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I have shot a Browning A-Bolt in .300 WSM for nearly 10 years as my primary hunting rifle. It is a relatively cheap rifle, but it shoots very well and there is nothing wrong with it at all. However, I would like to upgrade to something nicer.....as I'm getting tired of the tupperware stock on the Browning. I have always liked the Weatherby Mark V rifles. Whatever I upgrade to needs to have a synthetic stock and I really like Weatherby's synthetic stocks.....they seem to be very high quality. I also really like the action of Weatherby rifle, since they have a lesser degree of "bolt throw" to open the action.....much like the design of my A-Bolt. My dilemma is that Weatherby does not offer the Mark V rifle in .300 WSM and I would like to keep that as my primary caliber. I know I could switch to .300 Win. Mag but I like the shorter total package of the WSM better. I prefer a 22" barrel instead of a 24".....and the shorter action of the WSM is nice too. That combined with a 22" barrel (instead of the standard 24" used on most Win. Mags) makes the entire gun nearly 3 inches shorter, which may not sound like a lot but it does affect the usability of the rifle for me. Does anyone know if you can rebarrel a Weatherby Mark V to be chambered in .300 WSM without breaking the bank? I would like to keep my next rifle under $2,500 (without optics). So, any suggestions? If this is not possible.....then can some of you recommend a good substitute rifle maker? It needs to be one of high quality, accurate, with stainless barrel, and with a high quality "Weatherby style" synthetic stock. In addition, I would prefer if it was not built on a Mauser action. I have nothing against Mauser actions, but this rifle will be topped with a large scope and I don't want my thumb scraping against the scope every time I have to work the bolt. I would very much appreciate your help with this. Thank you. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | ||
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Well the only thing we have in common is a dislike of tupperware stocks which usually means a fondness for fine furniture. The action is only 1/2" shorter so cutting 2" plus off the barrel is kinda fruitless IMO but it is a free country. The Mark V is capable of handling the 378 case which has a belted .580 face so having one milled to the .530 short mag should only cost money. The barrel swap is even more common and again just costs money. The issue is this, The 300 WSM is anorexic compared to the 300 weatherby and especially the 30-378 so why would they be interested in such a thing? I'll bet you a beer that that is why Weatherby has avoided them. Have you asked their custom shop to produce it for you? They will usually jump through hoops for their Mark V clients. Captain Finlander | |||
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I have not.....but I will. Thank you. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Actually I just looked, and the standard barrel length of the Mark V Accumark in .300 Win. Mag is 26"..... I just simply don't like a barrel that long on my everyday "go to" gun. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Eland Slayer, I'll try to address this more later but you might look at the sub-moa Vanguard, chambered in 300 WSM. I don't know if you've tried the Weatherby website or not but here is a link that might help! http://www.weatherby.com/produ...anguard/submoa_matte. GWB | |||
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Thanks for the suggestion. I've looked at them before....but honestly, I just want a little higher grade rifle than the Vanguard. I don't believe the Vanguard would be much different than my A-bolt. However, I'm not throwing that option out the window. It is a hell of a rifle for the price..... _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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E S, A rifle in the Mark V class is going to be in the $1,600 to $1,800 range if you buy it new. You could avail yourself of a Stainless Remington, Sako or Winchester action, an Accurate Innovations or McMillian stock, and choose the manufacturer,length and contour of your stainless barrel and chamber of your choice for that money. GWB | |||
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I may very well end up doing just that.....but I have absolutely no experience with building my own rifle. How do you go about having the chamber perfectly aligned with the barrel? Are there gunsmiths that specialize in this? Thanks for the help guys. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Just one guys opinion.....It's not at all hard to shorten it to the length you want.....IMO the only real damage done is the loss of resale value.....a lot of folks just won't buy it with a shorter barrel..... /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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ES, I wasn't suggesting that you build the rifle yourself. There are any number of Rifle smiths that would build you a rifle based on your specs. There are all kind of gunsmiths that can do whatever you want. A bunch here on AR. I happen to think that Cooper Rifles are rather neat. They have their model 52 long action and model 54 short action which are chambered in repeaters, you might look at the Phoenix, or the Excalibur . They are not yet chambering magnums, but rumor is that they will soon. www.cooperfirearms.com Another thought, Hill Country Rifle builds a semi custom rifle they call the Harvester Rifle. You might look at their website to see if they have any in stock already built. www.hillcountryrifles.com ER Shaw is now building rifles. www.ershawbarrels.com Savage rifles can be sexed up, you might look at "Sharp Shooter's Supply. Fred has just about everything Savage. www.sharpshootersupply.com Look at the classifieds here. Look at Auction Arms, Guns America, Gun Broker. Best GWB | |||
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You can get the Weatherby stock from Bell and Carlson inletted for your Browning. A lot cheaper than a new rifle. I think around $250 but, by all means, if you want a new rifle buy a new rifle. One can never have too many. | |||
