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Hello, I am planning on purchasing one or two rifles for my first African safari. I had not considered the Weatherby DGR until I saw one at a local dealer. I was impressed with the rifle in the sense that it appeared to have many custom touches for a price between custom and mass produced rifles. The only things that worried me was the size of the extractor and the fact that it is not a controlled feed. The other options I have considered were 2 M70's or CZ's or one higher quality 375 H&H like a Empire Rifle or Dakota. The two calibers that I am interested in are the 375 H&H and the 416W or Rigby. I have concerns over taking only one rifle on such a expensive trip and if I buy two I would like the actions/ safties to match so that there is less thought process invloved. If any one could help educate me in the good, the bad or the ugly of my thinking. I also would like peoples opinions of the Weatherby rifle in non Wby cartridges. Thanks J.D. | ||
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ZIP , there is only one thing I will absloutely NOT do, and that is take a Pushfeed rifle on safari, or anyplace else where I might need more than one shot quickly.  | |||
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IMHO, the Weatherby DGR is just basically a Weatherby Accumark rifle with fixed sights added. (The stock material or finish is slightly different.) But, it's much more expensive than the Accumark. The DGR is available in chamberings that the Accumark is not, but both are synthetic stocked rifles with an aluminum bedding block. Not much difference. Besides being a push feed action, the Weatherby DGR is overpriced for what it is. One of the large dealers here in Houston, that sells a lot of Weatherby rifles, told the Weatherby rep that they wouldn't carry any of the DGRs in their inventory. They weren't impressed with it. IMHO, the Weatherby DGR is just Weatherby's attempt to jump on the safari / DGR rifle bandwagon that they were missing out on. But the rifle is way overpriced. They just took one of their basic rifles, threw fixed sights and a barrel band on it, jacked up the price, and called it a dangerous game rifle. I guess there's a sucker born every minute. There are better choices. For example, the Ruger M77 Magnum rifle comes in .375 H&H, .416 Rigby and .458 Lott. Plus it is about a thousand dollars (or more) cheaper than the Weatherby and it has several custom rifle features. I own a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight in .338-06 and an Accumark in .340 Weatherby. I also own two of the Ruger Magnum rifles (.375 H&H and .416 Rigby). I would not use a Weatherby rifle for a DGR. Full disclosure: I have not hunted dangerous game. (Hope to some day!) Just my opinion..... -Bob F. | |||
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Zip, Welcome to the forum. I have used a Weatherby Mk V, in 416 Weatherby to hunt both elephants and buffalo, and have not encountered any problems whatsoever. And would gladly use them again if I had the chance. In fact, my PH uses the same rifle for back up. | |||
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Quote: Zip, I suppose you are not going to Africa within a short time!. There are two things that you should never bring on safari: a brand new pair of boots and a brand new rifle!.  If DG is on the menu then with a Dakota 76 (in .416 Rigby!) you can�t go wrong. Believe me, I know  I suppose that with a Ruger M77 you will do well too. Good hunting. B.Martins | |||
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Saeed, Okay, but he was specifically asking about the Weatherby DGR rifle. (That's a Weatherby model name and not just a generic term.) It's not the same as a Mark V Deluxe. Leaving aside the push feed issue, do you think this rifle is worth the price? I don't.   Suggested Retail Price: $3,266 (.378 Weatherby Mag. and .416 Weatherby Mag.) $3,360 (.460 Weatherby Mag) $3,095 (for all other magnum calibers)   Suggested Retail Price: $3,445 $3,616 (.378 Weatherby Mag. and .416 Weatherby Mag.) $3,710 (.460 Weatherby Mag.)   Suggested Retail Price: $3,445 $3,616 (.378 Weatherby Mag. and .416 Weatherby Mag.) $3,710 (.460 Weatherby Mag.) If I was gong to spend that type of money, I think I'd rather spend a little more and get a nice Dakota. Just my opinion.... -Bob F. | |||
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That kind of money will go damn close to buying a used, good condition DGR from one of the better known rifle makers and is not much than a tricked up CZ DGR from American Hunting Rifles AHR . Not a particular preference, just increasing the mix. There's really a lot to pick from, zip. Good luck. | |||
