Weatherby Super VarmintMaster SVM MANUFACTURER: Weatherby, Inc. (Dept. AR), 3100 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422; (805) 466-1767; www.weatherby.com CALIBER: .223 Rem., .22-250 Rem. (tested), .220 Swift, .243 Win., 7 mm-08 Rem., .308 Win. ACTION TYPE: bolt-action rifle MAGAZINE: internal box with hinged floorplate, five rounds (four in .22-250 Rem.), or avail- able as a single-shot OVERALL LENGTH: 46" BARREL: cryogenically treated, 26", fluted, hen most people bolt-action Super VarmintMaster entire stock. Since the fit toler- heavy-contour, 410- think of Weatherby, (SVM) combines accuracy- ance between the action and the series stainless steel they think of rifles enhancing features with others bedding block is so tight, there RIFLING: button, hand- W lapped, 1:14" RH twist chambered for lightning-fast, that make the rifle a varminter. is probably no accuracy SIGHTS: none, drilled and big-bore, magnum cartridges One of the proven accuracy- improvement to be realized tapped for Weatherby possessing power like the ham- enhancing features of the SVM from glass-bedding the action. scope bases 1 mer of Thor. There is another side is Weatherby’s CNC-machined, Shooters wanting the stiffest WEIGHT: 8 ⁄2 lbs. of Weatherby, too—one that puts aluminum bedding block inside and most rigid action can opt for TRIGGER: single-stage, 3 rifle performance ahead of bal- the stock. Like in the Accumark, the SVM as a single-shot. That adjustable; 3 ⁄4 lbs. pull STOCK: hand-laminated listics. Weatherby rifles such as the block stiffens the receiver version doesn’t have the cut-out synthetic: length of pull, area of the hand-laminated, syn- for the magazine, so the bottom 5 1 the Accumark focus on accuracy 13 ⁄8"; drop at heel, 1 ⁄8"; while the Ultra Lights focus on thetic stock and provides a rigid of the action is solid steel. drop at comb, 3/4" weight. The Ultra Lightweight platform for the action. It also Until recently, all Weatherby SUGGESTED RETAIL Magnums combine light weight runs the length of the stock for rifles were built with three pre- PRICE: $1,399 with magnum power,and the new added rigidity throughout the determined bedding points: Like the company’s Accumark rifle, Weatherby’s SVM employs a CNC-machined aluminum bedding block that stiffens the receiver area of the hand-laminated, synthetic stock and provides a rigid platform for the action. The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances.They do then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shoot- not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely nec- ers to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” essary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training require- while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” ments, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. 72 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN • November/December 2000 one so bold and flamboyant as The company rightly takes great some of Weatherby’s older mod- pride in what it calls the “finest els. Though Weatherby stocks factory-tuned trigger.” To back have become more conservative, up that claim, each Weatherby practical features like the Monte trigger assembly is profiled and Carlo, which puts your eye adjusted for optimum perfor- behind the scope where it mance and a pull weight of belongs, are retained. The more approximately 4 lbs. radical features of the SVM’s We had the opportunity to stock are the wide, beavertail field test a single-shot variant of fore-end that adds stability when the SVM rifle on gophers and shooting off sandbags and the coyotes at the Buffalo Horn Weatherby rightly takes great pride in what it calls the “finest black spiderwebbing finish that, ranch in Meeker, Colo. The rifle factory-tuned trigger.” To back up that claim, each trigger as one staffer put it, “looks kind was fitted with a Harris bipod assembly is profiled and adjusted for optimum performance of cool.” and Leupold Vari-X III 6.5- and pull weight of approximately 4 lbs. We mounted a Tasco 24x44 20x50 mm Long Range target mm World Class target scope on scope. Sighting in was with recoil lug, tang and fore-end tip. positive effects are well- the sample SVM we received Winchester’s new USA brand That works well for most hunt- documented. Still relatively and fired it for accuracy with the 45-gr., .22-250 