Why I Shoot Weatherby

I’ve been hunting for big mule deer since the early 1980’s.  During that time, I’ve hunted with five different rifles, all in 7mm Remington Magnum, save one which was a 30.06. 

In order:

1)      1981-1991, Model 70 Winchester (30.06)

2)      ’91-’92 Remington 700 ADL

3)      ’93 Browning A-bolt

4)      ’94-‘01 Sako AV

5)      ’02- present, Weatherby Super Big Game Master

Over a 30-year span, that crew has given me a great feel for what I personally need in a rifle.  I’ll share a bit here and maybe I can help you in your next purchase. 

First, the Caliber

You’d have a hard time convincing me there is a better caliber for big deer than the 7mm Remington Magnum.  With a combination of a high B.C, flat-shooting, tolerable recoil (I don’t do brakes), and excess power for even the biggest bodied-mule deer, I think I’ll be shooting a 7mag for many years to come. I’ve been tempted by the 264 Winchester Mag, 270 Winchester, 270 Weatherby Mag, and as of late, the 270 Winchester Short Mag, but so far the cost to switch isn’t worth any potential benefit I’d get.

Weight Savings

When I first started hunting, weight wasn’t an issue because there wasn’t much that could be done about it.  With a scope, standard calibers weighed around 8.5 pounds with the mags pushing 10.  Until the invention of synthetic stocks, I just accepted those weights as normal.

Once I started hunting the backcountry and spent a lot of time still-hunting and tracking (when your rifle has to be held ready to shoot at all times,) I knew I needed a lighter gun.  Custom light-weight gunmakers were getting traction in the mid-90s and some of my friends had magnums weighing less than 7 pounds scoped.  I really wanted one, but I had to have spent $2500, so I passed.   Instead, I installed a High-Tech synthetic stock on that Sako AV and dropped it to 9 pounds.  I hunted a few years and was reasonably satisfied considering I’d spent less than $200.

Then, in 2002, I held a new Weatherby Magnum Mark V —called the Super Big Game Master—that checked in at 6 lbs 12 ounces naked.  Weatherby had started chambering the most popular non-Weatherby calibers in 24” barrels, reserving the 26” length for their calibers.  That was fine with me as I like a shorter gun and was soon browsing the gun shops.

For the first five years, I carried the rifle in an unlined leather scabbard and wore the finish badly.  My uncle Ed, a member of the Weatherby “cult”,  couldn’t stand the sight of a tarnished Weatherby and bought me a new stock .  Dad gave me a felt-lined scabbard and she’s wearing much better now.    I really liked the color on this second stock better anyway.

I traded my Sako AV for $400 and purchased the Weatherby for an additional $700.  I topped it with lightweight Tally bases and an 11.5 ounce 2.5×8 Leupold Vari-X III.  The entire package weighed in at 7 lbs 12 ounces and I was as happy as a kid with a Twinkie.  That was until I took it to the range.

Accuracy and Value

Weatherby was well known for their accuracy guarantee at the time of 1.5” at 100 yards, but this gun was more like 2.5”, no matter what ammo—premium factory or handloaded—that I tried.  Disappointed, I sent the gun back.  True to a great company, they replaced the gun.  In a few weeks of tuning a load, I had a factory gun that would shoot three-shot groups of 0.92” +/- 0.41” (standard deviation works out to group sizes from 0.51” to 1.33) with an 8x scope!   While my friends’ guns were lighter by about 12 ounces, they’d spent over $100 per ounce for that savings. 

I’ve killed more big deer with that gun than all my other rifles combined.  It’s a pleasure to pack, I can shoot it quickly—a needed skill in big buck hunting—it never misfeeds, and looks great.  Most importantly, even 10 years and over 600 rounds later, she still stacks them in there.  This saves me valuable time every year as I know exactly what to expect from the gun.

While I might get a more accurate and lighter gun now for the money, I might also get a younger wife and a newer truck—but  then I’d have to retrain them.  For now, the ol’ Weatherby will remain (and honey, you’re pretty much stuck with me for life.)

For specs and information http://www.weatherby.com/products/rifles/mark-v.html?p=3

Looks like the name has changed to Ultra Lightweight, but virtually the same gun I have.

What rifle do you use for mule deer and why?