I was looking around on Gunbroker and found an affordable Sako M995 chambered in a Lazzeroni 7.21 Firebird (flash from the past).

I started pondering the idea of rebarreling/rechambering to a 7.82 Warbird. Then…I looked at the price of Lazzeroni ammunition and brass! I quickly deleted that rifle from my Watchlist!

Wow! Ammunition is expensive and Weatherby ammunition is more so, but Lazzeroni is out of this planet!!! I thought $100/box was terrible, but some of that stuff is nearly $200/box and remarkably…the brass isn’t much cheaper.

Na…I’ll drop that idea. I think John Lazzeroni must be trying to get out of the firearm industry. I can live without the extra velocity for those prices.

I received my custom rifle from Hill Country Rifles yesterday.  It isn't a Weatherby, but in my defense...I do own several Weatherby rifles and my last purchase was a Weatherby Backcountry in a 6.5 RPM.

This rifle is chambered in a 27 Nosler (I already had a 28 Nosler rifle).  The Cerakote is Tungsten Grey, Defiance action and rail, Benchmark barrel fluted #3, McMillan stock, Huskemaw 5-20 scope, and Nightforce alloy rings.

I specifically wanted to keep this rifle at ~ 8.5 lbs. scoped, which was a challenge with the relatively heavy Huskemaw scope.  That is the reason for the fluted barrel, McMillan Edge stock, and alloy rings.  It does balance really well, however.  I have heavier rifles and I have lighter rifles; I was seeking the optimal hunting weight rifle.

HCR got around 3200 fps from Nosler 150 grain Accubond factory ammunition and 1/2" groups at 100 yards.

This rifle was specified as a hunting rifle that is capable of a longer shot...if necessary.  That was my reasoning behind the rifle weight and caliber.  I am not a long-range hunter, but I've taken a few shots around 400-500 yards (successfully).  I don't really have to take any shots longer than that where I go hunting.

This rifle turned out better than I imagined.  Hill Country Rifles did a tremendous job...no doubt.  This will be my "go to" for a while!

Thoughts?  What things do you like or what would you have done differently?  I like to hear feedback from everyone and we all have different ideas of the "perfect rifle".

As the waterfowl season was winding down in Wyoming earlier this month, some friends and I went on a weekend Canadian goose hunt in eastern Wyoming.  I always wanted to try a 10 gauge, so I purchased a Browning Gold Light 10-gauge last year and was eager to try it out.  We had an awesome time and limited out on both days...TONS of geese! 

I was thoroughly impressed with the 10 gauge out of the pit...it hits noticeably harder than 12 gauge 3-1/2" magnums.  I had a couple of long shots on geese going away and that is where the 10 gauge really shines.

Like everyone else here, I really enjoy big game hunting, but I love waterfowl hunting because I get to shoot more than once ( ) and wing shooting is just so much fun!

I found this rifle doing some kind of internet search and purchased it.  It took me by surprise as I haven't seen this rifle on Weatherby's website.  This is a Backcountry Midnight Edition in a 6.5 RPM.  Essentially, the only difference is the stock color (same AG Composites) and cerakote color (Midnight Bronze)...and it has a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad rather than the "Hex" recoil pad.

I'll readily admit...I didn't "get" this cartridge when it first came out.  I have a Remington 700 chambered in a .264 Winchester Magnum, so I didn't see the point in getting a Mark V Backcountry 6.5 RPM.  I have since caught on to Weatherby's vision - it is a lightweight mountain rifle and the cartridge has plenty of punch.  It is really a package deal - lightweight rifle and capable cartridge.

A friend of mine has the same rifle (the Backcountry...not Midnight Edition) and he recently got his 6-pt bull elk with the 127 grain Barnes LRX ammunition at around 360 yards.  We both decided that this isn't a "long range" rifle per se...it is a bit too light for that purpose.  That said, I think it is every bit a 500 yard, light, hunting rifle for just about all North American big game. 

I'm leaning towards a Leupold VX3HD 4.5-14x40mm scope in Talley lightweight alloy 1-piece bases/rings to keep the whole setup fairly light.   

I should be receiving my Mark V Backcountry in a 6.5 RPM in the next few weeks.

With the prevailing idea with this rifle being a lightweight, all- purpose mountain rifle, I kinda hate to mount some howitzer size scope on it defeating the purpose.

I’m thinking the outer limits of any shot should be within 500 yards. I am looking at a Leupold VX3HD 4.5-14 x 40mm (1” tube), which would seem to offer a good balance of power and weight.

What scopes (manufacturer and power range) are people using on these lightweight Backcountry rifles?

Weatherby released a new 2.0 version of the Backcountry Ti with a carbon fiber barrel, new stock design, a skeleton bolt handle, and a few more tweaks.

https://weatherby.com/store/mark-v-backcountry-2-0-ti-carbon/

Thoughts?

I’m tossing around purchasing a 27 Nosler (actually…rebarreling a 26 Nosler) or a custom 6.5 RPM. I own a 270 Weatherby, a 28 Nosler, a 264 Winchester Mag, and a 6.5-300 Weatherby Mag.

I realize I am splitting hairs here…which would you go with?

The 27 Nosler will be heavier than the custom 6.5 RPM.

Your thoughts?