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After a brain freeze, I was thinking pretty much the same thing. A finnlight or even a grey wolf. GWB | |||
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You might want to check out Nosler's Model 48 Custom Sporter. It has the features you are looking for and they are currently offering an $800 discount for NRA members. That would put one squarely in your price range. Lightweight, match grade stainless barrel, available in .300WSM. Nosler Model 48 Custom Sporter Bullets are pretty worthless. All they do is hang around waiting to get loaded. | |||
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I didn't know they would do that. Are you sure? I've never been able to find anyone who makes an aftermarket stock to fit the A-bolt. How do I go about getting that done? Bell & Carlson has a crappy website..... It would not be a substitute for the new rifle.....but it will hold me off until I am ready to buy a new one for sure. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Yeah. Better choice. I missed the part about him wanted a synthetic stock. All synthetics look like tupperware to me.  | |||
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I agree.....they aren't the best to look at, but for my everyday, rain or shine, "go to" gun.....I need a good, strong synthetic stock. For what it's worth, I do want to buy a Sako Bavarian one day too  _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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If we're dreaming, take a look at a Merkel K3 Jagd Stutzen. One of those break open single shots in a 7 x 57 would absolutely send a tingle up my leg. GWB | |||
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A friend of mine, well he used to be a friend, just beat me to a Sako Bavarian chambered in 6.5 x 55. He scored that little jewel for just under $800. Darn I could have had several weeks worth of braggin' rights on that deal, not to mention a sweet rifle. GWB | |||
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VERY nice..... If I'm ever in the market for a fancy single-shot.....I think I'll go with the Blaser K 95 Attaché Stutzen  _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Sounds like your buddy got a hell of a deal..... _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Seems like I posted about Lone Wolf Stock right in the middle of another post. Lone Wolf is some custom you must tell them what you want before they quote you a price. | |||
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ES In my old age I am tending toward non magnum chamberings and lower magnification/small objective scopes. The only negative I see is the extremely large objective of the scope. Here are couple of pix and thoughts!  Three different Sakos.The top rifle is a model 75 hunter chambered in 7mm WSM. The bottom is a Laminate Stainless Varmint, chambered in 260 Rem. Also features the set trigger which breaks at 9 oz. Although not a blue steel and wood beauty it is the next thing to a 1 holer with 130 gr. accubonds.  Although not exactly in the direction you are going, here is a Browning micro medallion (3 lug bolt). It has been tweaked. It has a stainless fluted medium heavy barrel that has been crowned at 22". After it was screwed on the action and barrel were teflon coated. The stock was bedded and the trigger reworked to break at +/- 20oz. It is a shooter. The coating does not oxidize and the oil finish can be touched up. I have used this rifle extensively in the hill country over the last 10 years. Nary a scratch on the action or barrel and I just touch up the stock with lemon oil. BTW it is chambered in 7mm-08. Best GWB | |||
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Nice rifles GW.....I like them all. I have absolutely nothing against non-magnum calibers. In fact, I just sold my Browning A-bolt Varmint .223 WSSM a few months ago to buy a Kimber stainless Pro Varmint in .223 Rem. I like it exponentially better. However, I love the .300 WSM for an all-around caliber. I've taken lots of deer, hogs.....all the way to a few Buffalo and an Eland with it....I just love the versatility of that cartridge, and I love it being a short action. We should sit down sometime to have a beer and talk guns..... _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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I'm having a glass of wine now as we talk guns. But no problem there. I got a couple of Shiner 101's in the cooler if I need to switch. Here is my fav' 300 WSM.  Winchester model 70 Supergrade, 300 WSM, 4 x 12 x 50 Sworovski Habicht Best GWB | |||
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You want to replace a Browning?  I love mine. Don't do it. The reasons you are wanting a Mark V action are the reasons I like the A Bolt. CDNN has some White Gold Medallions for only $919. Calibers are .270 Win, .270 WSM, .300 Win Mag, and 7mm Rem Mag. All good choices. LWD | |||
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Don't worry.....I won't be physically replacing it. I will only be replacing it as my "go to" gun. There's no way in hell I will ever sell it.....it's too accurate. I will use it a backup/loaner rifle. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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My mistake. The only thing I can find for an A-bolt on their website is a staight comb stock, but it might be worth sending them an e-mail to ask about it. I have a LH A-bolt hunter in 300wsm that I really enjoy. You are right about the accuracy and handling. Good luck in your search. | |||
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ES, I can understand your desire to upgrade to a higher "class" rifle - hey, we all have (somewhat irrational) desires from time to time, and rifles often play a part...  I can also appreciate your affection for the Wby MkV action. It is a very smooth action, the short bolt lift is attractive and the safety is very positive. I have to admit, though, that the MkV action would not be my first choice if my heart was set on one of the WSM cartridges. The MkV is long enough to take cartridges such as the .416 Rigby, so it would seem an illogical platform choice for a short action cartridge - quite apart from potential problems with magazine conversions and feeding of the WSM case. In addition to being very long, the MkV is also a pretty heavy proposition, and (for me, at least) would be better suited to a cartridge in need of a bit of recoil reduction (starting from the .300 Wby Mag, say). We all have our personal preferences, but the suggestions of Sako rifles above would also appeal to me. As would a Sauer 200 series (200, 202 etc) rifle - although I hasten to admit I don't know if the Sauer comes in WSM cartridges. If you try a Sauer (and also a Sako), I'm sure you'll agree they constitute an "upgrade" compared to your current A-Bolt. - mike ********************* The rifle is a noble weapon... It entices its bearer into primeval forests, into mountains and deserts untenanted by man. - Horace Kephart | |||
