When I think of the word “magnum” three things come to mind. The first are big cartridges, next would be high velocity and the last, if you must ask, would be Weatherby rifles. The company and I go back a long time with my first Mark V ordered in July of 1973 as a production-custom rifle with some extras that just made my rifle a one-of-a-kind firearm. The Weatherby booth at the SHOT Show was always a favored spot, and over the years I got to know Roy Weatherby himself – cordial, very knowledgeable and always took the time to talk to a fledgling outdoor writer about his products. In short, he was a master at self-promotion. 

Weatherby Mark V Rifles

Starting in 1945 as a full-time business, he built a reputation for hard-hitting, high-velocity cartridges to go with his brand of finely crafted bolt-action rifles, some of which were invented before he refined the line of long guns to what it is today. Originally built on what Mauser actions he could get, it would be some 13 years later that the benchmark of the corporation – the Mark V – would have a permanent place in the Weatherby lineup. Today, with upgrades, new cartridges and metal finishes, it still occupies a prominent place in this well-known company.

In the past, riflemen knew the Mark V as the premier rifle complete with fancy wood, high polish and accuracy that would take second place to no one. Today, however, things change, and while there are some wood variations still made, high-tech synthetic stocks seem to have taken over. Having started with the Fibermark many years ago, the line has grown to include basic hunting models, lightweight variations, and now the company has included women in the fold with the Camilla Subalpine, named after the first lady of the Weatherby family, Camilla Weatherby.

Let’s look at four unique models: the Carbonmark, Subalpine, First Lite and the Camilla Subalpine. All have the hand-laid, raised comb Monte Carlo stock that Weatherby made famous and all are labeled as a composite type of material with all the details as follows on each distinctive rifle.

Mark V Carbonmark 

First off, and like the rest of the new guns described here, the Mark V action is the core of this rifle. Roy Weatherby made this rifle famous with a new design, which included the proprietary nine-lug bolt complete with a fluted bolt body and 54-degree bolt lift with a rear-cocking indicator. The fluted bolt body adds to the smoothness of the rifle by not harboring any dirt or debris to keep the bolt from binding in the receiver. Removal of the bolt is as simple as pulling back on the trigger, moving the bolt to the rear and out of thee receiver. Now standard is the much-improved LXX trigger used in concert with the side-mounted safety lever.

Unless you specify open sights through the Custom Shop, few Weatherby rifles (the exception, Safari models) come equipped with open sights. The receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mounts and with the wide choice of optical sights available today, you can get any Mark V rifle shooting sub-minute of angle groups in no time.

The Carbonmark is quite an innovative rifle. For one thing, this is a fully custom-built rifle in cooperation with the Proof Research Company. According to the specifications from Weatherby, this carbon barrel is 30 times stronger than stainless steel with an overall stiffness of seven times greater than steel. To finish, it is 64% lighter than more conventional barrels of the same length, contour and caliber and as a bonus, sheds heat easier and faster. Additionally, for more velocity, the barrel is 26 inches long, has a 416R stainless core, comes with a 5/8×24 threaded muzzle for suppressor use and finished off with a Tactical Grey Cerakote surface.

All-Weather Stock

For all-weather use, the stock has a matte gel coat finish with an aluminum-bedding block for shot-to-shot consistency. The stock is hand laid with a well-designed grip diameter complete with a right hand palm swell for comfortable shooting with or without gloves. 

While you are not going to bench rest this rifle in the field for varmints or small game, this rifle with an overall weight of 7¾ pounds (sans ammo, scope, rings and bases) would be a great choice for hunters who enjoy hiking long distances over mountainous terrain with complete confidence that the rifle will perform when needed. Since this is a very specialized rifle, at the present time the gun is only chambered for the .257 and .300 Weatherby magnum. 

Mark V Subalpine

Following the Carbonmark with reference to the action, this Subalpine features the same Mark V action guaranteed for sub-moa accuracy with Weatherby or premium commercial ammunition. With this series, you also have a choice of the magnum nine-lug or the standard six-lug action that checks in at 6¾ pounds for the magnum and 5¾ pounds respectively. 

However, this product has a fluted hand lapped, stainless barrel, complete with a recessed target crown. It has a #2 contour and is available from 22- to 26-inch barrel lengths or 28-inch with the AccuBrake. For all weather use, a flat dark earth Cerakote finish is supplied on receiver and barrel. 

Concerning the stock, the pattern is what Weatherby calls a Gore Optifade camo and follows the same general outline as the other stocks in this quartet of new entries. The aluminum-bedding block is there, and as other models in the line, is supplied with a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad as chamberings can run up to the .300 Weatherby Magnum. Aside from the .300 WM, the buyer has a choice to include the .257 WM, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5-300 WM, and the .270 WM. Other options include a muzzle brake, and range certified.

Mark V First Lite

Weatherby has always offered more models in various degrees to the shooter than most other manufacturers. The First Lite is still another variation on a theme from their new quarters in Sheridan, Wyoming. The First Lite has the traditional Mark V action with the same weight specifications as the Subalpine. Barrels are 24 or 26 inches, have a #3 contour, fluted with a target crown and can be equipped with a muzzle brake. Finally, the entire action is coated with a Flat Dark Earth Cerakote finish. 

The rifle is quoted as having a First Lite Fusion camo pattern with the usual Monte Carlo type composite stock. The Pachmayr Decelerator pad is standard; inside you will find the aluminum-bedding block, right hand palm swell with stock features that mimic the more traditional Weatherby stocks manufactured in the past. For those investing in the Range Certified model, this is noted by an emblem stating such an upgrade on the floorplate. Any additional features you may desire on this weapon may be available through their Custom Shop and an inquiry there is all you need to get your order started. 

For calibers, again the buyer has a choice to include the .257 WM, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5-300 WM, .270 WM and the .300 WM.

Mark V Camilla Subalpine

While other rifle makers offer guns for female hunters by way of shortening a stock, lighter weight or other modifications, Weatherby goes about it in a big way. As a special model, the Camilla Subalpine is made for the female form, designed by female shooters. First, the name Camilla comes from Roy Weatherby’s wife and the grandmother of Ed and Adam, who is now the president of the company. 

The stock has the Monte Carlo comb and is a hand-laid composite stock all done up in the Gore Optifade Subalpine camo pattern. Special features like an optimal grip angle for smaller hands, a shorter, more slim forearm and a slight palm swell make it a natural for the smaller women hunters as does the redesigned trigger finger groove on the trigger face. 

To lighten the rifle more to a woman’s point of view, Weatherby has equipped the gun with the shorter Mark V six-lug action. With a fluted bolt body all in concert with a 24- or 26-inch barrel with a #1 contour, the end result is a rifle suited to the female form checking in at only 5 ¾ pounds. 

The gun is chambered for the .240 WM, .270 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester and the 30-06 Springfield.

Working with Weatherby over the years, I naturally had to request a rifle for testing and inspection, so I requested the First Lite in my favorite, the 257 Weatherby Magnum. It was all I expected and more, which was no surprise as I have hunted with this cartridge more than once on plains game like mule deer and antelope. Out on the range, we came up with the results using Weatherby ammunition with this Range Certified rifle guaranteed to place three shoots under an inch at 100 yards.

Accuracy Results

As you can see, the rifle never let me down. Like all Weatherby rifles over the years, this new set of high-tech weapons for hunting will fill the bill no matter the location, weather or game.

For more information, visit weatherby.com.