Weatherby Super Varmint Master .223

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Brent13

New member
Hello All,

I was wondering if any of you have experience with the Super Varmint Master? I saw one on clearance for $1090 in .223. I am familar with this caliber but not with this brand. I have never owned a Weatherby rifle. When this rifle was first introduced I hurried down to the local dealer and had a look at it. Loved the look and feel but have never heard much about it's performance. The price when these first came out was about $1400 I think so $1099 strikes me as a decent deal. Let me know what you think about this rifle; over-rated, over priced rifle or worhwhile, great shooter???? Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Brent
 
Brent,

Funny you should ask. I just spent the last several weeks shooting one in preperation for a feature article in Varmint Hunter Magazine. The article will appear in the July 2003 Issue.

This is the third Weatherby Super VarmintMaster I've worked with in the last two years. The first was a .220 Swift, the next one was a .22-250 and this year's is a .223 Remington. You'll find my feature articles on the .220 Swift and the .22-250 in the July 2002 Issue of Varmint Hunter Magazine.

A synopsis of my findings is as follows:

1. Great action with short bolt-lift and excellent as-issued locking lug contact (on all three rifles). The action is strong, nicely-sized for varmint cartridges, without being dainty. I like it.

2. Superb Krieger Criterion barrels. Button rifled (standard Kriegers are cut rifled)and very smooth. Double cryoed and very little fouling. The barrels show very little zero shift even though different bullets and powders are used. Privately, and to friends, I refer to bitchy barrels as "female." All three Criterion barrels I tested were "boy" barrels - they just shot any load I threw at them.

Best groups on the .223 were in the 3s and 4s. Best aggregates seem to be in the mid-to hi-4s. Excellent.

3. Stock has an extensive aluminium bedding block (longer than H-S) and it seems to work fine. As a writer, it's not my lot to go fixing things and these three stocks needed no fixin'.

4. The magazine is rated in the catalogue as a five-round. Actually, it holds six .223s with room left over, making the rifle into a seven-shooter.

4. The trigger is factory-set at a very crisp four-pounds, which sucks. Gordy Gritters, the finest gunsmith I know (Pella, Iowa) assured me that he could easily get a super-delicious 2-pound pull, if wanted. Gordy is a long-time pillar of the VHA's Gunsmith Advisory Board.

5. My sample shot Winchester .223 Supreme 40-grain factory ammo very well. The aggregate was .66". WOW.

I'd buy one in a heartbeat if I used fairly heavy rifles. It's a keeper.

Hope this helps. Steve
 
Brent,
However nice they are, I just can't see spending that much for a factory rifle. I am sure they shoot very well but so do others that cost way less. Just my 2-cents worth.
 
I have a SVM in .22-250 topped with a Leupold 6.5-20X. I have two custom built varmint rifles as well Sako, Cooper and Kimber rifles and it outperforms them all. And believe it not, thats with factory Hornady 50 gr. V-Max ammo (Moly). I would not hesitate to purchase another. Mr. Timms is very correct, the barrel is a breeze to clean and feels very smooth.
 
Brent,

The barrel impressed me so much that I recently commissioned a new custom rifle built with a Krieger barrel. It is chambered for 6.5-'06 Ackley and is in the UPS to me as we speak. Look for the article in the October 2003 Varmint Hunter Magazine (unabashed advertisement).

I ask you, if the button-rifled barrel that Krieger-Criterion makes for Weatherby is THAT good, how must the full-house cut-rifled Krieger shoot? Anyway, shooting the three Weatherbys totally sold me ordering Krieger for my newest custon gun.

In my gun writing business, I shoot a lot of firearms and the Weatherby Super VarmintMaster gave me a real heads-up on what a factory CAN do, if they put their minds to it.

It isn't inexpensive, but it is sure a lot less than buying a Remington 700 for the action, having the action blueprinted, fitting it with a $450 to $600 barrel, waiting for 6 months and paying $500 for a McMillan stock (fitted). And the wait for a quality accuracy gunsmith to do his magic can make you crazy.

Hey, it's very reasonably priced and they SHOOT. What's not to like?

Steve
 
Great!!! :eek: Just when I think I know what type of gun will be next you come up with this subject. I have been pondering another gun to take on my Canada excursions in 220 Swift (can't take my AR15). Saw one on sale just the other day. Thanks Steve /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif Now I have to start all over /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Hey Mike,
I have bad news for you. The 220 Swift version of the SVM only comes in single shot. The magazine isn't long enough for the Swift. If that's cool, then go for it. I've shot my 22-250 as single shot because Weatherby's throats are soooo long that bringing the bullet close to the lands makes them too long for the mag. good luck.
 
The only two Swift choices you have left are Ruger and Remington. I have a Remington VSSF in .220 and it is a really good shooter. It will hold 10-shot group averages under an inch with certain factory loads and much better with handloads. Just make sure it has a HS stock on it and not one of those copies torque it to 65-in.lbs. and you should be good to go.

If I am not mistaken, Shilen or Hart use to re-do your action and re-barrel for around $500.00.
 
Check the ad's on the Sendro and see if they advertise the stock being HS as they do on the VSSF's. I got a VSSF and the stock did not feel right. Took it off and sure enough it was a Bell & Carlson. Got on to them and made them send me a HS like was suppose to be on there. If you have a B & C, call them up and complain. They will send you a new HS if that is what is advertized. They figure most people don't know the difference while they are taking the extra profit to the bank!
 
Weatherby makes a fine rifle, however, spending that kind of money you should also look seriously at one alternative : SAKO model 75 Varmint rifle with stainless barrel and laminated stock - THIS IS RIGHT OUT THE BOX. This is one accurate rifle, very reliable with no overkill built into the action specifically designed for 223.

Groups are repeatedly astounding. (Rifle has 1 in 12" twist) :
40gr - 1/4" or better
50gr - 1/4" or better
52gr - 1/4" or better
55gr - 1/4 to 1/2"
60gr - 1/4" to 1/2" (Starke bullets)

This is truely a quality accurate rifle right out the box.
 
For THAT money you could get a COOPER Gauranteed to shoot better and you won't find a better looking gun to boot in the caliber of your chioce from .17 Squirrel to .308 as well as the Akley Improved versons!
Checkout April 2003 isue of GUNS for a complete writeup, tour, and center fold.
Cooper Rifles
 
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