Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles This has me stumped.

OK help me out with this one.

WBY 338-378 WBY Mag Accumark. This is the best she will do! This is 104 gr IMR 7828. 225 Accubond at 3250 fps. Every load shot like this (all 225 AB's)



Now I have not tested flat based bullets yet but do you think boat tails can make this much of a huge difference?

It is bedded from the factory and it has a very sturdy optic set up. Talleys and SWFA SS 3x15.

What say you?

I'm loading for a buddy's 338-378 WBY and his didn't like the 225 A-bond either.

We were loading H1000 (his components) but the groups were similar and disappointing.

We settled on 225gr Barnes TTSX and H1000.

I was thinking a 200gr E-Tip or the 185gr GMX at speed would be perfect for his Elk load but he a believer in a big chunk of a bullet.

Holler if you want to try some leftover components!

Probably the bedding isn't right. Not if it is factory original. They (some Wby's at least) are not bedded FLAT, but bent into shooting position by the action screws. Bad way of doing things.

If you don't want to modify the factory stock, you need to buy a torque wrench and torque the action screws

!. to factory specs, then
2. play around with them to find the sweet spots if you need to.

Or: rip out the factory bedding and bed it properly.

I did this to a friend's rifle here in Kotzebue. It went from 5 inch groups (screws tightened snug without torque wrench) to MOA or less, no torque wrench needed.

His had an aluminum bedding plate in it, which needed milling out to flat-bed the receiver and barrel properly into the stock, which we did not have access to, so his barrel climbs upward toward the front of the stock, but the SOB shoots!. Which is what he wanted.

Just another good reason to avoid Weatherbys.

I torqued the screws at 65 inch lbs as directed by weatherby

65 in/lbs? Wow, that's pretty tight. Remington's "sweet spot" is right around 50 lbs. Might want to play with that. I remember reading a review on a Weatherby rifle at one time, and they couldn't get it to shoot. They loosened up the actions screws and it started shooting 1/2" groups.

Maybe the gun just doesn't do well with that bullet. Try another bullet just to see. If you get consistant results with 2 bullets, it is pointing to something other than a load issue.

I would try flat base bullets. My Varmint Master 22-250 didn't like boat tails and I was told Weatherbys have long throats even with standard cartridge. Some like boat tails buy many don't. YMMV

I'd seat em as long as the mag allows and bump the pressures another 100 fps with Retumbo.

I'd try another bullet and powder combo. Maybe a 225 grain NP and H-1000.

I have some 210 partitions and some 225 Sierra pro hunters. I will try them. I did try 3 different powders with the. 225 AccuBonds but they all were a no go.

You FLINCH !!



Jerry

Most factory 'bedding' is anything but well-done. So many things could be the problem. Is the barrel free-floated? How's the crown? Have you tried less-than-max velocity? If those groups are at 100 yrds, what are they like at 200 ( many BT bullets don't stabilize until further downrange)?

3 inches plus at 100 is not likely a bullet problem. The 1:10 twist is perfect for just about any 338 bullet, but I assume you know that. I think bedding, scope/mount issue or a very bad barrel. I had a Kimber rifle that shot like that and a new barrel shrunk groups to 1/2" with 225 TTSX.

IMO,try the 225 gr Sierras next,if those don't shoot well,then it is the rifle or possibly the scope/mounts.

I say you have had an astounding string of luck with your Weatherbys. It appears to now be over....

I won a Weatherby in a raffle one time, it was chambered in 270 Winchester, it was supposed to be the Grand Prize!

That is what I am thinking. The scope is a proven 3x15 Super Sniper SWFA in Talley rings. I might try the 225 AB's again at maybe 40-inch lbs of torque just to see if there is a difference.

Hey, worst case scenario she goes back to WBY. They are guaranteed to shoot well right?

The scope is proven,then my guess is the bedding. I would try the Sierras first just to see what happens and use the 40 inch lbs of torque. If there is an improvement in accuracy,then try the Accubonds.

If that does not work,send back to Weatherby.

They are guaranteed to shoot well using Weatherby factory ammo. Just for the hell of it, buy a box of Weatherby factory ammo and see what's what. If it still sucks you can always say that you tried the factory stuff in addition to handloads. Beware, look at the price for factory ammo sitting down........You can always reuse the brass.

http://www.weatherby.com/338-378-wby-mag.html

If anything, duplicate COAL. I would try seating deeper and work your way out. Don't get too hung up on barely fitting the magazine.

They were not mag length. More like 3.65"