Is This Scope Adequate for This Weatherby Mark V?

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Wyatt Burp

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I know nothing about scopes. But back around 1994 I bought my dad this Weatherby Mark V in 7MM W. Mag. used at a gunshop and had a scope put on it. I forget the details but I randomly bought this new Leupold scope for it and had it bore sighted. The scope says on it " 3X9 VARI-X 11c". Does this scope make sense on this flat shooting rifle? or does it deserve a better scope? I haven't shot it and know some will say if it shoots good the scope is fine, but was it a less than perfect choice when I bought it in your opinions. Thanks

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Leupold VariX-II, 3-9 x 40 (variable power, 3 times magnification to 9 times magnification with a 40mm objective lens diameter.)

My deer and elk rifles both wear the same exact scope, .300 Win Mag for elk, .257 Wby Mag for deer.

It's all I've ever needed, and could be regarded as the classic variable power scope for all big game hunting applications within the distances at which most hunters are capable of hitting game.

Cool rifle!
 
I did a lot of rifle competition and I've seen people using all different brands of scopes. You can spend a great deal more money on the foreign scopes with the funny sounding names. But in the end all you'll have is a thinner wallet and a scope that's just 'as good' as a Leupold.
 
pilgrim6a said:
I did a lot of rifle competition and I've seen people using all different brands of scopes. You can spend a great deal more money on the foreign scopes with the funny sounding names. But in the end all you'll have is a thinner wallet and a scope that's just 'as good' as a Leupold.
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Well, I've used Leupold, Redfield, Zeiss, Docter, and Swarovski scopes,. and I just don't believe your statement!
Our eyes must vary a lot. :rolleyes:

I DO believe that Leupold scopes are probably the best VALUE for money spent and they are indeed fine instruments. I'd be pretty happy with one on a rifle.

A Weatherby MK V in 7mm Weatherby Magnum is a very suitable rifle for most game under the size of brown bear, in North America. I think they still load more than one bullet weight, and other companies may offer the ammo.
But all Weatherby ammo may be scarce in other than true gun shops. And far more rifles are chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum. But the reloader may prefer the Weatherby version, which has a longer case neck.

Does anyone here use a 7mm Magnum with 175 grain Nosler bullets? I think that'd be an elk or moose zapper and probably deck even a brown bear in most cases. Should also do fine on much African game, although the big dangerous species normally require a larger bore, if only by law.

I once spent well over an hour in Herb Klein's office, talking Weatherby rifles. Klein had one in 7mm and was very enthusiastic about it, and showed me a letter from some white hunter who was surprised and impressed with his.

T-Star
 
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I know there's lots of scopes out there and for me not to have mentioned Leupold in the thread title yet two or three of you just happen to use the exact scope is very reasuring. Really, when I bought the rifle this scope was on sale in their case full of scopes so I just said, "I'll take that one. Put it on the gun please." I didn't know one from the other.
Thanks for the crash course on scopes. I really appreciate it. My dad loved it even though his other rifles he's had since the 60's that he used wore Weavers. Matt
 
You have a very good scope on an excellent rifle. Many years ago, I was a Weatherly dealer, and I sold a lot of Mark Vs. My primary big game rifle was a Mark V in 300 Ebullient, a German built gun made in 1965 (a Christmas gift from Mom and Dad that year, I had recently turned 14). It always grouped less than 1" at 100 yards. It had a Bausch & Lomb Balvar 8A 2.5-8X scope on a Buehler one-piece base with Buehler rings. In the mid-70s, I gave Mom a Mk V in 7mm Wby and one in 270 Wby to Dad. Both had spectacular wood, and were extremely accurate, as well. You have a great combination, which should serve well for many years.
 
I have a used 7mm I bought some time back and the group here told me to keep the Leupold scope on it when I questioned changing to another brand.

The group was right. I began asking others in a rifle club I am a member of and some that do a lot of expensive hunting over the world. Each one of the people I asked examined the scope and rifle. They all told me to keep the scope since it was about as good as they get without spending thousands on another brand.

As to the rifle, they do not make them that pretty any more and I would love to find one like that for sale.
 
oldman45 said:
I have a used 7mm I bought some time back and the group here told me to keep the Leupold scope on it when I questioned changing to another brand.

The group was right. I began asking others in a rifle club I am a member of and some that do a lot of expensive hunting over the world. Each one of the people I asked examined the scope and rifle. They all told me to keep the scope since it was about as good as they get without spending thousands on another brand.

As to the rifle, they do not make them that pretty any more and I would love to find one like that for sale.
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It sure does have pretty wood. I couldn't believe the tones in the grain when I first saw it. I like the contrast of the fancy butt that gets plainer up toward the forend. This might be typical Weatherby wood but I've only seen a few this flamboyant when looking at other Weatherbys on G.B., etc.

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Model520Fan said:
The Buehler base was adjustable?
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Honestly, I don't remember for sure, but I don't believe it was adjustable. I sighted the rifle in shortly after I got it (with Weatherby factory 180 grain rounds), and, when checked over the years, the zero never varied (and I used that gun a LOT). When I reloaded, I had a load that pretty well duplicated the factory 180 grain load. I found the 180 grain loading of the .300 Wby Mag to be suitable for just about any North American big game, from deer to elk, moose and bear. Never did go after Kodiaks, though, the 220 grain load would probably be better. Sadly, it was amongst the many guns that were stolen about 15 years ago (none of which ever re-surfaced, I suspect the Sheriff's Department decided that there were just too many guns and serial numbers to enter into NCIC and put it off, and off, and...). Come to think about it, that's not bad - 30 years + with continual use and never changing zero. Pretty good scope and mounting system. BTW, I sure miss that gun, if anybody comes across it, serial number P10888, I'd sure like to buy it back.
 
My 7W.Mag MK V that I had was fitted with the same scope. A fine set-up. The 7 W.Mag is a comfortable shooting rifle to me. I only have my .340 Weatherby Mag now. It has a Redfield Widefield 3-9 on it. Shoot it and enjoy that fine rifle and it's family history.
 
Leupold atop a weatherby is a classic combination.
stick with it unless your going blind. What is more important than magnification is its ability to hold zero while taking a beating. Leupolds do this exceedingly well.
 
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