Is it worth it?

[bruno86]

I just picked up a brand new unfired Weatherby Mark V SS for dirt cheap. Is it worth building a budget rifle off this action? I never had a Weatherby so im familiar with them. I picked this rifle up in .270. Its been sitting in the rear of a gun shop for years untouched. The barrel has very slight pitting on it but everything else is perfect. Build or not to build my version of the Weatherby TRR? Are Weatherby's actions any better than rem 700's?

 

[tsavo303]

Re: Is it worth it?

Well see how its shoots first...
can you use a .270 or do you need a .338-06 or .25-06 or what?
Rem I am guessing is easier to work with
fun to see the possibilities

 

[Mike]

Re: Is it worth it?

Wetherby's are great actions although the older ones were better. They earned their reputation with excellent hunting rifles. Is it worth it to build on? That depends. It depends on if you find a smith who's familiar with Wetherbys, it depends on how much you're willing to put into it, it depends on if you're willing to dump money into a rifle that will be very good, but you may not get your resale price for it.

Personally, I would own a tuned Weatherby in a heartbeat.

 

[bruno86]

Re: Is it worth it?

So basically ill have pretty much the same wrapped up in this action as if I were to true up a Rem 700? The action is silky smooth and I like how it feels. I figured just throw on a custom barrel of choice and get the B&C tactical Weatherby stock, true the action and whip up a good trigger and BAM! Just might have a rifle that will out perform a factory TRR. OR...... just sell and buy a Stiller Predator action and start building.

 

[Mike]

Re: Is it worth it?

If it were me, I would do just what you described. Barrel, Stock, Trigger and BAM, you've got a great rifle. The main difference is when and if you go to sell it, you may not get top dollar. But to be honest, why would you sell it? Get a great caliber and shoot heck out of it.

I'm not a fan of the Stiller action so you know what direction I would go. However, it's your money and you need to make that decision.

 

[kbrady]

Re: Is it worth it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it were me, I would do just what you described. Barrel, Stock, Trigger and BAM, you've got a great rifle. The main difference is when and if you go to sell it, you may not get top dollar. But to be honest, why would you sell it? Get a great caliber and shoot heck out of it.

I'm not a fan of the Stiller action so you know what direction I would go. However, it's your money and you need to make that decision.</div></div>

+1

I remember back in the day when Weatherby rifles were used in the same sentence as Remington, Winchester and Savage. Weatherby has a very loyal following, albeit not as massive as the others I just named but so what, and with the aftermarket focusing on other brands, that says a lot.

Find a good smith who you know will do a good job, tell him what you want and get it done. Dare to be different!

When you get it all put together, show her off.

 

[bruno86]

Re: Is it worth it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I'm not a fan of the Stiller action so you know what direction I would go. However, it's your money and you need to make that decision. </div></div>

Any certain reason Mike? Im all ears.

 

[bruno86]

Re: Is it worth it?

Now..... Caliber????? 1000yds+ Im going to do some research.

 

[Action Guy]

Re: Is it worth it?

.280 AI. Should fit right in the action and on the bolt face.

And I'd give the Weatherby action a go. This question, of a long range tactical Weatherby, is asked rather requently on here. We could us an expert who has done it.

I would do it, too, if I had only a few hundred in a MkV action. Why not? I guess magazine style and capacity has hampered these projects because the Weatherby following is generally all hunting, not tactical.

Let us know what direction you go and how it turns out.

 

[HillBilly_Sniper]

Re: Is it worth it?

I dont think you could go wrong like all the post above get a good smith put a good stock, trigger, barrel and run the heck outta it! As far as caliber the 280AI would be a great round norma makes brass for it no fire forming and set it up with the 162 Amax good for long range as well as a good hunting round. Ive run the 162s out to 1000 with easy out of my 7mm rem mag.

 

[arborpro]

Re: Is it worth it?

I probably couldn't hold a candle to many of the shooters here. But i've never seen a weatherby in competition in either high-power, or long range tactical. your gonna find out your going to spend more and wait longer than you think to accurize your rifle why not go with a time proven platform. or just buy a howa barreled action.

 

[HillBilly_Sniper]

Re: Is it worth it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bruno86</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I saved money when I bought the brand new rifle for $300 bucks when they are listed for $1400 on their site. Now I can dump a lil more into a good trigger, barrel, stock and glass. </div></div>.

