the Remington.

Also, the Weatherby barrels are all 26 or 28 inches long, which is also not good for a suppressor, where as the Remington has either 22 or 24 inch barrels.

Yep. 22 on the available short actions. This a point I haven't considered with the Weatherby.

 

[SAUMan]

Weatherby mark v deluxe and never lose money

Too darn pretty to hunt with. I bought a 270 Wby Lazermark a few/several years ago (9), sighted it in, worked up a load shooting 1/2 MOA and sold it a year later because I couldn't bring myself to take it to the woods! Hmmm... this might be a clue for me on which way to go.

 

[SAUMan]

Weatherby has come a long way since moving to Wyomimg and getting new equipment as well as many better employees. I just watched a documentary on their new shop and was impressed. I have a few Weatherby's and all of them are shooters. I have a few Remington rifles as well and nothing to complain about with them. It comes down to plastic or wood really, if you can get the cartridge choice you desire.

I am surprised. NOOO love for Weatherby on ANY of these forums. I really didn't think the Adventure's wood was QUITE as shiny as the Deluxe Mark V. Thought I might actually bring myself to hunt with it. Honestly, nobody will probably like my chambering preferences on the Adventure, either: .240 Wby or 6.5 RPM. I believe the price difference between the 307 and Mark V boils down to it being cheaper to machine a 2-lug action vs a 9-lug one.

 

[kandpand]

I would go with the Alpha 1. A lot of gun for the money.

 

[SAUMan]

I would go with the Alpha 1. A lot of gun for the money.

Now HERE'S an informed Rockslider!!!
(That's exactly what I thought, too, after laying hands on it...)

 

[MoeFaux]

Now HERE'S an informed Rockslider!!!
(That's exactly what I thought, too, after laying hands on it...)

So. . . you're saying you bought the Remington, then?

 

[SAUMan]

Now HERE'S an informed Rockslider!!!
(That's exactly what I thought, too, after laying hands on it...)

So the cat's out of the bag. Yes, I went with the Alpha 1 precisely for the reason stated above. Let me qualify this.

There is NOTHING that one could look at on the Alpha 1, not knowing the make, that would indicate (looks like) a Model 700.

First off, the stock is an AG Composites Sportsman. INDESTRUCTIBLE!! This ain't plastic, fellas! It would take sliding down a mountain to put a scratch on this thing. Bumping around off pine and oak trees and trekking through blackberry briars ain't gonna put a mark on it! How do I know? It's the same material as that in the old Barrett Fieldcraft they made after acquiring NULA's remaining tooling and inventory and moving it south to Tennessee. Very near AG Composites in north Alabama, so I'm pretty confident now AG provided the stocks for them. The material and feel is identical. I had one of these, obviously. It's not the slimline Privateer that Weatherby used. Even still, the material should be the same. Barrel is free floated with very little gap between barrel and forearm. 7 flutes in the barrel measuring .740" just behind the 5/8x24 threaded muzzle.

The floor plate is completely redone. Still an obermdorf style, but sculpted a little more externally and lengthened internally to 2.950" of useful cartridge space. The internal metal box is gone.

Also gone, is the swept iconic Remington bolt handle. The handle is straight and comes with removable knob, so you can put whatever you like on it.

The bolt release is now nice and high on the left side of the receiver ala Tikka, and works flawlessly. The Timney trigger has a flat shoe and breaks right at 3 pounds like a glass rod with no makeup, as advertised. Mine actually breaks about 2 7/8lbs. Since we're a spoiled bunch use to $300 - $400 TriggerTechs and Bixes, we would scoff at that. But for someone coming from am X-Mark trigger, this is a huge leap forward!

The bolt isn't fluted, rather faceted. It is unique from any other bolt on a production rifle as far as I know. I've never seen one like it.

The action itself is a different shape than the round 700. It has a flat on the left side like a Savage Axis or Barrett Fieldcraft or several aftermarkets. In the flat is engraved "Alpha 1".

The stock is finished off with a nice 1" Decelerator pad, not the squishy thing that dissolves on carpet.

Fit and finish is top shelf, regardless of price. There are a couple of things I don't like, and one is the trigger only because I normally shoot a 4oz Bix TacSport Pro-X. That's just me.

Next, the action is not ultra smooth. This is shared with the old 700 model. After lubrication and running it a few times, it did smooth out, but still isn't on par with Tikka. Again, for someone coming from a 700, it would be indistinguishable. This isn't a deal breaker for me for what I'm getting. I will say there is very very little to no slop in the action and it locks up TIGHT. Takes a little effort to close and to open. Built like a tank is how I would describe it.

I'm getting reports of guys shooting these routinely in the 1/2 MOA range. That will be the deciding factor to me is how accurate it is.

Oh, I should add balance is PERFECT. They still use a .187" recoil lug looks like. I measured as best I could at .200, but is likely just me being off a smidge in my measurement. It shoulders and points effortlessly.

The supplied thread protector is nearly seamless, but not quite.

That's about all I have to add now before a range test, which may happen in a couple of days. I will say mine is a .243 Win with 1:8 twist. Rifling is 5R. Not sure of the quality or source of steel. Chamber is SAAMI, so the extended mag well is superfluous for my bullets up to 100 grains, BUT, when I load some Berger VLDs, we'll see if it's useful. That's what the extra twist is for, after all. I would assume that's what the mag length would be for, as well.

Reloader 26 reaches 48 grains under a 100gr Sierra GK BTSP, and would have plenty of room to spare if I wanted to go heavier (deeper into case). May be the magic powder. That and Ramshot Grand for the 103 - 107gr pills. Range report to follow.