Looking For Good Rifle
 

I am in the process of selling my rem 700 BDL ss and looking for a really good quality rifle to fulfill all my big game needs. I am pretty much set on a weatherby Mark V synthetic in 7mm mag. Does anyone have any experience or opinions on this rifle?

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

Prarie_Boy1
You didn't say, but I'm guessing you're considering the 7mm Weatherby Mag.
Recommend, instead, you get a rifle chambered for the far more common 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge. Ammo is more readily available, and cheaper.
Also, you won't lose much in velocity vs. the proprietary magnum cartridge (100fps+/-).
And, an added benefit, you can get the 7mm Rem.Mag. in any number of good rifles by
Remington, Ruger, Sako, Savage, Winchester, etc., and Weatherby too.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

I actually meant just the plain old 7mm rem Mag. What im more interested in is information about the weatherby mark V synthetic. Thanks for the reply though Virginia.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

PB1,
The Weatherby MKV is a high quality firearm. I have owned quite a few of them. Having said that, I have also ended up selling or trading every one of them. They just don't measure up. I love the quality, but the rifle just doesn't give me that warm fuzzy feeling. I know that sounds weird but I keep buying them because I really like the looks of the MKV, but I never keep one more than one hunting season. If you're going to spend the Weatherby bucks, take a look at Sako, you won't be sorry. Hey if you end up with a Weatherby and like it, congratulations. they are a fine weapon.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

I have one in 300 Wby mag. I like the short throw and the groups this gun shoots. It out shoots both my Browning A-bolt and Tikka Whitetail Hunter. I also tested one out against a Sako 75 (another good gun). The Mark V was the better shooting gun for me. I also looked at the Sauer 202 and Steyer SBS (also good models).

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

Look at a Sako 75 ...better barrel and a smoother action and trigger. Their accuracy guarantee is 5 shots 1" or better. I have yet to see a 75 that doesn't do this with factory ammo..

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

I second OEH. He made a believer out of me. Now I am looking to pay over 1K for a rifle again.[:@]

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

You probably already have the best rifle. I agree with the poll. However I like the Brownings almost as well. I have a couple Sako's. Great rifles but in my book, Nowhere near worth the extra bucks. Don't kill big game one bit better than a Savage or Remington.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

Not if he has a remington does he have the best rifle far far far from it. The new ones are inconsistent at best in quality. The older ones can be converted to a nice custom rifle but then your talking more then any Sako. James accept them for what they are the best production rifle under 1200 dollars sold today.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

I own 2 Weatherby Mark V's, and between 3 friends they own 5 Weatherby Mark V's together, and they all shoot under 1.00" and better. Good luck.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

I agree with Sako. Selling a Rem. 700 for a Weatherby is a step down in my book. You want better, check out Sako.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

I have been buying Remington rifles since 1967. The last one I bought that I have used quite a bit was a 2002 model 700. The first group out the barrel was under 4/10 inch at 100 yards. Thats what I expect from a 700.
Out of 25 or so they have all deliverd. Now My Sako rifles shoot well but I will never again pay that kind of money for a rifle that in the field will not outperform a 400.00 Remington. The last one I bought was a few weeks ago when I picked up a new 270 700 ADL Synthetic for 329.00 on close out. I have not shot it yet but I will bet that it shoots under one inch the first time out. Those are three shot groups which is all I ever use to test a hunting rifle. I hear a few bad things about Remington quality but so far I have not seen it yet. If I ever do then I might knock them too.

Of course I don't give a hang about fancy and pretty. I expect dependability and accuracy. The guys at Remington have always provided just that. By reading the poll on this site, I see that I am far from the only Remington supporter here. Good Luck with your new selection. When I shoot the new 270, good or bad I will post the results.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

I own both Sako's and Wby's - both are very good. I've had a hard time doing load development for the Wby's, that long freebore can be tricky. I shoot factory ammo in the Wby's - it's excellent.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

James B... When you buy a sako you purchase a scope and rings and take it out shooting. You can go anywhere in the world without it breaking down. It has a better designed stock then any remington a3 lug action and perfect handling characteristics. IE it is a real gun. No fiddling with bedding, cheap stocks,trigger adjustments . Just take it out and go shooting. Like comparing a Hyundai with a Mercedes. I own NEF,Marlin,Winchester,Remington,ruger,Weatherby and they take a back seat to it.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

Everyone has their complaints about one rifle or another. It's up to you what you consider the details you need in a rifle. The one comment I have is if you're set on a Mark V then buy it. I would look to the Mark V Fibermark synthetic and not the Mark V synthetic. The Fibermark will cost more but you get a true fiberglass reinforced stock and not a plastic injection molding. Other than that everthing else is the same. If you buy the synthetic & don't like the stock you will end up spending more to put a quality aftermarket stock on it. The Weatherby will come with an accuracy guarantee so I don't think you will really get a lemon.

I do agree with most others. The amount you will spend on a Weatherby I would rather spend on a Sako.

RE: Looking For Good Rifle
 

OEH. I know Sako are good rifles. Like I said I have two of them. Being retired though, they are far to much money for a tool to get a job done. I have 10 NEF rifles. The one I use the most is a 26 inch barreled 280 with a 3x9 Swift Pemier scope. I bought it used (Combo) for 195.00 plus tax. I would and HAVE taken that rifle all over the U.S. and Canada hunting big game. I did send it in to NEF for a free trigger job but that was a minor off season project. I will have 483.00 plus tax into the new 270 Remington with the 4x12 Swift Pemier scope on it. I can adjust a Remington trigger in about 15 minutes and Have never had any other problem or ever had to send or take a Remington in for repairs. I had to glass bed one out of about 25 700 Remingtons and that was because I had it rebarrreled to a different caliber after shooting out the orignial barrel..

For those to whom money is no object, its fine to spend that Sako level money for a tool to do a job. I can do that same job for a mighty small fraction of that money. Being retired I find it important to spend my tool allowance a bit more sparingly. A rifle to me is just that, A tool.