.300 Dakota
Well-Known Member
This is a VERY long-winded post. More like an article meant as a monologue as if published in one of the large outdoors publications. I didn't see another post just like this, so I decided I'd create one because it needs to be reported. There are lots of credible YouTube videos now with info on this rifle, since it has been out - what? - 2 years now? Year and a half? I was stewing over whether to buy the 307 Adventure OR the new Remington 700 Alpha 1 Hunter recently and decided on the Remington after weighing the options and getting $200 off. Well, I got a couple hundred plus off this Range XP in 6.5 RPM, and couldn't pass. It's been sitting in my dealer's safe for over a week, and I just got time off to go pick it up this evening. I now need to convey to you, the serious shooting public, what my impressions are as a very experienced bolt gun shooter, designer, builder, and afficionado.
Let me preface this first-hands-on review by saying I've shot HUNDREDS of bolt action rifles over the past 35 years. Some of them I designed and had built by the most meticulous gunsmiths I could find. Some of them, I screwed together like Frankenstein in my workroom. Most, I bought first or 2nd (3rd, 4th, etc) hand and traded away. Some belonged to others who allowed me to fondle the goods. But the point is, I got to pick all those guns with all those actions. Mausers, Remingtons, Brownings, Savages, Sauers, CZs, Rugers, Howas, Marlins, Mossbergs, Kimbers, Winchesters, Weatherbys, Tikkas, Sakos, and several versions, offspring, and generations of each... to name but a portion, I'm sure. My customs now include 3 Kelblys. I've had one made off a Pierce, as well. I've handled friends' Nesika Bays and Defiance models. When I saw the Weatherby 307 and read about it, I said, "Great! A 700 with needed mods!" I wanted to try one eventually, but didn't feel a sense of overwhelming urgency. I was much more intrigued by the new iteration of the Remington 700 called the Alpha 1. It appeared to be about the same action as the 307 Weatherby, in fact. The only obvious difference on paper and in online descriptions was that the Remington bolt was faceted vs fluted.
After picking the Remington Alpha 1, it has become one of my favorite rifles. It isn't the ultimate tack driver, as I get about 1 to 1.25 MOA groups with every load I try. It does, however, put most all of them in the same immediate area of the target. The balance is perfect, it's light ENOUGH, if not a true lightweight, the stock is indestructible under normal hunting conditions, and the trigger is good, though it took some getting use to. Also, it looks AWESOME and functions flawlessly with redesigned bottom metal and longer internal mag boxes. But this review isn't about the Alpha 1. It is about the rifle (mainly the action) that was NOT chosen when the Alpha 1 was selected for purchase.
Most have seen the YouTube videos and read respected online reviews of the Range XP version of the 307 already, and you have likely formed the same conclusions I did. I would never have purchased this rifle had it not been $900 out the door. The jury is still out on how it will perform (once a few mods are done). I was looking at a Builder's 307 action in sale for $599 plus, and figured if I could get an entire rifle for under $300 more, why wouldn't I? But that's how it's always been, right? You can buy a Tikka rifle on sale for probably $100 or less what you could buy a new action for. A Remington stainless action new is within maybe a couple hundred (if that) of what a new ADL would be. At closer to $300 more than the action on sale, I probably didn't get as much value as one of these others mentioned. Especially the Tikka, right?? Because everyone knows, Tikka is the quintessential mass-produced custom action... BUT, for what I got, it was a great bargain compared to regular (or even most sale) prices anywhere. I'm a sucker for bargains. (I picked up a Schmidt & Bender Klassik Electro Dot FFP 2.5-10X56 for $950 out the door this year, and it's the best glass my old computer-worn eyes has looked through at the last second of legal shooting light back in dark timber... I'm STILL laughing at whoever made the decision to run that sale! Thank God for him!) Point is, I'm a sucker for a sale. This was one of those times if I'd passed, I would have kicked myself for the rest of my life because I wouldn't have gotten another chance like that!
So the 307 Range XP... As stated in unbiased reviews on probably this and, for certain, other major shooting forums, the injection molded stock on the 307 Range XP is garbage. The back end of the stock is fairly solid. And with the 90-degree pistol grip, one can hold it well on the shoulder, but the vertical grip places my hand in an odd place relative to the trigger. I am, in effect, pulling UP on the trigger, not BACK. Also, it is easy to get way too much finger on the trigger without realizing it. As far as the cheek riser, I'm not a fan of nuts and bolts that have to be adjusted with tools in the field. But this isn't a field gun. It's a RANGE gun (hence the name
). It's not fair for me to say a Corvette is garbage because it won't climb a wet red-clay bank 1/2 mile off the nearest road at my hunting camp. But this IS my opinion, so I'll just leave it at that. I'm not a fan. Set it and forget it, maybe. It seems a bit chincy for hard use to me.
