Weatherby Goes Varminting

Guns Magazine, Jan, 2000 by Jon R. Sundra

At long last Weatherby fans have what they've never had before -- a genuine, built from-the-ground-up varmint rifle.

Yep. as heard to believe as it is, Weatherby never before had a neavy-barreled varminter in the line! Sure they've had their own unique varmint cartridge, the belted .224 Wtby.Mag., and for many years the svelte little Varmint Master rifle was built around a beautifully scaled-down version of the Mark V Magnum. But the barrel was of sporter weight, and the stock was Weatherby's standard "California-style" Monte Carlo with the same slender forend as on the Weatherby big game rifle.

Enter the new Mark V-SVM (Super Varmint Master). Recently introduced, the SVM is assembled for Weatherby by a company called Acrometal, near Brainerd, Minn. Thew new SVM features Weatherby's Mark V Lightweight and the action that's considerably smaller and lighter than the familiar Mark V Magnum. The only substantive difference between the two, other than size, is that the Lightweight action has six locking lugs as opposed to the Magnum's nine. I'm pleased to report that, the SVM will be offered in a solid-floor single-shot version as well as conventional repeater with hinged floorplate.

For the barrel, Weatherby has contracted John Krieger to produce fluted, button-rifled pipes in stainless steel. Krieger, of course, is known for his cut-rifled barrels, but recently formed a second company, Criterion Barrels, to supply buttoned barrels to OEMs like Weatherby.

Like its AccuMark big brother, the completed barrels are finished in a dull black oxide just prior to a final polishing. The flutes then retain the black oxide finish while the remainder of the barrel takes on the silver of raw stainless. It makes for a very distinctive look.

The barrel measures .825" at the muzzle, so it's quite stout, but the flutes lighten it up considerably, as well as doing and the other things that flutes do - stiffen it and dissipate heat faster. Every barrel is cryogenically stress relieved and hand lapped.

The stock, made by Bell & Carlson, has the distinctive Weatherby Monte Carlo silhouette, but has a wider forend to provide better support off sandbags. The action sits on a hardened aluminum bedding block, which is said to stiffen the receiver.

The stock finish is an attractive tan with black spider webbing. All in all, a handsome, honest-to-gosh varmint rifle. As such, the list of chamberings consists of the .223, .22-250, .220 Swift, .243, 7mm-08 and .308. The price has yet to he set.