A Weatherby Man in Alaska

by
posted on June 1, 2011
zent2015_fs.jpg

Over the past two weeks I made a new friend, Craig Hill, from Galena, Alaska. Craig was my guide for the unforgettable adventure of a brown bear hunt on the Alaska coast. Although our long days glassing and looking for bears were mostly spent in silence, we took time to get acquainted, too. I learned that Craig is always good-natured, upbeat and funny, but when it’s time to get after the quarry he’s as focused as they come.

Quite naturally we talked guns, and for Craig, that primarily means Weatherby rifles. He has owned a bunch of them, all Mark Vs, and particularly favors some of the more recent iterations in chamberings based on the .378 Wby. Mag. case. That now includes .30-378, .338-378 and, of course, the original. Case capacity tops 100 grains of propellant, so needless to say, all are extremely potent, right up there with the fastest, and hardest-hitting in their respective classes.

On our hunt Craig was carrying his .378 Wby. Mag., big-fist reassurance indeed, in the event we got into trouble with a 1,000-pound bruin. By way of comparison, its cartridges dwarfed the .375 H&H rounds some of the other guys were shooting. Muzzle velocity of those 275-grain Weatherby/Barnes TSX factory loads tops 3,000 fps; energy at 200 yards is nearly 4,700 ft.-lbs.; and the recoil is, well, legendary, even in big-bore circles. If ever there was a rifle that lives up to the old saw about “kills on both ends,” this is it.

While it’s not uncommon to meet shooters who are very brand loyal, Craig’s got to be an extreme case. When not guiding, his regular job is heavy-equipment operator on Alaska’s North Slope oilfields, a tough way to earn a living in some of the world’s harshest conditions. And so his willingness to pay the premium price for all those Mark Vs (“They are spendy,” he says) confirms his devotion.

But here’s the real eye-opener: Guides’ guns in Alaska have got to be as durable, hard-working and foolproof as their owners. Deserved or not, Weatherbys have a sort of fancy-pants image associated with well-off trophy hunters who don’t exactly put their gear through the ringer. Well, Craig Hill’s not having any of that, and to the contrary, is proof that the classic Mark V can be a working pro in America’s greatest game country.

Latest

New Guns Gear Nraam 2025 F (1)
New Guns Gear Nraam 2025 F (1)

New Guns & Gear At The 2025 NRA Show

The 154th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, held at the Georgia World Congress Center, April 24-27, was teeming with new guns and gear. Here's a taste of what you can see on the show floor.

Gun Of The Week: Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Hunter

Welcome to American Rifleman’s Gun Of The Week. For this episode, we have a version of Smith & Wesson’s Model 1854 lever-action that’s specifically made for field use. Meet the Model 1854 Stealth Hunter.

The Armed Citizen® April 25, 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.

The Great FN Gun Giveaway At NRAAM 2025

Here’s a chance to win a custom, one-of-a-kind FN 545 Tactical pistol at the 154th NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, April 24-27, in Atlanta, Ga. No purchase necessary.

Training With Moving Targets

Most target shooters understand static or bullseye-type stationary targets quite well, but did you know that adding motion into your training routine will improve practical marksmanship and the skills necessary to conquer defensive situations?

USA Shooting Celebrates 30th Anniversary

USA Shooting marks a historic milestone in April as it celebrates 30 years as the national governing body for international shooting sports within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.