The buttstock and recoil pad are nice; however, the narrow part of the stock that the action is bolted to and runs on our under the barrel with what is called a barrel channel is where it really dives off a cliff. As many others have stated, this is the flimsiest version of the injection-molded forearm to date. For those who have actually printed that it is "stiff enough" due to the diagonal intersecting cross members, the were straight up lying (paid for their lip service, NO doubt). All you have to do is press UP on the tip of the forened to see how little pressure is needed to close the gap at the tip of the forend all the way to the bottom of the barrel above it. It may be somewhat stationary on some plane, but NOT on the up and down plane! Actually, nor on the side to side plane either because it didn't take much force to get the area of the side of the barrel channel off the barrel it was contacting for most of the length of the left side of the barrel. As many noted, the barreled action is NOT free floated in the barrel channel due to the ineptness of the stock's forend. Some have sanded it out. I will attempt to do the same.
An order placed to McMillan for a Hunter's Edge replacement long action ultralight stock was a bust when it showed up inlet in short action vs what was advertised (model numbers/stock numbers matched). It was a bargain, though! I'm a sucker for bargains! (Do you see a pattern??) An email to Pure Precision proved fruitless (though they list a "Model 700 Universal" that claims to include the 307 - contrary to what the email reply I received stated). Peak 44. Out of stock - several weeks to produce, but possible. Then I'd have a 307 CT for far less than the retail price of one. Or good old Boyd's laminate! They offer 1 choice - textured black paint. How exciting! It will beat what's on there like a bridge pile driver.
The chincy plastic P-Mag. Not a fan. That's all I have to say 'bout that. Don't like the magazine hanging down below the trigger guard, either. You can't set the rifle on small bags or even a bull bag with this. You have to have it strapped in a contraption like a "Lead Sled" that won't be repeatable in the field. Maybe if you have a long-legged enough bipod you'd do OK.
The barrel looks cool. Nice, deep spiral fluting. It is NOT what I'd call a magnum contour, however. It's pretty skinny at the muzzle, deep-fluting be darned! Nice thread cap and nice radial muzzle brake accompanying the rifle that will likely reduce recoil 25 - 30% or so. It will be installed immediately!
The trigger. 4 pounds (predictably the setting from the factory). MEH! Adjustable by me dow to around 2.5 pounds. Meh. TriggerTech Field. Meh. I'm not impressed by a name; it must offer a light enough pull I won't pull off if my trigger mechanics aren't perfect under an intense adrenalin rush, be repeatable, crisp with no creep, and SAFE. The TT Field checks all those boxes but one. 2.5 pounds is just a tiny wee bit too much for my most eccentric trigger jerks. I already had plans to replace it with a Bix'n Andy TacSport Pro 2-Stage because I read the sear on the TT doesn't time as well with the 307 action and cause undue effort on opening and/or closing the bolt. At least on my model: FALSE! It seems to do just fine. The break point is slightly inconsistent, but ranges between 2.4 pounds to 2.7 at the lowest setting with the mean being 2.5 (advertised). Not enough inconsistency to worry about, and slightly better than the 700 Alpha 1 Hunter on pull weight. I will likely replace the trigger anyway if the rifle proves worthy of the cost of the upgrade.
Here's the most important part of the review for those who might be considering building on this action. What I'm about to say is going to ruffle lots of feathers, raise many eyebrows, get me accused of being a Weatherby fan-boy, dismissed as lunacy, and ruin my credibility amongst all those who've never tried one of these. And for all I know, my sample size of 1 may just be a cut above all the rest. But here it is. I'm going to say it. It's my opinion while running all of these actions: The Weatherby 307 THAT I HAVE is THE smoothest action on ANY production rifle I've EVER handled. At least to my memory, and tested side by side here against both 3 Kelblys and a customized Tikka stainless. The Tikka and the 307 ARE very close. But after cycling both side by side multiple times, I've determined the 307 is, in fact, SMOOTHER THAN TIKKA!!! And that's the blued (coated?) version of the 307 and the stainless version of the Tikka. It is NOT anywhere near as smooth as a Defiance Deviant or old Nesika Bay. I'm not trying to Christen with THAT Cool-Aid!
