Weatherby certainly needs no introduction as a manufacturer; it has been at this game since the late 1940s. The manufacturer has always been on the side of the freedom-minded American. After all, Weatherby relocated to Wyoming when California’s “lawmakers” decided to use our nation’s Constitution as toilet paper. Weatherby remains a family owned and operated American business—just as its founder, Roy Weatherby, originally intended.
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Taking on the Outdoors With the Weatherby Mark V Backcountry
Weatherby has been making its signature Mark V line of bolt-action rifles since the 1950s. It just keeps getting better and better with time—especially now with the introduction of the Weatherby Mark V Backcountry lineup.
The new series features two different models. Firstly is the Backcountry, which is available in multiple calibers and also in a left-hand configuration. Southpaws rejoice! The “standard” model weighs in at 5.3 pounds.
Then there is the Backcountry Ti, which is a bit fancier and absurdly light. Seriously, it’s light. Did I mention how light the Ti model was? No? OK, it’s 4.8 pounds light. Crazy, right? The Ti model is also available in multiple calibers, and for lefties as well.
I recently had a chance to play with both models at the 2019 Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous in Idaho. Specifically, I got my hands on the Weatherby Mark V Backcountry in .300 Weatherby Magnum and the Ti model in 6.5 Weatherby RPM.
Light as a Feather
The Weatherby Mark V Backcountry is sure to turn the heads of hunters, as well as shooting sports enthusiasts alike. The goal of the old-school designers at Weatherby was to make a rifle 5 pounds or lighter. Well, someone at Weatherby must have said, “hold my beer and watch this.”
Not only did Weatherby’s designers develop a rifle less than 5 pounds, but they made it available in magnum cartridges. Oh yeah, it’s also sub-MOA. Weatherby guarantees the Mark V Backcountry is sub-MOA at 100 yards when used with Weatherby factory or other premium ammunition. That, right there, is putting your money where your mouth is. Considering how the Backcountry shot for me, and for other people that I witnessed shooting it, I see no reason to question the claim.
A New Legend In The Making?
Weatherby went all out on its Backcountry line of rifles. As the name would indicate, they are truly made for withstanding the rigors of mother nature; that’s why Weatherby has these rifles Cerakoted. In the factory configuration, the Backcountry rifles come with a carbon fiber stock. It houses Weatherby’s 3DHEX recoil pad, which makes that 5-pound rifle very easy to control under recoil.
Then Weatherby added a TriggerTech externally adjustable trigger, allowing a 2.5-to-5-pound range. I found this trigger to be incredibly smooth. It broke nice and crisp, and had virtually no creep. To take things even further, the trigger has all stainless steel and corrosion resistant components.
Weatherby chose a fluted barrel and the new slim-line Accubrake ST muzzle break. They claim “it significantly reduces felt recoil by up to 53 percent.” Personally, I was impressed with how tame the Backcountry was to shoot, even when throwing 6.5 WBY RPM’s down range. Weatherby thought of pretty much everything with this rifle, as it’s suppressor ready and threaded 1/2×28. It also comes with a flush fitting thread protector.
Bottom Line
Weatherby continues to manufacture top shelf, quality rifles. The new Backcountry and Backcountry Ti models seem to be all Weatherby claims, and then some. I shot out just past 1,000 yards with relative ease. Recoil was less than expected, thanks in part to the 3DHEX Recoil Pad and the Accubrake ST muzzle break. Weatherby managed to seriously tame the magnum chambering.
While I only had a limited amount of time with both the Mark V Backcountry and Backcountry Ti, they both left me wanting to place an order for one of these in 6.5 Creedmoor. I think it will look exceptionally nice in the rifle rack of my ATV.
MSRP on the standard model ranges from $2,499 to $2,599, with the Ti model ranges from $3,349 to $3,449. For more information, please visit Weatherby.com.
