I have been looking for an Accumark in 257, 270, or 7mm WBY mag. I like the idea of the nine-lug MkV action. I just don't know if I should go with any of the magnum boom-booms. Would I be passing up a lot of strength if I went for one of the six-lug actions in the standard calibers like 30-06 or 280 rather than sticking with the pursuit of the nine-lugger?

Whitetails are really the only victims. However, in South Alabama, there are a lot of long shots around the farming fields. What sort of recoil does the 257 WBY deliver?

The number of lugs are irrelevant. Most bolt rifles are two lugs.

What is important is the number of square inches of contact of the lugs to the bolt.

Weatherby's six lug bolts are fine.....go for it.

Recoil of a 257 wthby...not much...but one of the chamberings that is best topped with premium grade bullets....very flat shooter.

I like the MkV action, it is very smooth, and the safety is very positive. I also really like the smalller Wby cartridges, like the .257 or the .270. They are not cartridges suitable for high useage, but when you need flat trajectories, they are about the top of the line at low recoil.

Having said that, the MkV is a pretty big and heavy action. It is really sized for the BIG Wby cartridges, and is unnecessarly large for the .270 Wby cartridge family (.257 .270 7mm). So depending on whether you are looking for a lighter rifle, there may be better choices. In fact, the 6 lug Wby action could be (and probably is?) used to house the .270 Wby class cartridges, and be the better fit altogether.

- mike

I have a Weatherby Mark V Lightweight Synthetic in 280 Remington that I had rechambered to the 280 Rem AI. It has six lugs. Can't see any problem with it.

I have a .257 WBY Accumark. It's a great caliber and a nice shooter. However, it's a heavy gun and a little slow to shoulder.

Take a look at the WBY Accumark lightweight version. A friend of mine has one in .25-06 and he loves it. Handle both of them to compare them. I think you might like the lightweight better.

The 2 lug Vanguards are the best Weatherby sells!

You won't be dissappointed with any of the Mk V rifles. I own 7. they range from 240 to a 460 custom shop. My favorite all around rifle, is my Euromark in 270 Wby mag. If you don't hunt large game, Elk, or any Alaska game, the calibers you are looking for are excellent. If you want to put Elk hunts in your future, move up to the 300 or 340. The 340 Mk V is a fantastic North American game rifle.