Rem. ammuni- ing rifles, but many accuracy new to the accuracy buffs, how- results shown in the accompa- tion so that bullets hit point of buffs insist that free-floated bar- ever, is cryogenic barrel treat- nying table. Caliber of the gun aim at 150 yds. We set up on the rels shoot best. They reason that ment. We explored and tested was .22-250 Rem., and because edge of a small canyon having if the barrel doesn’t touch the that process extensively last of the slow, 1:14" twist, we low grass and a few gopher stock, any changes in tempera- year with mixed results. Most opted for loads firing light bul- holes in it. Shots ranged from as ture or humidity that could pos- barrels improved, and there lets for optimum accuracy. close as 5 yds. to as far as 350 1 sibly affect the stock are not was enough evidence support- Weatherby guarantees a 1 ⁄2", yds. Because of the steep angle, transferred to the barrel. Free- ing an accuracy improvement three-shot group from a cold we had to aim low out to about floating was given a chance in to enable us to recommend it as barrel at 100 yds. with 200 yds. and right on out to 350. Weatherby’s Accumark and worth trying. Weatherby must Weatherby factory ammunition. Granted, we missed a few of the tried also in the SVM, but the have thought so, too, and That is a worthwhile guarantee small, long-range targets, but three contact points proved more applied the process to the for a big-game hunting rifle, but overall we found the rifle and accurate in the varmint rifle. SVM. Taking the metal to a not a very practical one for a ammunition combination very Weatherby incorporates temperature of minus 300° F is varmint rifle intended to be fired accurate and pleasant to shoot other accuracy-enhancing fea- claimed to reduce stress and hundreds of times in a single throughout the morning. tures into the SVM. Barrels are harden the bore of the 410- hunt and in a caliber for which It’s good to see Weatherby heavy and fluted and come from series stainless steel barrel. Weatherby does not noted barrel maker Krieger. While we have difficulty sub- load factory ammuni- Button rifling is used, which stantiating those specific tion. Fortunately, the tends to result in a smoother claims, something does happen consistent, small groups bore than cut rifling. For to the treated metal, and other we fired suggest Weatherby, smooth wasn’t industries have experienced Weatherby will not need smooth enough, so SVM bores longer tool life and more con- to honor the guarantee are hand-lapped for an even sistency as a result. with the SVM often, if smoother finish. The muzzle Aside from the above, the ever. One of the features has an 11-degree parabolic tar- SVM is plain vanilla as far as that helped us shoot The Weatherby SVM barrel has an get crown to protect the origin Weatherby rifles go. It has a well was the SVM’s 11-degree parabolic target crown to of the rifling. newly designed stock, but not crisp, light trigger pull. protect the origin of the rifling. All these barrel treatments 2 3 are fairly traditional, and their 1 branching out into task-specific rifles SHOOTING RESULTS beyond its traditional super magnum, big- 22-250 Rem. Vel. @ 15' Energy Recoil Smallest Largest Average Cartridge (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) (ft.-lbs.) (inches) (inches) (inches) game hunting guns. Watch these pages Federal 22250A 3775 Avg. 1741 4.5 0.78 1.14 0.99 for a review of The Super VarmintMaster, 55-gr. SP 30 Sd like most Weatherby rifles, is Weatherby’s new Win. SBST22250A 4182 Avg. 1554 3.8 0.82 1.34 1.06 predator-specific built with three predeter- 40-gr. BST 44 Sd mined bedding points: the rifle, the Super Speer 55-gr. SP, 3441 Avg. 1447 3.9 0.77 1.12 0.96 PredatorMaster that tang (1), the recoil lug (2), 34 grs. N 140 27 Sd and the fore-end tip (3). is based on the SVM, Weatherby finds that bedding Average Extreme Spread: 1.00 and late next year for at these three points, as CCI BR2 primers, R-P cases, 2.38" COL. Measured average velocity for 10 rounds the company to delve opposed to using a free-float- from a 26" barrel. Range temperature:68° F. Humidity: 83%. Accuracy for five con- into the world of car- secutive, five-shot groups at 100 yds. from a sandbag. Abbreviations: BST (Ballistic ing barrel, makes these rifles Silvertip), COL (cartridge overall length), Sd (standard deviation), SP (soft-point).