Posted on 01/21/2014 9:49:56 AM PST by smokingfrog
In the 1960s, most Kansas boys worshiped guys such Willie Mays. I idolized Roy Weatherby.
Arguably the most innovate firearms designer of the last half of the 20th century, Weatherby’s namesake rifles were as gorgeous as they were functional. His cartridges were faster and more powerful than standard fare.
Hunting magazines held photos of Weatherby in exotic places, using revolutionary firearms to take charging Cape buffalo. Hollywood heavies on “The American Sportsman” used his products often.
The first time I handled a Weatherby rifle is as vivid in my mind as my first slow dance.
My appreciation for the man and his makings were rekindled when I learned Weatherby was a native Kansan, with ties to Wichita.
Though his rifles and cartridges have long been equated with wealth and prestige, Weatherby’s early years were far different.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansas.com ...
Classic!
The phrase “You didn’t build that,” rings a bit hollow...
I have fired a .340 Weatherby a few times, it will get your attention.
In field tests the .340 clearly out performs the 300 Ultra mag, .338 win mag. and even rivals the larger .375 H&H, providing a much flatter shooting and harder hitting performance.
Finally sold mine this year. I don’t reload and ammo runs to four or five bucks a round. Took a real beating at the range, in a couple different ways.
But that rifle killed some elk.
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Always a bit to pricey for me to carry around knowing I will scratch it up chasing elk an deer.
Weatherby Athena. 20 gauge. Best (and most expensive) quail gun I’ve owned. Darned thing has appreciated so much that it is now a safe queen. One of the best $600 investments I ever made...
( 28 gauge )
Only $285? Send me two!
You know what I did, SF? First I went out and bought one of the new little Ruger .270s, with a new Leupold V2 on it. Really a straight-shooting gun as long as you avoid the juiced-up loads, which seem to want to drift a bit.
But after a decade with the .340 I have to admit that the .270 cartridges seemed like...candy cigarettes or something! I’m sorry! No offense to the .270 shooters, I know what a great caliber it is! But I just got spoiled on those big clanking torpedos!
So I noticed a sale over in Billings on a Tikka .300 short mag, which I swore I would not buy but did anyway. Stuck my old Zeiss on it and jeez...yesterday after 5 rounds at 100 (had just bore-sighted it) I moved out to 200 yards...took nine shots and some tuning and the last three were in a two-inch group, Federal 180s, three inches high at 200.
The little Ruger is a dandy rifle but I think the Tikka is going to be the tikket...I should have saved all this for Sunday night, I know...but after yesterday it is fun to report the good results.
p.s. I know all the plastic isn’t for the old hands and the purists...but man those rifles carry nice on an all-day trail at 7,000 feet.
Bwahhhh! That gave me a good laugh!
Have heard nothing but good stuff about those Ruger Americans.
Hard to go wrong with a Tikka either. They make some nice rifles. How much does your Tikka weigh?
Off the top of my head 6.5 lbs., not counting the scope.
The one thing I don’t like is the all-plastic magazine.
The Ruger American has a plastic mag too but when I ordered a couple backups they came with a plastic exterior but a steel flip-catch. I am wondering if something after-market won’t come out for the Tikka too.
By the way I am thinking that little Ruger weighs 5.5 lbs. in the buff.
A lot of guns seem to have plastic magazines these days, but I’ve never had a problem with any of mine. Just think, when 3D printers become cheap, you’ll be able to make as many as you want.
The Vanguard I bought in 1978 brand new from my favorite gun shop for $650, that included a Burris 3x9 and a two gun locking hard case. California mesquite wood stock under a heavy coat of polyurethane. Very good looking gun. Three shot group at 100 yards that you can cover with a dime.
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