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I am not aware of the new rifles, but assumed them to be based on the Mk V action. And his question was if they were suitable for dangerous game, and in my own opinion, I have no problem hunting dangerous game with push feeds. I have been using push feed rifles all my life, and cannot honestly say I have come across any malfunction because of that fact. The price seems to be rather steep. I wonder how much a normal Mk V rifle is now. As you know, I personally use 2 customs rifles I have built on the Dakota 76 action. | |||
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ZIP For the price of the Wea DGR, you could get a customized CZ rifle, a Win Mod 70-reworked, or a second hand Dakota rifle, all having claw extractors. Dak | |||
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zip I own 2 weatherby DGR. A 460 and a 378. The price that you should be able to pick on up will be in the $2500 range. It has a Mark V action. I will be taking my 460 to Zim next year. The only problem that I have ever had was the rear sight has no set screw and friction keeps the sight in place. After 40 rounds the sight will work itself lose. A punch will solve that problem. It's a fine rifle! Some will not choose this rifle only because of the "Weatherby" name.Pure and simple. | |||
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Saeed, Yes, the Weatherby DGR is based on the Mark V action. I wasn't trying to really get into the push feed vs. controlled round feed debate. I just wanted to point out that I think the Weatherby DGR is over priced and not a good buy for the money. I think there are better choices out there for less money and some really nice rifles available for just a little more money. Here's the standard Mark V Deluxe suggested retail prices:   Suggested Retail Price: For calibers .378 Weatherby Mag. and .416 Weatherby Mag. - $2,380 For caliber .460 Weatherby Mag. - $2,797 For all other magnum calibers - $2,023 Compare these prices with the prices I quoted above for the DGR rifle. That's why I'm saying that Weatherby is just price gouging on the DGR rifle. "Oooohhhh... It's the dangerous game model with fixed sights! Since it's a dangerous game rifle it must be worth a lot more money!" Well, like I said, there's a sucker born every minute. -Bob F. | |||
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-Bob F..........."Oooohhhh... It's the dangerous game model with fixed sights! Since it's a dangerous game rifle it must be worth a lot more money!" Well, like I said, there's a sucker born every minute. I take it you dont like weatherbys?..LOL that was a stupid post | |||
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Thanks for all of the info guys. | |||
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AKA, Well, I'm sorry that you thought it was a stupid post. As I said in my first post, I own a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight in .338-06 and an Accumark in .340 Weatherby. If someone wants to buy a Weatherby DGR that's fine with me. If you're happy with your two DGR's then great. I just think the DGR is overpriced for what it is. (I know the street prices are less than the suggested retail prices that I posted.) BTW: my comments of "Oooohhhh... It's the dangerous game model... " in my original post were not aimed at you specifically. By the time I finished composing and editing my message, your message had posted ahead of mine. It was not meant to be a retort to you. I apologize if you read it that way and took offense. #695246 - 06/18/04 11:16 AM #695251 - 06/18/04 11:27 AM Onward..... -Bob F. | |||
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I have a brand new Wby DGR in the box in 458 Win caliber for $1975. | |||
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Like Saeed, I've also used push feed rifles all my life and also a Weatherby push feed rifle for about the last 12 years and never come close to a hang up. It's always fed perfectly. My only comment would be that I found the .416 Weatherby to be a little too fast for most expanding bullets to "set up" properly (esp) at short range. In the end, I had the Weatherby action rebuilt onto a .500 Jeff and now it's is just dandy. I'm not sure I'd recommend the .500 Jrff as a client rifle though. I'd rather suggest you stick with the .416 Wea and download it to Rigby Ballistics. My old friend and client Peter Lang has done this for the last few years and is extremely successful with it.......in fact, I can't remember a time he needed a second shot.  | |||