Okay I can understand that to a point. But with as cheap as you got it why not turn it over and make some money on it and buy a good remington or savage action not have to tune it as much or wait as long to have a gun put together just to hope that it'll work and work well to shoot a 1000 yards? Maybe its the price or maybe its the action not 100% sure but there has to be some reasoning behind why you don't see custom guns built on a weatherby action..... just my two cents tho

 

[jonbearman]

Re: Is it worth it?

I would say go for it.Ya got beans into it and what you do to it is purly up to you.It is only worth what anything subjective is to anyone else.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Is it worth it?

I think you have a good rifle, and sinking considerable bucks into isn't going to make it all that much better a rifle.

A Weatherby .270 is a great hunting rifle. A little pitting in the bore is honestly not likely to result in any kind of noticable inaccuracy.

Just clean up and maintain the bore and enjoy it for what it is; a really good hunting rifle. The .270 enjoys the virtues of good capability and easy availability. Run with that.

There are better rifles to build upon without getting out onto one of those thinner limbs.

Greg

 

[bruno86]

Re: Is it worth it?

Very true Greg.

 

[hewlett260]

Re: Is it worth it?

I built a custom tactical 300 Win Mag on the Mark V action seven years ago and still have it. The after market for it isn't bad just a little slim as far as variety. The rifle itself is very accurate and fun to shoot. Price and the time are going to be the same as any other action. Its smoother than any Remington once its broken in and the best part is its unique.
Build it, have fun with it, take care of it and it will take care of you. Appreciate it for what it is though, a BADASS hunting action.

 

[bruno86]

Re: Is it worth it?

Thanks

 

[XTR]

Re: Is it worth it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: arborpro</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I probably couldn't hold a candle to many of the shooters here. But i've never seen a weatherby in competition in either high-power, or long range tactical. your gonna find out your going to spend more and wait longer than you think to accurize your rifle why not go with a time proven platform. or just buy a howa barreled action. </div></div>
Big difference between a Howa/Vanguard action and a MkV. This one is the 9 lug 60 degree bolt.

I've always liked them, usually beautiful if nothing else, and as stated above, the 270 is a fine hunting round. Is it a 270 win or a 270 wby? If I recall correctly the 27Weatherby was Roy Weatherby's first Weatherby magnum round.


Take it out and shoot it. It might shoot well. If you start reloading for it I've read that stock Wby barrels tend to have very long throats. just a data point to know in advance.

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Is it worth it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XTR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: arborpro</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I probably couldn't hold a candle to many of the shooters here. But i've never seen a weatherby in competition in either high-power, or long range tactical. your gonna find out your going to spend more and wait longer than you think to accurize your rifle why not go with a time proven platform. or just buy a howa barreled action. </div></div>
Big difference between a Howa/Vanguard action and a MkV. <span style="font-weight: bold">This one is the 9 lug 60 degree bolt.</span>

I've always liked them, usually beautiful if nothing else, and as stated above, the 270 is a fine hunting round. Is it a 270 win or a 270 wby? If I recall correctly the 27Weatherby was Roy Weatherby's first Weatherby magnum round.


Take it out and shoot it. It might shoot well. If you start reloading for it I've read that stock Wby barrels tend to have very long throats. just a data point to know in advance.</div></div>

What I bolded is the problem with dumping a bunch of money into these. It costs a lot more to get the same job done as a Rem 700, Sav 10 or a post 64 Win 70. If you want to hunt with it, leave it as is. If you want it for a long range rifle, then I suggest selling it for the money for the parts to build a dedicated long range rifle.

As far as old vs. new Weatherby, I would take the new. It's all built on CNC machines now that can hold very tight tolerances. As compared to the old which were built on manual machines and didn't hold the tolerances the machining world is capable of today. I have a gunsmith friend who cringed every time someone came in wanting a Weatherby action trued up. He found that usually only about 4-6 lugs touch and of those 2-3 fit face to face all the way. They have gotten better IMO now.

But going back to the original issue, this design was only meant to hold 1.5" @ 100 yds. The rifle design really does do that well. Again, IMO, I don't think it lends itself well to long range precision. With rather obvious caveat. That is the bolt rides in the action the same diameter at that. While Savages, Howas, Mausers and even Remingtons and Winchesters feel loose in comparision this really doesn't do anything more than align the bolt with the cartridge and bore on loading. As long as the cartridge isn't being damaged during loading, this doesn't make a whole lot of difference. Being held true during firing though, I think makes a difference. A slight one, but noticeable. At least from what I've seen from the other actions that do that.