Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Weatherby fans?

Consistently the most accurate rifles I own. All of them shoot well under 1" in calibers 257, 7mm, 300 and 340 (2). If by some chance you wind up with a lemon, Weatherby will make it right. I realize that Weatherbys arguably produce more emotions than any other rifle out there and I can understand folks who don't care for their looks or the cartridge expense, but those who claim of their innacuracy, I suspect have an agenda. jorge

I wouldn't say they have an agenda- I too have heard of and or seen Wby's that don't won't shoot. That being said I wouldn't say all wby's can't won't shoot.

Remember the danger of usind the words "all" and "never" when talking bout rifles.

I'm sure ther is some of the percieved "elietism" that goes with owning one of Roy's guns but - today I really don't know anybody that can honestly say that because they spent the $$ on a WBy it means they are wealthy. (should be idolized) Look at the $$ you can spen just on the 24hcf rifle of choice or anything built by Echols, Miller, Sisk, Dakota ect.

I really don't care what pedigree the gun has- unless we are talking about the like of one of the ones I said earlier. Then I know why someone tells me 7 grand for an 06.

Teal: I stand by what I said. In my experience, they are the most accurate rifles ( on average) that I own. As far as the agenda, the "usual suspects" always show up on this one claiming they owned several and none would shoot. Sorry, but I'm not buying that. Have there been innaccurate WBYs? no doubt, but as I alluded, Weatherby will do their level best to make it right. jorge

Oh - I in no way doubt your expirences, I just do not know why someone would badmouth a particular rifle - ANY rifle. (unless that rifle blew up 9 times out of 10 injuring others)

I understand having problems with one but I don't know why someone would go to the trouble of making others think ALL xyz rifles are junk !


I love Rugers- but I had a 300 WM that just would not shoot (1.75 to 3 in groups all over the target- prob a scope prob but I just could not get it right- got a smokin deal on an 06 so the 300 went.) - got rid of it - I would never deny I have had a problem with that particular rifle- I would not then say all Rugers are junk.

I agree with WB COMPLETELY. I have 13 Weatherby rifles, 11 Mark V Deluxe's and 2 XXII's, and all will shoot better than the guarantee states. In fact all will shoot MOA or better. Oh, by the way their shotguns are great too. Lawdog
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I always wanted one but heard some much trash talk about them I never bit the bullet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I found a ss/syn in 270 weatherby at a price I couldn't pass up. That thing can shoot! Even the groups I shot while breaking in the barrel. I got kinda burned by some gunsmiths and got tired of dumping alot of money into so called "customes", that weren't. That MkV was a steal compared to other guns in my safe without all the work. I still have an itch to pimp it out, but keep fighting the urge because is works so well right out of the box. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I don't have an agenda. But I have shot several Weatherby rifles, most were 257's and one of those was an AcuraMark. None would shoot as well as any of the Remington 700's or the Ruger tang M77's that I or my buddies own. One friend bought a 257 FiberMark. Could not make it shoot to his expectations and traded it for the AccuraMark. The AcuaMark shot a little better but not up to the 700 Sendero's. In fact the only rifle I have shot in a Weatherby chambering that was really accurate was a 240 Weatherby built on a 700 action.

I know all about the one inch group guarantee, yes those rifles would shoot to that standard...just barely and no better. Heck even an ugly Savage will shoot better than the free bored Weatherby's.

Again, I'm sure some of you have Weatherby's that will really shoot. But I am not willing to bet the price of a Weatherby that I will get one that does. I'd rather hedge my bets on a Remington 700 and my ability to fine tune it. But that's just my rathers, your mileage may vary.

I like the looks of the Weatherby shotguns too. Why is it that I don't see them used at a skeet or sporting clays event?

The warranty is 1 1/2 moa from a cold barrel with factory ammo.My 257 Fibermark needed just exactly as much tuning as the Remingtons I have and like.
120 NP at 3425 fps and long case life.First shot from a cold fouled barrel always in a 2 in. bull at 200 yds. from the high seat on my jeep.
That's why I like my WBY. I've got less $$ in it than a couple of customs that stay home when me and the Roy go a-huntin'.

& a Pinto with the windows rolled down will get you from Dallas to Houston in the summer ... your point? Looks like your spending too much money, time to trade those custom 700 and M77's in on some Savages? ... What ... no? Didn't think so! Did larry or agree feed you that line?

Teal: I think a couple of the posts after mine proves my point regarding the "usual suspects". BTW, for the unenlightened, the Weatherby guarantee is 1.5" not 1". Sako has the 1" guarantee. The "worst" Weatherby I've owned is a .75" shooter, the best 3/8". jorge

Agree with jorge1, never seen a Weatherby that would not shoot sub moa with an experienced shooter doing the work with a proper load. Out of the box the Accumarks are the most accurate I have run accross. I am talking about hunting rifles here. I have seen Remington 700 300 Ultra's that would not shoot out of the box due to poor stock bedding....did I consider it to be typical of Remington's quality...no way...they are good rifles! I have a hard time understanding some "postings" which advise several Weatherby's would not shoot....I have owned more than a dozen of the Weatherby and shot dozens more...everyone capable of sub moa. The Accumarks I have experience with (either owning or reloading for friends), a total of 8 rifles, all shoot sub 1/2 moa and this has been proven out to 800 yds (target shooting 30-378's and 338-378's). I also have a Remington 700 SS 5-R 308 which I just bought a week ago. I bought the rifle to improve my shooting at long range (less recoil, muzzle blast to deal with) this gun will shoot sub .250" at 100 yards. I was so impressed with the rifle I bought another one this past weekend. My point is that most rifles I run accross can shoot, however, all manufactuers can produce lemons I just have never run across a Weatherby that would not shoot.

