I found this on the net, very interesting reading.
Testing the Mark V Action This fifth and final prototype action had been built with the help of a newly-hired engineer, Fred Jennie. It was even more streamlined, and also incorporated a new simplified trigger and safety mechanism to reduce tooling and manufacturing costs. Was this the safest action ever produced, as Weatherby claimed? Roy thought that, finally, it was time to subject his new action to vigorous performance tests. Built on the prototype action, a rifle in .300 Weatherby Magnum caliber was used for the tests. Prior to any firing, careful measurements were taken of the diameter of the bolt face housing, head space measurements were recorded, and all other pertinent dimensions. The first test firing was with a cartridge that had been loaded with 82 grains of 4350 DuPont powder, using the 180-gr. bullet. This load gave an average breech pressure of 65,000 psi. After firing, there was no sign of pressure and extraction was easy. The same 82-gr.load was fired in the Mauser action and a slight sticking of the cartridge case resulted. Four more loads with the powder charge being increased in two-grain increments were prepared, each one using 4350 powder and the 180-gr. bullet. After firing the 84-gr.load, there was still no sign of pressure and no sticking of the cartridge case, even though the breech pressure had been increased to almost 75,000 psi. When firing this 84-gr load in the Mauser action, it caused a blown primer and it was almost an impossibility to extract the cartridge case. When the load was increased to 86 grains in the Mark V, the cartridge case began to show signs of pressure, but it still did not stick and extracted easily. Breech pressures were 85,000 to 95,000 psi. A measurement of this fired cartridge case showed that it had stretched at the belt by .0005 inches. When the 88-gr.load was fired in the Mark V with pressures in the neighborhood of 100,000 psi, there was a slight sticking of the cartridge case making the bolt slightly difficult to open, but the cartridge case could still be easily extracted. In measuring the belt again, it had now swelled .002 of an inch, from .533 to .535. For the final test the cartridge case was filled with powder, leveling it off at the top. This was 90 grains of powder. Mter firing, the bolt was difficult to open, but without exerting too much pressure it could be opened and the case extracted. There were now extreme signs of pressure on the case, but no gas had escaped back into the magazine and the primers showed very slight signs of leaking. The belt of the cartridge case still measured .535 inches. Mter this firing, a difference between the outside diameter of the head of the bolt and the inside diameter of the barrel of .004 inches (or .002 a side) was noted. Even with this terrific overload, there was still no swelling or damage to any part of the bolt, receiver or barrel. The head space was checked between each test firing and at no time was there any change noted in the head space. Weatherby was extremely excited after these tests, and felt certain that the Mark V would be the safest action of all time! Some time later, after additional working models of this prototype had been produced, one last experiment was made. A 180-gr. .30 caliber bullet was lodged in the throat of the barrel. A standard load of 78 grains of 4350 and the 180-gr. bullet was chambered and fired, with the following results: both bullets traveled out the barrel, pressures were tremendously high, the primer was pierced letting gases enter the interior of the bolt, hitting the firing pin sleeve which acted as a piston, loosening the bolt sleeve cap somewhat. The bolt was opened by hand. The cartridge case remained in the chamber, but no problem was involved in tapping it out with a steel rod. The case appeared to be in very good condition with the exception of the primer being pierced. In checking the dimensions of the barrel and action, it was found that the barrel in front of the receiver ring expanded from 1.147 inches to 1.1496 inches. The diameter of the bolt head expanded from. 7178 to. 7190. Head space increased from .2163 to .2174. All other dimen- sions remained the same as prior to the test. This experiment was repeated 15 additional times. The severest test was when a 220-gr. bullet was placed in the bore, and a standard 180-gr. round fired in back of it. On this particular firing, the head diameter of the cartridge increased to .545 inches. It was also noted after these additional IS firings that the head space was set back a mere .001. This was truly the ultimate in tests for the strength and safety of this remarkable new action. __________________ skipper
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That article about FRED JENNIE must have been around the 1960's. ROY WEATHERBY put out the design ritera around the middle 1950's and FRED JENNIE did all the design work and fabrication at WEATHERBY request.
Thus saith thr lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeh from the lord. Jeremiah 17:5 KJV