Fear & Loading: 5,000 Attend Weatherby Grand Opening

by
posted on July 2, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
weatherby-plant-small.jpg

The official grand opening of Weatherby’s new factory in Sheridan, Wyo., last month attracted more than 5,000 firearm enthusiasts. “I am so grateful for Weatherby’s past and rich heritage that began so many years ago in Southern California with my grandfather,” said co-owner Adam Weatherby. “I am so incredibly grateful for the state of Wyoming and the many others that helped get us to our new home.”

Relocating from California—where the company has been based since 1945—and its restrictive gun laws was a major undertaking. A total of 15 trailers, 53 feet in length, were required to move the company’s equipment, according to the Helena Independent Record.  “The culture, the outdoor culture, the work ethic, obviously the business climate, the tax climate and then the pro-Second Amendment is what we were looking for,” Weatherby responded when asked why the company made the expensive and time-consuming change.

Weatherby is now operating out of a $12.5 million facility that covers 30,000 square feet including a 300-yard underground range. According to the Sheridan Press, a total of 71 employees will be working at the plant. Weatherby explained to the paper, “We moved from the highest population state to the lowest population state; the highest taxes to the best taxes; the not-so-best gun laws to the absolute best gun laws.”

Tours of the facility were conducted during the grand opening, and 11 organizations manned booths to heighten public awareness about their conservation efforts. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place with Ed Weatherby, First Lady of Wyoming Jennie Gordon, Former Governor of Wyoming Matt Mead, Mayor of Sheridan Roger Miller, Business Council CEO Shawn Reese and Executive Director of Sheridan Travel & Tourism Shawn Parker.

Five custom rifles were also auctioned during the event. The firearm that brought the highest price was a Weatherby Mark V Commemorative. It went for $26,000.

Latest

FN “Moroccan” Mauser, semi-automatic LRB M14SA
FN “Moroccan” Mauser, semi-automatic LRB M14SA

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Trijicon Releases Green-Dot RMR

For the first time, the Trijicon RMR will now be available with a green aiming dot, providing some benefits to shooters with astigmatism and red-green color blindness.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 15, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Firearm Industry Companies Consolidate, Others Close Doors In 2025

This year has already seen some big changes in the firearm industry. They don’t quite reach the tectonic shift in 2020, when legendary firms owned by Remington Outdoor were auctioned off, but there have still been some notable shifts within the industry in 2025.

Preview: Uni-Loader

The easy-to-use Uni-Loader can save high-volume shooters a lot of time and finger pain.

CZ 600+ Introduces Switch-Barrel Capability

In 2025, CZ USA expanded its 600 series rifle lineup with the CZ 600+, a design that delivers on the company's promise of a switch-barrel platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.