The finish on the 307 isn't exceptionally slick or even slick at all. It is just a superior action to the Tikka. Would I still buy a Tikka? Sure, for the bolt throw alone. And the factory trigger is still better than the TT Field on the Wby. I called the 307 superior to the Tikka not only because of the smoothness (which is very close), but for the at-least-equal lack of slop, lock-up feel, and strength. The 700 foot-print has 2 massive lugs. The Tikka, not so massive. There is a knock, however. The 307 bolt handle is a "MIM" part. While this is probably not a big deal, or a deal at all in the function or longevity (we'll see) of the 307, the very idea of MIM parts on a Wby rifle goes against nature.
We also need to prove the 307 is as consistent as the Tikka on headspace and tolerances over a large sample size. If mine is good and square with good lug contact, this is the best repeater action I have personally ever owned. It is decidedly smoother than the Kelblys and isn't in the same hemisphere as the 700 Alpha 1 Hunter. I would still rather have the Alpha 1 or the Tikka or any of the Kelbly rifles on a hunt vs the 307 Range XP as an entire package. The stock ruins the finely crafted action. The barrel is still up in the air. As with all things factory, especially Weatherby over the years - Mark V and Vanguard - if you get a good one, you've got a good one. If you get a bad one, you may as well have it rebarreled. I would assume the slim, deeply contoured pipe on my example is the same. Maybe it's a good one. But without a better stock and trigger, it will be impossible to know! The lightweight plastic stocks and inexpensive barrels on the Tikka lightweights don't impress me, either. I've found accuracy rather mediocre, but acceptable on all I've tried. The wooden Hunters and laminate stainless models have given me better redults. Never tried a CTR or Varmint, but I know they're plastic (and pricey!).
So to the Alpha 1 Hunter. I would pick it up before the Range XP any day. The stock alone makes it worthwhile. I think I like the 2lb 15oz Timney better than the 2.5lb TT Field. It is consistent. Maybe the straight shoe won me over? Accuracy and cold bore placement with multiple loads are predictable. The action is nowhere near as smooth, but this, by itself, does not warrant changing rifles to one that is a bit unnatural to hold and can flex like beach god on the forend. That even assuming I sanded the contact points in the stock away from the barrel down the length of the channel. The absence of the birth defect glaring out of the magazine well of the XP might also be enough to not make the change by itself.
Bottom line: Don't buy the 307 Range XP. Buy the 307 action and build with aftermarket barrel, the highest end trigger that you're comfortable with, and a Peak 44 stock, since they are apparently the only ones other than Boyd's making a stoxk replacement for the .307. Unless Weatherby will sell you an Adventure or CT stock direct. Haven't thought of that...
Let me preface this first-hands-on review by saying I've shot HUNDREDS of bolt action rifles over the past 35 years. Some of them I designed and had built by the most meticulous gunsmiths I could find. Some of them, I screwed together like Frankenstein in my workroom. Most, I bought first or 2nd (3rd, 4th, etc) hand and traded away. Some belonged to others who allowed me to fondle the goods. But the point is, I got to pick all those guns with all those actions. Mausers, Remingtons, Brownings, Savages, Sauers, CZs, Rugers, Howas, Marlins, Mossbergs, Kimbers, Winchesters, Weatherbys, Tikkas, Sakos, and several versions, offspring, and generations of each... to name but a portion, I'm sure. My customs now include 3 Kelblys. I've had one made off a Pierce, as well. I've handled friends' Nesika Bays and Defiance models. When I saw the Weatherby 307 and read about it, I said, "Great! A 700 with needed mods!" I wanted to try one eventually, but didn't feel a sense of overwhelming urgency. I was much more intrigued by the new iteration of the Remington 700 called the Alpha 1. It appeared to be about the same action as the 307 Weatherby, in fact. The only obvious difference on paper and in online descriptions was that the Remington bolt was faceted vs fluted.
After picking the Remington Alpha 1, it has become one of my favorite rifles. It isn't the ultimate tack driver, as I get about 1 to 1.25 MOA groups with every load I try. It does, however, put most all of them in the same immediate area of the target. The balance is perfect, it's light ENOUGH, if not a true lightweight, the stock is indestructible under normal hunting conditions, and the trigger is good, though it took some getting use to. Also, it looks AWESOME and functions flawlessly with redesigned bottom metal and longer internal mag boxes. But this review isn't about the Alpha 1. It is about the rifle (mainly the action) that was NOT chosen when the Alpha 1 was selected for purchase.
