I ran into a dead-new condition, 20 year-old Mark V Weatherby in 7mm Weatherby Magnum at a pawn shop this week. This rifle had really great wood, was well-fitted, and came with the old #1 contour 24" barrel. It was such a sweet Mark V and such a dirt-cheap buy that i couldn't help myself and it came home with me.

Now, who has worked with this cartridge? Any and all insights and advice would be greatly appreciated!

AD

As Long as it's not a German gun you should be OK. Up until mid 1967, the German (Sauer)built guns had 12" twist barrels that would not stabilize 175gr. and some 160gr. bullets. They went to a 9" twist afterwards and all was well with the world. Enjoy your new gun.

Alan, I have worked up loads in four different 7mm Weatherby Mag rifles over the years. It is a very easy cartridge to load for and offers a little more performance than the 7mm Rem Mag.

In generalities I would say that you will get best performance with lighter bullets when using such powders as H 4350, IMR 4831, H 4831 or RL 22. H 4831 works really well with the 140 grain bullet range.

I have shot some really good groups with H 4831 and the Nosler 140 Ballistic Tip. I shot a coyote with that load at 400 yards the other day and he never even kicked.

With heavier bullets try RL 22, RL 25, or IMR 7828. I have actually had the best luck with IMR 7828 in all four of the rifles I tested.

Be sure to use a hot primer, I prefer the Federal 215M.

I use Remington brand cases, but I do not think they are available any longer. I have heard from other sources that nickel plated Federal cases in this caliber have less powder capacity than others. Don't mix brands.

My all time favorite load for the 7mm Wby Mag consists of a Remington case, a Fed 215M primer, 72 grains of IMR 7828, and a 160 Nosler Partition. In my own Remingotn 700 Classic this load gives close to 3200 fps and groups that average about 3/4 inch. Pretty good long range medicine, I think.

Enjoy your new rifle, R F

Allen,

I purchased a 7mm Wea. Mag. Mrk V myself about 6 months ago and I've been working w/ different loads in the rifle. During hunting season my range work came to a halt but, the season wraps up tommorrow and I'm fixin' to hit the range very soon.

I tried stout loads of R22 under 150 grn. Nosler Solid Bases and Sierra 160 grn SPBTs w/ the Sierras coming out on top at 200 yards.

This weekend I loaded up some Speer 145 grn Grand Slams over R22, H4831, and IMR7828. Next Saturday I'll be heading out to the range to see which one of these combos gives the best accuracy. I'll be glad to chat w/ you about my results. If this rifle performs near as well as the three MarkV 270 Wea. Mags I've dealt w/ in the past, she oughta be a keeper.

I will tell ya a pretty funny thing that happened to me at the local range last summer: I had several of my rifles out at our local public range, the two largest were 7mm RM and that 7 Weatherby. There was a hunter's safety course being taught to several youngsters on the skeet range behind me. I had been alternating three shot groups w/ my rifles giving each barrel time to cool when a few folks gathered around and said "What is that really loud rifle your shooting?". Well that'd be the Weatherby. So I guess that Weatherby even sounds like it has alot more punch.

Good Luck w/ your new rifle.

God bless!

Reloader

Allen, I don't own one, but my younger brother does and I have done a bunch of loading for it. His is easier to load for than the 7mm Remingtons I've worked with and it loves the 160 gr partition. Best of all though, is the fact that his has taken Whitetail, Muledeer, Pronghorn, Bear, Elk, Bighorn, Moose........with nary a hitch.

Chuck

Allen: RFlowers' info mirrors mine. I used to load to original specs using the Old Wetherby Guide and Norma MRP. However, since MRP is no longer available, I've found a great load using 140gr Triple Shocks, It consists of 74gr of H-4831, either Norma or Weatherby Brass, CCI-250 primers ( They work better with this particular load then the standard Fed 215s). I seat the bullets to the same OAL as factory Weatherby 130gr Hornadys. So far I've shot six, three shot groups, the largest was .87" the smallest .29". I'll email you the Weatherby loading data today, complete with pressure numbers. jorge

RL 25 and 160 grain Barnes X bullets shot well in mine. I have 3 different boxes of factory ammo with a total round count of 45 and some brass if anyone is interested at $50 shipped for it.

Thank you, gentlemen, for all of the advice. I have plenty of Reloader 22, IMR 7828, and H 4831 on hand, so it looks like I can get started.

How to you guys handle the Weatherby freebore in terms of seating depth, or does magazine length make that determination?