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Quote: Shakari, Why not, instead of loading down the WBY .416 to Rigby balistics, simply buy a CRF Rifle chambered for the 416 Rigby, and be done with it! The WBY cartridges are all over bore capacity, and are not well suited to game shooting, especially in herd sittuations,not to mention the rifles are all PUSH FEED as well! In the case of the WBY DGR model, it is an over priced PF, with iron sights, nothing more! The Ruger RSM MK II magnum rifle , chambered for 416 Rigby, and now for the 458 LOTT,@ $1600 USD is a far better buy, and has all the features a DGR should have, not to mention it doesn't have the CALIFORNIA 1950s LOOK of the weatherbys, and costs less than half the price! That extra $1600 would buy another trophy of some substance, or three more days hunting!! The Push feed asside, and that is hard for me, as BobF says,the WBY DGR simply doesn't make economic sense!  | |||
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I don't like a pushfeed rifle, if I have a choice otherwise I would use whatever is handy... I would prefer to have Jim Brockman make me up a couple of CZs with his African classic style stocks in wood or laminate (mine by fate is laminate) in a 416 Rigby or whatever calibers I wanted...I saw my 404 Jefferys yesterday and I was smitten with it...Holds 5 404s down and one in the cooker, thats a big plus as I can load it on Monday and kill a buffalo a day until Friday and take the weekend off  ...and at less cost than a Weatherby I might add, and a heck of a lot nicer IMO only...But if I liked the weatherbys and they suited me then that is what I would buy, not what someone else recommended like an old worn out booking agent or hunt consultant or animal pimp may be more accurate. ... | |||
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I know this is off topic, but I think any rifle looks better with iron sights than without. Maybe because it reminds me of the past. Even with a scope, my Pre-64 Winchesters and my Ruger 35 Whelen just look right. I like the looks of the Weatherby DGR, but like a few others have mentioned they are way overpriced. I have a couple of Weatherbys and they have all fed perfectly. Given a choice, I would take my Model 70 375 H&H, 458 Lott, or my CZ 416 Rigby for a dangerous game hunt before I would take my Weatherby. Just my choice. I would gladly hunt beside someone that uses a Weatherby (without a brake!) any day of the week. I just like to hunt and I like hunting companions. Edit: Why would Weatherby put a barrel band AND a forearm sling stud on the Snow Camo DGR. Idjits! | |||
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Well, for whatever my opinion might be worth, if you like the Weatherby buy it. I personally have never owned one but know people who do and they really like them. All my life I have owned Rems., probably because I dont live too far from the factory, and I'm talking 40 years worth. Never had one jamb, ever. AND, after reading the pf controversy, loaded a couple of mine up and turned them over and bolted and ejected all rounds upside down with my left hand--no problems. In fact, I have Rem custom shop safari .375 on order that will be coming too late for this year but maybe for next year Buff hunt Please, I'm not looking to start a pf vs cf controversy here, I am just telling you MY experiences, someone elses might be different. | |||
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Edit: Why would Weatherby put a barrel band AND a forearm sling stud on the Snow Camo DGR. Idjits! Probably so that one can install a Harris-type bipod. Of course, this begs the question, why don't they put it on all 3 variations? | |||
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I own and shoot three Weatherby Mark Vs and I love them all, and one of them is a DGR in .416 Wby. The DGR is a beautiful rifle and it is big, fast, loud, and powerful, and I paid about $2500 for it three or so years ago. And it never jams. None of my Weatherbys have ever jammed. I have shot bullets that were too hot that caused minor problems, but that is not a Weatherby problem. My favorite rifle is a .378 that I have had for years and I have carried that rifle across North America and I've used it in South Africa. I also use a .300 Wby, a rifle perfect for caribou sized animals. These rifles work when others don't. The only rifles that I personally have ever had jamming problems with were two Winchester Model 70s with Mauser actions. My Uncle John, who hunted in Zambia and Tanzania (Tanganyika) in the 1960s, always used Mauser actions and he always complained about them jamming. The only reason I would buy another type of rifle would be for fun...say a Searcy .470 double. Robert Jobson | |||