Had my Mk-5 257 wby for 20 years now...when we're hunting bucks and bulls, it's the only rifle I'll use...has never let me down. Now when we're shooting does..then it's time for the mauser, springfield, herters, ar-15 and other toys...gotta get a little blood on all of them....but it's Weatherby when it counts.

jorgeI I can see your point- I just do not believe ALL Wby rifles are shooters or all "any rifle" aren't shooters (Rugers come to mind).



I have seen some Wby's that are not. Buddy of mine had a 300 wby- he is a good "driver" and just could not get that rifle to shoot- he did not send it in but traded a guy for an a-bolt and $$ - I never saw the rifle again- I hope it worked for the other guy - don't wamt to screw somebody over, maybe he sent it in, I dunno.



Would I buy a Wby? - Yes They can be a very sexy looking rifle- that warrenty is there too.

Would I buy only a Wby? - No variety is the spice of life.

Would I buy a rifle in a wby caliber? - I don't know.... the 257 intrigues me as does the 300 but I do not know enough about all the gremlins that come with so much freebore (good and bad) . Plus unless I am a handloader the Wby line of ammo costs way too much - I could never afford to shoot it.



If I could find a Wby for a good price I would like to have one just to say I do, prob is just that finding one that I like. The walmart Vanguard strikes me as being to cheezy (stock just seemed really flimsy on the ones I handled) and I have no I dead where to get an accumark - that seems to be the one everybody loves here!



Maybe a question is - " Is the Weatherby worth getting in a non Wby caliber?"













regards,

Does anybody know if the Mark V's in standard calibers are freebored? I've seen one post on another forum that stated the standard caliber Weatherby's are not. I'd love to have Mark V but don't want the added weight and length of the rifles chambered in Weatherby calibers. Don't really need that much juice for my hunting anyway.

BigHorn,

No. Freebore is part of a Weatherby's chambering. Unless you order a custom rifle and specify no freebore (and the 'smith will do it ... not all will), any factory rifle (Sako, Winugerton) chambered for let's say 300 WBY, will have freebore.

Andrew: Great post and I also buy other rifles than WBYs. As to the calibers, you mentioned two of my favorites, the other being the 340. I reload too and that's the fun part. Up to 1985, Weatherby used to publish the Weatherby Guide. In it, they use to publish load data including a "factory equivalent" load using Norma MRP powder and Hornady & Nosler Partitons as those were the only two they loaded back then. That way I can shoot to the same POI as factory. The 257 is my favorite for deer. I have never seen any other cartridge "electrify" deer like that 257 with 100gr Hornady Interlocks. I guess I just fell prey to Roy's advertising genius as a young lad but I'm glad I did! jorge

Love the 257 Wby. Just picked up my second 257 WBY. Very, very flat shooting.

Here's my ballistic table for it:

Load 100 grain Barnes XLC
77 grains H-1000
Federal Premium Nickle 257 WBY case
Federal 215 primer

Calculated Table
Elevation: 4.289 moa
Azimuth: 0.000 moa

Range Velocity Energy Momentum Drop Windage Lead Time
(yards)(ft/sec)(ft-lbs) (lbs-sec) (inches) (inches) (inches) (sec)
0 3521.3 2753.1 1.56 -1.5 -0.0 0.0 0.000
50 3390.2 2551.9 1.51 0.4 0.0 7.6 0.043
100 3262.8 2363.8 1.45 1.5 0.0 15.6 0.089
150 3139.1 2187.9 1.39 1.8 0.0 23.8 0.135
200 3018.6 2023.2 1.34 1.2 0.0 32.4 0.184
250 2901.4 1869.1 1.29 -0.3 0.0 41.3 0.235
300 2787.2 1724.9 1.24 -2.9 0.0 50.6 0.288
350 2676.0 1590.0 1.19 -6.6 0.0 60.3 0.343
400 2567.6 1463.8 1.14 -11.5 0.0 70.4 0.400
450 2462.1 1345.9 1.09 -17.7 0.0 80.9 0.460
500 2359.3 1235.9 1.05 -25.3 0.0 91.8 0.522


Sighted 1.5" high @ 100, dead on @ 250 yds, less than a foot low @ 400. Retains enough energy @ 500 yds to be effective on deer sized game if you care to shoot that far.

What's not to like?

Regards,

Bob

"if the smith will do it?" If he does, he better have a good insurance policy. It is my understanding that it is not safe to shoot a weatherby mag cartridge in a custom barrel without freebore as the pressure will be at dangerous levels.

Wouldn't that non-freebore Wby rifle's dangerous pressure be negated by your handloads? But then I suppose you lose all the reasons to own a weatherby over the others (that being increased velocity due to increased pressure available because of the amount of freebore).

Whats a real world price on an accumark? I think the wby site has them for like $1700 (IIRC).