Most have seen the YouTube videos and read respected online reviews of the Range XP version of the 307 already, and you have likely formed the same conclusions I did. I would never have purchased this rifle had it not been $900 out the door. The jury is still out on how it will perform (once a few mods are done). I was looking at a Builder's 307 action in sale for $599 plus, and figured if I could get an entire rifle for under $300 more, why wouldn't I? But that's how it's always been, right? You can buy a Tikka rifle on sale for probably $100 or less what you could buy a new action for. A Remington stainless action new is within maybe a couple hundred (if that) of what a new ADL would be. At closer to $300 more than the action on sale, I probably didn't get as much value as one of these others mentioned. Especially the Tikka, right?? Because everyone knows, Tikka is the quintessential mass-produced custom action... BUT, for what I got, it was a great bargain compared to regular (or even most sale) prices anywhere. I'm a sucker for bargains. (I picked up a Schmidt & Bender Klassik Electro Dot FFP 2.5-10X56 for $950 out the door this year, and it's the best glass my old computer-worn eyes has looked through at the last second of legal shooting light back in dark timber... I'm STILL laughing at whoever made the decision to run that sale! Thank God for him!) Point is, I'm a sucker for a sale. This was one of those times if I'd passed, I would have kicked myself for the rest of my life because I wouldn't have gotten another chance like that!
So the 307 Range XP... As stated in unbiased reviews on probably this and, for certain, other major shooting forums, the injection molded stock on the 307 Range XP is garbage. The back end of the stock is fairly solid. And with the 90-degree pistol grip, one can hold it well on the shoulder, but the vertical grip places my hand in an odd place relative to the trigger. I am, in effect, pulling UP on the trigger, not BACK. Also, it is easy to get way too much finger on the trigger without realizing it. As far as the cheek riser, I'm not a fan of nuts and bolts that have to be adjusted with tools in the field. But this isn't a field gun. It's a RANGE gun (hence the name
). It's not fair for me to say a Corvette is garbage because it won't climb a wet red-clay bank 1/2 mile off the nearest road at my hunting camp. But this IS my opinion, so I'll just leave it at that. I'm not a fan. Set it and forget it, maybe. It seems a bit chincy for hard use to me.The buttstock and recoil pad are nice; however, the narrow part of the stock that the action is bolted to and runs on our under the barrel with what is called a barrel channel is where it really dives off a cliff. As many others have stated, this is the flimsiest version of the injection-molded forearm to date. For those who have actually printed that it is "stiff enough" due to the diagonal intersecting cross members, the were straight up lying (paid for their lip service, NO doubt). All you have to do is press UP on the tip of the forened to see how little pressure is needed to close the gap at the tip of the forend all the way to the bottom of the barrel above it. It may be somewhat stationary on some plane, but NOT on the up and down plane! Actually, nor on the side to side plane either because it didn't take much force to get the area of the side of the barrel channel off the barrel it was contacting for most of the length of the left side of the barrel. As many noted, the barreled action is NOT free floated in the barrel channel due to the ineptness of the stock's forend. Some have sanded it out. I will attempt to do the same.
An order placed to McMillan for a Hunter's Edge replacement long action ultralight stock was a bust when it showed up inlet in short action vs what was advertised (model numbers/stock numbers matched). It was a bargain, though! I'm a sucker for bargains! (Do you see a pattern??) An email to Pure Precision proved fruitless (though they list a "Model 700 Universal" that claims to include the 307 - contrary to what the email reply I received stated). Peak 44. Out of stock - several weeks to produce, but possible. Then I'd have a 307 CT for far less than the retail price of one. Or good old Boyd's laminate! They offer 1 choice - textured black paint. How exciting! It will beat what's on there like a bridge pile driver.
The chincy plastic P-Mag. Not a fan. That's all I have to say 'bout that. Don't like the magazine hanging down below the trigger guard, either. You can't set the rifle on small bags or even a bull bag with this. You have to have it strapped in a contraption like a "Lead Sled" that won't be repeatable in the field. Maybe if you have a long-legged enough bipod you'd do OK.
The barrel looks cool. Nice, deep spiral fluting. It is NOT what I'd call a magnum contour, however. It's pretty skinny at the muzzle, deep-fluting be darned! Nice thread cap and nice radial muzzle brake accompanying the rifle that will likely reduce recoil 25 - 30% or so. It will be installed immediately!
