Weatherby Ultralight .308

[grvj]

A local shop has Weatherby Ultralight's Mk5 action in stock in both .308 and 30.06 for a few years and I am considering buying the .308 ...does anyone have experience with these, specifically how they hold and shoot?

I am not so concerned about the light fluted barrel accuracy (if I don't hit game in 3 shots it's back to the drawing board) but more about how they hold during the shot, muzzle rise and so on.

I would probably load 150g TSX's at normal velocity and would expect 1.5" bench groups. Thanks for any feedback.

[charles p]

I bet you will be pleasantly surprised.  Sounds great.

I have a hunting partner who bought a used Mk 5 in 300 Wby.  Beautiful rifle but someone before him had buggered with the stock and the rifle shot terribly - whole series of problems.  After rebedding the entire stock channel, it shoots great.

There is probably not a great demand for Mk 5 actions in non-Weatherby magnum calibers so the price might be attractive if the dealer wants to finally move it.

[Brithunter]

A local shop has Weatherby Ultralight's Mk5 action in stock in both .308 and 30.06 for a few years and I am considering buying the .308

One has to ask  wonder why they have been sitting ont he rack for years?  Probably because they are over rated and over priced  So far I have yet to be impressed with any Weatherby that I have shot and certainly would not waste my money on one  there are better choices otut here ..................... far better choices.


  However it's your money  But you DID ask 

[grvj]

...your 'sitting on the rack' observation is valid and a reason I am asking for Forum opinion on these rifles. I would like to be sure these are not the Weatherby turkeys.

One reason for the timeline may be because this shop is primarily Sporting Goods specializing in Baseball/Football uniforms and such. Another area is devoted to fishing.

A smaller corner is the Firearms spot with some rifles a few pistols and so on. The market for long guns has virtually disappeared in this area so they are stuck with what they got and some of it has been there for awhile.

With the economy what it is, these $1400 will probably for $1000 so I am not sure the 'good-deal' addiction thing is worth the actual rifle function.

I have had an interest in an all-weather bolt in 7mm08, .308 - something similar and this rifle seems to have well done construction, fit & finish and bolt function.

[Tunaman]

I have a weatherby UL in 240 weatherby and I really like the rifle. I bought it because I really wanted a 240 and that was the only rifle that I could find it in localy. Mine too had been sitting for a while and i got a very good deal on it as well. The rifle has great fit and finish and my trigger is set at a crisp 3 pounds with no creep at all.  My rifle regularly shoots sub moa with both factory 100 gr sp and with my 105 gr speer hand loads. According to Chuck Hawks, the 240 with a 100 gr bullet and the 308 with a 180 gr bullet produce very similar felt recoil, I am not totaly sure that I agree, but they are close. My muzzel of my rifle does jump when I fire but not terribly bad and I have had no problem getting back on target quickly. I disagree with Brithunter about the merits of the Weatherby rifles but everyone is entitled to his opnion. I really like mine and would have no qualms about buying another. If my 257 wby Vanguard didn't shoot so well, I probably would have replaced it with a ul but It does and I have decided to keep it.

[Brithunter]

Glad you like yours and got a good one Tunaman.

  However Stan's stainless Synthetic MkV spent more time at Weatherby's than at his place and still it didn't shoot acurately or consistantly despite all the power he lost several deer due it shootign to a differentpoint of aim just about evey tiem it was fired. By the time they had finished rebuilding it about the only original part left of that rifle was the action and even then it took the survuces of a top bench rest gunsmith to toally blue print the rifle to get it to shoot around MOA consitantly. I told him to use it as a boat anchor as that was about all it was fit for. This is a 30-378WM now Peter's MkV in 257 well that's an entirely different horror story 

And you wonder why I don't like them?

[drdougrx]

I suppose I'd buy it.  I have an uncle with one and its really nice.  I have a REM KS Mtn Rifle in 06, or else I'd consider the Wby.  The Wby shoots pretty good, the recoil is stiff as you'd expect in a lite gun. 

[Tunaman]

Glad you like yours and got a good one Tunaman.

  However Stan's stainless Synthetic MkV spent more time at Weatherby's than at his place and still it didn't shoot acurately or consistantly despite all the power he lost several deer due it shootign to a differentpoint of aim just about evey tiem it was fired. By the time they had finished rebuilding it about the only original part left of that rifle was the action and even then it took the survuces of a top bench rest gunsmith to toally blue print the rifle to get it to shoot around MOA consitantly. I told him to use it as a boat anchor as that was about all it was fit for. This is a 30-378WM now Peter's MkV in 257 well that's an entirely different horror story 

And you wonder why I don't like them?

I would feel the same way if I had had your experience.  Fortunatly for me, just anout every Weatherby that I have had or been around has been a shooter. As I said, I have both a 240 and a 257 and a good friend has a 257, and they all shoot as well as we can shoot them. My friend's is a early 70s mark 5 and it is a 1-12 twist and will put 100gr triple shocks in one hole. We both have plenty of other rifles but the Weatherbys are both of our go to rifles. I have killed a couple of does with the 240 this year and starting tommrow, the 257 will be looking for its first buck of the year.  I decided to begin the season with a 270 and once it killed I went to the 240. Now that both are bloody, the 257w will most likely ride out the rest of the season.