weatherby Mark V versus Sako L61r finnbear
- Thread starter dodgedeer
- Start date
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I'd take the Sako any day over a Weatherby. Better quality workmanship, better design, better value for the dollar. Weatherby was a marketing and promotion genius, not a highly skilled European manufacturer. Weatherby rifles are widely regarded with suspicion for hunting dangerous game in Africa, but Sako rifles are well accepted. If a very large animal requires a .375 to make it dead, i'd want a Sako as the delivery tool.
Weatherby V's were manafactured in different countries through the years, everyone has different opinions on where the quality was better. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt anything anywhere with mine (I believe it was made in Japan). Can't comment on Sako though.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I managed to do quite a bit of shooting with a SAKO L-61 in .300 Winchester, and I've had the opportunity to shoot a few MK-Vs. My preference is the SAKO, but that's me, and I think the best advise you can get is to choose the rifle you prefer. The Weatherby Dangerous Game Rifle is exceedingly smooth feeding due to the single stack magazine, and it's straight line feeding, but the magazine capacity is uninspiring. Its easier to get full contact on 2 locking lugs (SAKO) than it is on 9 (Weatherby) although I doubt if many hunters ever think about this. Some people relish the California style Monte Carlo, and even I who prefer classic stocks have to admit that the Weatherby comb positions your face so the scope is "right there" the moment the butt contacts your shoulder; that can matter in a snap shooting situation. Don't worry about accuracy or precision, either rifle will be accurate enough (read they will shoot tighter than you can hold in the field). If you intend to shoot squirrels at 50 yards with a .375, they'll do it.
Handle both rifles. Run the actions with the rifles shouldered. Which rifle feels better to you? Which bolt handle is easier to reach? Which action runs smoother? Which rifle has a better trigger? Does it seem like the Weatherby's sweptback bolt might smack your hand in recoil? Does either pistol grip cause your hand to crowd the trigger guard, a condition that might require a finger deflector to prevent a bruised knuckle? If you have the opportunity to shoot both rifles, which handles recoil better? Be your on judge.
Shooting fiberglass stocked SAKO L-61 in .300 Winchester . . .
Handle both rifles. Run the actions with the rifles shouldered. Which rifle feels better to you? Which bolt handle is easier to reach? Which action runs smoother? Which rifle has a better trigger? Does it seem like the Weatherby's sweptback bolt might smack your hand in recoil? Does either pistol grip cause your hand to crowd the trigger guard, a condition that might require a finger deflector to prevent a bruised knuckle? If you have the opportunity to shoot both rifles, which handles recoil better? Be your on judge.
Shooting fiberglass stocked SAKO L-61 in .300 Winchester . . .
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Ooooh to find a Schultz&Larsen manuf Weatherby ...
I would go with the Weatherby Mark V personally. Strong action, excellent fit and finish, choice of Weatherby or standard caliber. The Mark V has a 54 degree bolt throw which makes it very quick. The Accumark is a great choice for a moose gun. If you like wood stocks the deluxe is awesome but pricey. I have nothing against either sako or tikka but my experience is the the Weatherby is superior. I am not sure either way you could go wrong. By the way I use a Mark V in 7mm Rem Mag for moose.
