With modern materials like carbon fiber and titanium, Weatherby’s new Backcountry 2.0 rifles have set the lightweight hunting rifle bar extremely high (or low?). Starting at an incredible 4.7 lbs light, these rifles won’t weigh you down when hiking in the back country. Better yet, the recoil pad looks really comfy.
TTAG will get its hands on one of these bad boys for review soon. In the meantime, Weatherby’s press release follows:
Sheridan, WY – Following on the heels of the highly successful Weatherby® Mark V® Backcountry™ and Backcountry Ti, the next generation of this rifle family will hit dealer shelves in fall 2021. The updated Backcountry 2.0 and the all new Backcountry 2.0 Carbon models are equipped with a brand new carbon fiber stock that is the lightest in the industry. The Backcountry 2.0 Carbon adds a BSF® tensioned carbon fiber barrel as well as a hotter chambering previously not available in the Backcountry, the 30-378 WBY MAG — the fastest and flattest-shooting production .308 caliber cartridge.
An ultra-lightweight big game rifle, the Backcountry 2.0 Ti starts at just 4.7 lbs and much of the credit is owed to the new Blacktooth™ carbon fiber stock from Peak 44™, the lightest version of which tips the scales at under 20 ounces. This new Blacktooth stock features the Rock Solid Carbon Link™ bedding system which engages the recoil lug and evenly distributes recoil throughout the stock without the weight of a traditional aluminum bedding block, making the overall stock both lighter and stiffer.
Weights for all models depend on chambering:
Backcountry 2.0 – 5.3 lbs (308 Win) to 6.2 lbs (257 WBY MAG)
Backcountry 2.0 Ti – 4.7 lbs (308 Win) to 5.6 lbs (257 WBY MAG)
Backcountry 2.0 Carbon – 5.8 lbs (6.5 CM) to 6.6 lbs (257 WBY MAG)
Backcountry 2.0 Ti Carbon – 5.3 lbs (6.5 CM) to 6.6 lbs (257 WBY MAG)
To mitigate recoil, years of development have resulted in a new generation of the revolutionary 3DHEX® recoil pad. This one-of-a-kind pad is the first in the industry to be 3D printed at a production level. Using a three dimensional honeycomb pattern of collapsible voids, it draws out the time component of recoil — taking away the sharp kick. With the same amount of recoil spread out over a much greater time period, felt recoil is greatly reduced, even with some of the fastest cartridges on the market.
Also killing recoil is the highly-effective Accubrake® ST. Contoured to match the barrel and equipped with 30 symmetrically-spaced ports, this signature Weatherby muzzle brake redirects gasses to eliminate a significant amount of recoil, enabling shooters to fire magnum rounds without the associated magnum recoil that might be experienced with other lightweight rifles.
Available in four configurations and a multitude of chamberings, the new Backcountry 2.0 comes with a steel receiver and the new Backcountry 2.0 Ti comes with a strong and lightweight titanium receiver. Depending on chambering, barrel contours are the super thin and lightweight fluted #1 MOD or #2 MOD carbon steel barrels or in the case of the Carbon variants, a #4 BSF tensioned carbon fiber barrel. Previously debuted on the Mark V Carbonmark, this barrel system set a new Weatherby company accuracy record in 2021, returning a 0.06” group at 100 yards with factory Weatherby Select Plus™ ammunition.
Backcountry 2.0 – MSRP $2499
Backcountry Ti 2.0 – MSRP $3349
Backcountry 2.0 Carbon – MSRP $2,999
Backcountry 2.0 Ti Carbon – MSRP $3749
Left-handers can also rejoice, as the Backcountry 2.0 can be had in magnum chamberings with a left-side bolt, a feature developed for the Mark V platform in 1959 and continued today. Additional improvements include a deep spiral fluted bolt and a skeletonized bolt knob that threads onto the bolt handle. Titanium and steel versions get unique paint schemes, with metal work protected by a hardy Cerakote® ceramic finish, excepting the receiver of Ti models, which are left in raw titanium to show the beautiful machine work. As with all Mark V rifles, the Backcountry 2.0 is fitted with a crisp, user-adjustable single-stage TriggerTech® trigger.
For those who wish to have a more personalized version of the Backcountry 2.0, these rifles will be able to be custom-built through the Weatherby Custom Shop configurator found at weatherby.com/custom-shop/.
With supremely light weight, a feature-rich specifications chart and the craftsmanship and attention to detail that Weatherby is known for, the new Mark V Backcountry 2.0 family of rifles make for the perfect companion on any demanding hunt.
