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

Stuart 45 Pistol Pre War Manuevers Web Main
Stuart 45 Pistol Pre War Manuevers Web Main

Guns Of The U.S. Tankers In World War II

Since the end of World War II, debates have raged about the effectiveness of American armored fighting vehicles in that conflict. Despite all the Monday morning armored quarterbacking, American AFVs were war-winners, driven to victory by some the finest fighting men our nation has ever produced.

MidwayUSA Foundation Awards Over $14 Million In Cash Grants In 2025

In honor of National Shooting Sports Month—held annually in August—along with the growing popularity of the sport with new participants, MidwayUSA Foundation announced it has distributed more than $14.2 million in cash grants to support youth shooting sports in 2025.

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.