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Oh good. I feel much better already. Check stockystocks.com They have the Bell & Carlson stocks for Brownings and some very attractive laminates and maybe a solid walnut stock or two. Have you considered a wood Browning takeoff stock? There might be some on gunbroker. LWD | |||
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I did not think the Mark V actions were all long. Are you saying that even their rifles in .243 and .308 are built on long actions instead of short actions? That does not make sense to me..... _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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I e-mailed them last night and they replied this morning. They do not offer the Weatherby style stock for Brownings. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Eland, I think a Sako is right up your alley! They have the 60 deg bolt throw just like Browning and Weatherby. Its a NICE rifle for sure, and very accurate. You'll pay about the same price for MkV Fiber Mark I think. The Vanguard Sub-MOA is a good choice as well. Yes, its not a true Weatherby, but they're still accurate and high quality. The stock is the sam Bell & Carlson that comes on the Mk V's as well, I believe. A good place to check out stocks is stockysstocks.com they distribute B&C, HS Precision and a few others. MPI and McMillan both make A-bolt kevlar/fiberglass I think as well. You'll pay around the 500$ mark, but it will be top quality. Its CRF and doesn't have the 60deg bolt, but Kimber also makes a very nice synthetic 300wsm, that'll run you about 1200$ and be super light. Don't forget, if you find a rifle you really like but it has a 24" barrel and you really want 22" you can always have a smith lop of 2" and also put a good crown at the same time. Get what you want and possibly improve accuracy at the same time! I don't think a cut and crown is all that expensive either. If you think every possible niche has been filled already, thank a wildcatter! | |||
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One possibility here is to look for a newer used Mk V in a non magnum chambering. The newer non-magnum models have a somewhat shorter 6 lug action that still has the same bolt lift. You can then have a custom barrel chambered for your short mag made. Here's an example on Gunbroker. If you decide to go this route just make sure you ask if it's the 6 lug action. Ken.... "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so. " - Ronald Reagan | |||
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I'm going to look into a Sako for sure.....I don't know why it didn't occur to me earlier. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Getting a Weatherby that isn't born as a SM is a pain in the ass, and not cheap either. You have to go to a longer action to get the bolt head that is big enough, standard actions will not have a bolt face that is big enough to be opened up for the mag with any margin for error. I would NOT go that route. I am a huge SAKO fan, but having said that, I think that is your answer. Their factory synthetic stocks are not that great IMO, and I have replaced nearly all of mine (several) with McMillans. If you can live with a laminate, a Grey Wolf in either the 75 or 85 will work likek a charm for what you are after. If you have to have synthetic, buy a grey wolf or synthetic stainless and take the stock off, and pop it into a McMillan stock. Simple two screws and you don't have to be a gunsmith to do it, great results really easy--true 'drop in' fit. A few people even carry the McMillans in inventory, and they (McMillan) may have one in stock in a plain black. Ordering a custom one is usually a 12-16 week process, but you can pretty much get what you want. I would recommend their Edge model if you get a Mickey which is very lightweight and stiff--hallmark of McMillans--and like all their stuff,super high quality. The first rifle I bought and paid for myself (centerfire) was an A-bolt synthetic stalker, still got it and still love it. I bought my first Sako for the same features you like in the A-bolt, the short bolt lift, detachable maga and great accuracy, but the Sako's are just a much more finished rifle. The 75 and now 85 series (the current production model) are just great all around rifles. Those that don't dote on them are just fans of older styled stuff, or like Remmy or Win style rigs. I like all the above, but especially the Sako and The high end Remmy clone style actions. But again Sako's are a big step up, way smoother, better quality all around, and especially--they come with a really good trigger--easily adjustable if you have just a skoche of mechanical ability--being able to turn an allen wrench  Fondle a couple and I think you'll be on the road to your answerI've got several examples of all the different versions, in McMillan stocks and others if you want to see a few pics, PM me, I'll try and post a pic that has a few 85's with a Giant Bear I got....  PS, a Sauer 202 is a hell of rig, have several and they are awesome, WAY more money than a Sako or Weatherby though, and don't come in WSM's, just FYI. | |||
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The 243 and 308 is the same 6 lug action used for the 270 and 30-06 and is a lengthened version of the old 224 Varmintmaster. It is much smaller in diameter than the 9 lug Mark V. | ||
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http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/...ing-A-Bolt-s/128.htm | |||
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