AD

Allen,

I've been seating to what my Magazine will let me. It's still a good bit off the lands.

Good Luck!

Reloader

Allen,

Just seat them to standard over all length with new or full sized brass.

If your Wby has a freebore diameter that is too big then you will pull your hair out and still have not much to show for it. If bedding, scope and barrel OK and the rifle looks like it is trying to shoot but is plagued by flyers and often big flyers then over size freebore is often the culprit.

If the freebore is close to bullet diameter then they will shoot at standard overall length with new or full sized brass.

If the freebore is close to bullet diameter then the best loads will be comparable to a normal chamber from an equal barrel. However, in my experience they usually shoot well with less loads. On the other hand they are usually less fussed by different fouling conditions etc.

High velocities with powders that are faster then one would normally consider for the capacity/bore are common with Weatherbys.

Lastly, in a Wby that will shoot, very often the factory ammo with Hornady bullets will outshoot most loads, unless you have some Norma powder.

7mm and 224 are the only two that I have not had at some stage

Mike

Allen, you have a PM

Chuck

Allen and others,

The 145 grain Speer Grand Slams didn't work out in the Mark V today. I didn't get anything even resembling a group, most groups were 2.5-3.5". I tried R22, H4831, and IMR7828. The 160 Sierra BTSPs are still shooting the best right now in that rifle. I think I'll try the 140 Accubonds next w/ the same three powders.

Reloader

allen,

I no longer own the rifle, but looking back at my old loading notes, 69-71 grs of H4831 and Sierra 160's gave good results.

Just got back from the range myself gents, to verify what I posted above. Had an off day, groups "opened up" to 3/4" but they still shoot almost exatly the same as factory 139gr Hornadys. I think that with the 140gr XXX, I can shoot just about anything (in terms of penetration) that a conventional 160-175gr used to do. Thoughts ? jorge

Jorge
That is exactly why I loaded them.I do think that they are going to shed petals on impact(to much velocity)making it very important to hit bone.

R Flowers
I tried the load you posted above.I now get 5/8"groups with a bullet that never shot very well in my gun.I am happy.Thanks

I also played with the 154 interbond,WBY brass,F215 primers.I got good groups(1/2 to 5/8") with 72 gr H4831,74 gr IMR 7828 and 77.5 gr H1000.My pick is the H1000 load.

Does anyone know of a good source for Weatherby brass? How expensive is it?

Allen ----- I load a real sweet 7mm Wby for a buddy. The most accurate load is 70 grains of RL-22 and a Fed 215M primer with either 160 grain North Fork or Failsafe bullets. It will shoot a ragged hole all day if the shooter is capable. He mounted a 6.5 X 20 Leupold scope on it to make a very nice Elk rifle. Good luck and good shooting.

Elkhunter

I believe norma makes wby brass. Be prepared to pay about a buck a case unless someone else knows of a discounter for it. You can always get 7 wby from remington or federal and aneal cases should last for 6 plus reloads.

Elkhunter

$19.95/20 at Bob Wards right there in Bozo.The Powder Horn should have it also

Alittle more load info on the 7mm Weatherby:

Two bullets today: the 140 grain Accubond and 140 grain Triple Shock. I tried IMR7828, R22, and H4831.

The Triple Shock and IMR7828 combo came out on top for accuracy w/ 74 grains shooting right around 1/2".

The 140 ABs did best w/ R22 (73 grns). I tried 7828 w/ the ABs but, no good groups.

I'll try to get a speed reading on these before too long. It's hard to deal w/ a crony at a public range.

Good Luck!

Reloader

Wanted to bring this back up to top, Reloader, did you ever get speed readings on your loads? New 7wby for me, figuring out where I want to start!!

thanks.

kh

A beautifull made in Japan Mk V followed me home from the local gun shop several years ago. I tried every 150 to 160 gr bullet on the market and almost every slow burning powder and the best I could get were 2 to 3 inch groups. I was set to rebarrel when I decided to try some lighter bullets. Loaded up some 139 gr Hornady Interbonds and was amazed at the 3/4 in groups at 200 yds. Used that combination to take several nice bucks in a "bean field" situation,only here in Manitoba it was an alfafa field. I tried the 140 gr TSX bullets when they came out and found they produced a 3 shot one ragged hole @ 200yds. Thats all I shoot in this rifle now. I found out later the original owner had traded the rifle because he couldn't get it to shoot heavier bullets either.