For purchasing information about the new Backcountry 2.0, visit weatherby.com. About Weatherby
Founded in 1945, Weatherby, Inc. is a family-owned company that continues to fuel the passion of hunters and shooters around the globe by building some of the world’s finest firearms. With a legacy of setting new standards in ballistics and performance, the company is committed to redefining excellence on the range and in the field. The Weatherby line features the legendary Mark V rifles (production and custom), accessible and popular Vanguard® rifles as well as shotguns like the Orion®, Element® and 18i®. Weatherby’s premium ammunition and shooting accessories are also the choice for discerning shooters worldwide. The company is based in Sheridan, WY and invites all hunters and shooters to follow them in social media at @weatherbyinc on Facebook and Instagram. For more information about Weatherby, please visit weatherby.com.
My favorite hunting rifle is a Weatherby, .300.
Do not like ammo cost, problem of proprietary cartridges.
That’s a reason people whom own weatherby’s are good shots. Everytime you miss it cost you 5 ninety five fifty
Fortunately these are hunting rifles. Which normally means a low number of shots through them. I don’t care how good the recoil pad is. A sub 5 pound .308 is going to be lively. A good scope and sling won’t add a lot to that total.
I have a sub 6 pound youth model break action 20 ga. That thing gets rambunctious with heavy loads.
And one of those lightweight guns firing 30-378 Weatherby? Better you than me.
jwm,
I imagine that fairly harsh recoil isn’t a problem if you are only taking a single shot at a game animal. Sure, that one shot kind-of hurts. And you can handle it if it is only one shot.
I compare to my experience shooting Hornady SST 12 gauge slugs out of a pump-action shotgun with a rifled barrel. As far as I know, that shotgun weighs about 6 pounds. The real killer: it launches those 295 grain SST slugs at 2,000 feet-per-second which generates absolutely brutal recoil. After shooting that about 15 times over the course of about 30 minutes to sight-in the shotgun, I was done. The next day I had a touch of mild bruising around my shoulder area where the buttstock rested against my body. Thus, shooting even that brutal level of recoil once or twice wasn’t a problem. It only become a problem when I shot several times in succession.
For reference a 295 grain projectile with a muzzle velocity of 2,000 feet-per-second will generate significantly more recoil than a 165 grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of 3,000 feet-per-second.
These guns are ones you carry a lot and use once or twice.
“…ones you carry a lot and use once or twice.”
Kinda like a featherweight weight .357 mag. snubbie…
maybe not in this rifle but weatherby offers chamberings in twenty one standard calibers in addition to 15 proprietary magnum chamberings. forget it, i’m havin’ enough trouble choosing from .204, .243, .25- 06, .260 and 7mm- 08.
If you got into the custom built versions I’d think there is a lot of flex around what is available.
tsbhoa.p.jr,
Don’t forget 6.5mm Creedmoor on top of the others that you mentioned.
I am in the same boat: it is really hard to decide which of those calibers are the “best” choice for me or family members.
“… this barrel system set a new Weatherby company accuracy record in 2021, returning a 0.06” group at 100 yards with factory Weatherby Select Plus ammunition.”
Holy cow! How do you even measure a group at 0.06 inches on paper? It seems to me that it would simply be a single hole in the paper and, due to the delicate nature of paper, that hole would be somewhat frayed and impossible to measure such a small deviation in bullet entry.
On a different note, I would love to see high-speed video of multiple bullets going through the same hole at 100 yards. Now that would be a thing of beauty!
Some Weatherby fundamentals that most don’t know, good and bad.
Early 6.5-300 rifles were massively inaccurate, they changed their accuracy guarantee from .95″ to .99″ for a reason, and the standard for accuracy testing no longer required back to back consistency on those groups. They still pushed them out after discovering massive accuracy failures hoping that customers wouldn’t notice or complain. *Bad*
They measure their groups with an Oehler range system, and they are absolutely as accurate as they claim. *Good*
The action of a Mark V is comically strong. Some idiot sent his rifle in for repair after “bad ammo” damaged the action. The ballistician figured out that he had actually loaded (ie, filled to capacity) the 6.5-300 case, either by accident or intentionally, with a fast burn rate pistol powder (not quite bullseye, but close), and all it did was set the lugs back slightly. If you aren’t familiar, that’s a small God damn miracle. *Good*
A Weatherby shotgun should be the picture in a dictionary under the “polished turd” entry. Great finish, mostly good fit, and locking block with the strength of a brittle ego. *Bad*
I heard a similar one from a gunsmith I knew at the range. Country boy buys a .243. Returns it a week later broken. Takes another one. Returns a week later. “These Remingtons are ****. Give me something else”. Takes a Sako. Returns a week later with that one broken. Gunsmith asks “what are using in them?” Country boy replies “Just a mild reload. I fill the case with pistol powder.”
Warranty voided?
A gunm Smith told me, ” If youd have been using Remington ammunition in a Remington rifle you might have them, otherwise the repairs on you.”
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