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Steve, You won't catch me shooting a big bore prone off a bipod more than once. Especially at dangerous game. I'm a quick learner.  | |||
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Mac, Peter & I are both left handers, and left hand actions in big calibres are as rare as rocking horse doo- doos. We both independantly of each other came to the same decision and bought the only left hand actions we could find.....Weatherby's. Neither of us have had any problems with them. | |||
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If you are looking for a 375 why not just take a gander at that beauty 375 whitworth that is in our classifieds. Classic african styling | |||
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Quote: Shakari, there are sound reason to overlook one ill concieved feature, to gain another one that is more important to YOU! This is exactly why Boddington used so many pushfeed rifles. Being left handed, one must go where the left handed rifles are, you have no choice, other than a single shot, like the Ruger No1, and for a PH that is not the best choice one can make. However, for those of us who do have the choice of rifles, being right handed, it makes little sense to purposely choose a push feed, when the CRF is available, at even less cost! CRF is simply a better design, and the ONLY reason any rifle company goes to PF is to lower the cost of manufacture, and raise the bottom line. It is certainly not to benefit the buyer!  | |||
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Mac, I appreciate that CRF is a good design, but my personal opinion is that many people make far too much of it.....it is good, but it's not the only good design....and as I posted previously, I've used push feeds for many years in many places and never, ever had any problems. It's just a matter of personal choice......but I do think it's wrong to dismiss all non crf actions. | |||
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Dismissing all push feed actions is like dismissing all 2 wheel drive pickup trucks. Most of the time a 2wd pickup works just fine, but if you need a 4wd, there is no substitute. The same thing is true of controlled feed. | |||
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Mac, Get a 416 Rigby CZ and 416 Mark V. With the magazine loaded with blunt round nose Hornadies have the bolt pulled back and muzzle resting on the carpet. Then belt the bolt closed with a large rubber mallet or your hand if you like. The Wby will win. Vertical stack feeding. Obviously not advised on current M70s in 416 Remington!!!! but OK on Sakos or Howas converted. Personally I like CRF but not for reasons of reliability. I like them because you can push the bolt forward and then without closing the bolt down just pull the bolt back. Also hand for running cartridges through the magazine. By the wsay Mac, you should talk to Winchester Australia about the first lots of Classic Stainless that came out here in the magnum calibres. Extractors werejust a trifle short in the hook and apparently some batches of belted brass were a bit small. Not a good formula for the CRF. Unless you pulled the bolt back real quick the cartridge was left sitting on the follower. Any by the way, if all the Wby calibres are overbore then where does that place 416 Rigby. Surely it is no more than 5% smaller than the 416 Wby and also if the 460 is overbore then what does that make the 416 Rigby Mike | |||
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Try this: www.african-hunter.com; Safari Archives (at top of page); The Fire Arm Files. Three part series on the use of various rifles by qualifing PHs. Some thought provoking information on the choise of a dangerous game rife. Dave | |||
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rwj..<<<<<<<<<<<<<<The DGR is a beautiful rifle and it is big, fast, loud, and powerful, and I paid about $2500 for it three or so years ago.<<<<<<<<<<<<< you took the words out of my mouth! | |||
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Quote: I suppose I will now be the subject of a flame attack... | |||
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Slightly off topic, but I wonder if any of you have the information I am after. I own a Mark V in 375wby. I am quite happy with it, but every now and then I get the itch... bigger, faster more.... Would the 458 lott fit in the Mark V? One of the 500 calibers perhaps? | |||
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