The trigger. 4 pounds (predictably the setting from the factory). MEH! Adjustable by me dow to around 2.5 pounds. Meh. TriggerTech Field. Meh. I'm not impressed by a name; it must offer a light enough pull I won't pull off if my trigger mechanics aren't perfect under an intense adrenalin rush, be repeatable, crisp with no creep, and SAFE. The TT Field checks all those boxes but one. 2.5 pounds is just a tiny wee bit too much for my most eccentric trigger jerks. I already had plans to replace it with a Bix'n Andy TacSport Pro 2-Stage because I read the sear on the TT doesn't time as well with the 307 action and cause undue effort on opening and/or closing the bolt. At least on my model: FALSE! It seems to do just fine. The break point is slightly inconsistent, but ranges between 2.4 pounds to 2.7 at the lowest setting with the mean being 2.5 (advertised). Not enough inconsistency to worry about, and slightly better than the 700 Alpha 1 Hunter on pull weight. I will likely replace the trigger anyway if the rifle proves worthy of the cost of the upgrade.
Here's the most important part of the review for those who might be considering building on this action. What I'm about to say is going to ruffle lots of feathers, raise many eyebrows, get me accused of being a Weatherby fan-boy, dismissed as lunacy, and ruin my credibility amongst all those who've never tried one of these. And for all I know, my sample size of 1 may just be a cut above all the rest. But here it is. I'm going to say it. It's my opinion while running all of these actions: The Weatherby 307 THAT I HAVE is THE smoothest action on ANY production rifle I've EVER handled. At least to my memory, and tested side by side here against both 3 Kelblys and a customized Tikka stainless. The Tikka and the 307 ARE very close. But after cycling both side by side multiple times, I've determined the 307 is, in fact, SMOOTHER THAN TIKKA!!! And that's the blued (coated?) version of the 307 and the stainless version of the Tikka. It is NOT anywhere near as smooth as a Defiance Deviant or old Nesika Bay. I'm not trying to Christen with THAT Cool-Aid!
The finish on the 307 isn't exceptionally slick or even slick at all. It is just a superior action to the Tikka. Would I still buy a Tikka? Sure, for the bolt throw alone. And the factory trigger is still better than the TT Field on the Wby. I called the 307 superior to the Tikka not only because of the smoothness (which is very close), but for the at-least-equal lack of slop, lock-up feel, and strength. The 700 foot-print has 2 massive lugs. The Tikka, not so massive. There is a knock, however. The 307 bolt handle is a "MIM" part. While this is probably not a big deal, or a deal at all in the function or longevity (we'll see) of the 307, the very idea of MIM parts on a Wby rifle goes against nature.
We also need to prove the 307 is as consistent as the Tikka on headspace and tolerances over a large sample size. If mine is good and square with good lug contact, this is the best repeater action I have personally ever owned. It is decidedly smoother than the Kelblys and isn't in the same hemisphere as the 700 Alpha 1 Hunter. I would still rather have the Alpha 1 or the Tikka or any of the Kelbly rifles on a hunt vs the 307 Range XP as an entire package. The stock ruins the finely crafted action. The barrel is still up in the air. As with all things factory, especially Weatherby over the years - Mark V and Vanguard - if you get a good one, you've got a good one. If you get a bad one, you may as well have it rebarreled. I would assume the slim, deeply contoured pipe on my example is the same. Maybe it's a good one. But without a better stock and trigger, it will be impossible to know! The lightweight plastic stocks and inexpensive barrels on the Tikka lightweights don't impress me, either. I've found accuracy rather mediocre, but acceptable on all I've tried. The wooden Hunters and laminate stainless models have given me better redults. Never tried a CTR or Varmint, but I know they're plastic (and pricey!).
So to the Alpha 1 Hunter. I would pick it up before the Range XP any day. The stock alone makes it worthwhile. I think I like the 2lb 15oz Timney better than the 2.5lb TT Field. It is consistent. Maybe the straight shoe won me over? Accuracy and cold bore placement with multiple loads are predictable. The action is nowhere near as smooth, but this, by itself, does not warrant changing rifles to one that is a bit unnatural to hold and can flex like beach god on the forend. That even assuming I sanded the contact points in the stock away from the barrel down the length of the channel. The absence of the birth defect glaring out of the magazine well of the XP might also be enough to not make the change by itself.
Bottom line: Don't buy the 307 Range XP. Buy the 307 action and build with aftermarket barrel, the highest end trigger that you're comfortable with, and a Peak 44 stock, since they are apparently the only ones other than Boyd's making a stoxk replacement for the .307. Unless Weatherby will sell you an Adventure or CT stock direct. Haven't thought of that...
