Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats freebore or not

I am putting a 257 Roy together, the smith gave me the choice of having freebore or not, he says most of the guys he builds them for request it without and then he marks on the barrel that it has no freebore. What would you guys do? Thanks in advance for your input.

I am putting a 257 Roy together, the smith gave me the choice of having freebore or not, he says most of the guys he builds them for request it without and then he marks on the barrel that it has no freebore. What would you guys do? Thanks in advance for your input.

I opted two times to leave the freebore in, and no regrets.

They can still shoot lights out. Trust me.

Besides, you never know who is going to stuff factory ammo in it, and some of that Norma stuff can be hot!

I know others will disagree, but I'm two for two with freebore.

rb

Without

Like Rick says-safety first. Most of the fellas that elect to go without freebore usually load down from the reloading manuals. If you aren't a reloader go free bore, but if you reload its your call. The reason Roy developed the freebore- It was the only way that he could increase velocity at that particular time. Weatherby ammo is loaded to the balls and are designed to be fired from free bore rifles-so beaware of this factor. Correct me if I'm wrong fellas. I have 3 Bees and all are free bore and all shoot shoot well as advertised.

I chose freebore on the one I'm having built, just in case I wanted to (or needed to) shoot factory fodder.

-Dan

I'd build it with free bore. My 257W, with free bore, stacks bullets. As Rick said, accuracy isn't a issue. Even the bench rest guys are moving to using free bore because of its velocity enhancing benefits and thus less wind drift.
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Last part was a joke for those ..........

best think this through and take some measurements. do you know what bullet you'll usually load, and if you want to seat a certain bullet long to get near the lands. can you get it to fit the mag. box when seated long? can you get a certain amount of freebore or is it a set length? It also could be done later easier than setting back to remove it later.

If you ever intend to shoot factory ammo & to enhance re-sell value to a non-reloader, leave the freebore in.

JMHO

MM

If you reload without.

Those of you who said without, Why?

I imagine they think it a aid to accuracy. Hasn't been my experience and I would also hazzard a guess that pressure would run higher in a non free bore rifle to get the same velocity as a free bore rifle.

Years ago they did a study of sort on freebore in a 308,308 Norma Mag and 300 Wby at no freebore,1/2",1",2",factory for the 300Wby. The rifles with no freebore shot alittle faster in the 300Wby no freebore to factory rifle shooting factory ammo the Wby rifle had alittle less pressure not much as most rifles with 2" freebore. I had a 300Wby build I had it throated for Wby ammo and I can shoot the same ammo in that rifle as I do my factory Wby only difference is I get appr 150fps more velocity.

I'm not saying one is better but there has to be a reason most reloading manual mention special loading if no freebore in the Wby. My custom 300Wby shoot pretty good and the barrel is marked. Well good luck

I like the WBY factory "freebore" throat myself for two reasons.

1. You can shoot factory ammo in stock chamber if needed.
2. Factory chambered guns are much easier to to sell if you want to sell compared to wildcat chambers.

Just a thought, but the .257 is known as a bit of a barrel burner, what if you were to ream it with no freebore, then when the throat started to erode after a few hundred rounds, you could ream freebore in and have a new throat?
Makes sense to me.

If the chamber, leade etc are cut straight it don't hurt a thing. If they ain't, get another smith.

Steelhead, Which scenario are you talking about,freebore or not?

Freebore.

thanx

Point being, if everything is cut correctly a little jump ain't a problem.