I traded for a very nice low serial number made in Germany Mark V.

Took it to the range to see if it would shoot and was dissappointed...3 inch 100 yard group.

I was shooting Hornady 150 gr factory loads (all I could find on short notice).

Going to give it a good cleaning and shoot it again and see what it does.

Never had one these before. Can anyone tell me about them? Is it a waste of time to try and make it shoot??? I like the rifle...nice wood...buttery smooth action.

I have one that I bought 15 or 16 years ago and I am quite happy with it. Me thinks the cleaning might help as would trying some different loadings. Go up to 165-168 grain bullets or 180 grain bullets. Just a thought.

quote:

Me thinks the cleaning might help as would trying some different loadings. Go up to 165-168 grain bullets or 180 grain bullets. Just a thought.

+1. Clean it first, then try those loads again. If there's no improvement, then try heavier bullets.

LWD

assuming the bedding is good to go (a very major assumption) the biggest bang for the money to change accuracy is to simply change bullets.

I'd be looking for something 180 grains....but if you reload there's a lot of options.

I have one, though mine is a Japanese made one. I think the German actions were made by Sauer. Mine will keep 1.5" groups with factory 180gr ammo if I do my part. Barrel heats up really quick so it will start to spray them if I dont wait a few minutes between shots. I've got the dies for it and a ton of once fired brass, but I have yet to reload any but I am betting it will do better than what I have seen. My father has the Vanguard (Howa) and it is more accurate and pleasant to shoot than the Mark V.

I know you already did, but I'd check the rings and bases. I've had a few of mine float around. I've also had a few Wby calibers knock out a Leupold or two (I love their warranty).


All of mine have a pressure point about an inch from then end of the fore end. You might want to check and see if yours is there. I'd take the stock off and check the area and then re tighten the screws.

Mine has always shot better than I can, which is about 1.5 for me. Hopefully the cleaning will take care of most of the issues for you.

The dang thing has an old Bausch & Lomb non-adjustable (for windage & elevation) 4 to 8 variable power scope on it (never seen one before) with mounts that adjust for windage & elevation.

If I keep it...I will change...but was trying to decide if it would shoot before buying new mounts.

Also...don't have any dies for Weatherby.

Mine had one of those pencil thin barrels and would only shoot Barnes bullets. You might need to try other ammo and loads to get it to group..Sold mine.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
The dang thing has an old Bausch & Lomb non-adjustable (for windage & elevation) 4 to 8 variable power scope on it (never seen one before) with mounts that adjust for windage & elevation.

If I keep it...I will change...but was trying to decide if it would shoot before buying new mounts.

Also...don't have any dies for Weatherby.

I was going to suggest playing with the seating depth, specifically seating quite a way off the lands.

Obviously you'll have to try a few different bullets and powders etc when you get the dies, but I've found that the current zeitgeist of seating the bullets out as far as you can in a bolt action doesn't always give the best accuracy in hunting rifles.

The situation may be different in target rifles but in the ordinary rifles I load for most prefer a fair old jump to the lands to give their best.

I think these guy's are giving you all the right advice:

1) Clean the hell out of it! I'm sure it's copper fouled.

2) Tighten all the screws and check the bases.

3) Try a heavier load.

If none of those work, send it to me and I'll love it like a step child.

My Euromark in 300Wby preferred the 180gr bullets over the lighter ones. I am still trying load combinations with the 165-168gr bullets in hopes of finding a combination it likes.

I guess my question is this: Do any of these very thin barreled Mark V's shoot worth a dam? For me to want to keep it...I want it to at least shoot 1 1/2" at 100 off the bench with 3 shots in a row.

Those old B & L scopes are very good glassware, but I don't think much of most of the B&L scope mounts.

They tried two different approaches trying to make them work, one with a round spring-loaded plunger and one with a flat assembly. I don't think either one was 100% successful. At least they weren't on my guns.

Me, I'd try a different mount, and a scope with internal adjustments in it, if a thorough cleaning and decoppering didn't produce good results first.

If the internal adjustment scope and mounts worked, then I'd look around for a different than B&L make of adjustable mount, put the B&L scope back on, and try that.

The old Stith Master Mounts always worked very well for me. In fact I still have Stith mounts on several rifles that are still wearing old no-internal-adjustment B&L scopes.


(BTW, are you sure that scope is a 4X to 8X variable? I've never seen or heard of one of those, though I have had a lot of BalVar 4 scopes which varied from about a true 1.5X to 4X IIRC, and a bunch of BalVar 8 scopes, which varied from 2-1/2X to 8 X. Also used a lot of Balfor scopes which were a straight 4X also IIRC. Still have one or two of the Balfors in the vault too, but haven't used one recently.)

As to the rifles, I found them to be excellent even with the long thin barrels, though I preferred the Japanese triggers. "Back in the day" the German ones had a reputation for the trigger actually breaking.

quote:

I guess my question is this: Do any of these very thin barreled Mark V's shoot worth a dam? For me to want to keep it...I want it to at least shoot 1 1/2" at 100 off the bench with 3 shots in a row.

trying another scope might make a difference. Am I wrong, but wasn't one of Weatherby's advertising points was 1 1/2 inch accuracy out of the box. when I bought my 340 it came with a target supposedly from the factory where it had been test fired.

ledvm---I have an older Mark V in 270Wby with a #1 contour barrel that will consistently shoot sub-moa with 150gr TSX's--several three shot groups under .5". My Euromark in 300Wby has a #2 contour barrel and with limited testing, I have shot several groups in the .5"-.75" at 100yds with 180gr TSX's. I still have some load development to do with it. I have a stainless Weatherby in 257Wby with I believe a #2 contour barrel that just loves 100gr Sierra Pro Hunter bullets with several groups under .300" and sub moa with 100gr TSX's. I'm not a really good bench shooter so I think the answer to your question is yes. (I have a couple of friends that shoot benchrest competition that can generally shave my groups with my guns by about a third.)

To answer the question about the pencil thin barrels.....yes they do shoot well, but heat up much quicker. About half of mine are 24" and the other 26.

Check that pressure point, see if it's been bedded, if it has been bedded and the pressure point is gone, fold up a playing card in half, cut it to fit and put it an inch down from the end of the fore end.

It might not be bad to have it bore scoped, freebore is there but you never know how much erosion has occurred with a nearly 40 year old rifle.

Keep us posted. If it were me, I'd swap a scope out for my next outing and see how she shoots.

ledvm, my B-I-L had a German made Mark V in 300Weatherby and he said the barrel was shot out because it was no longer accurate. I think he said he was getting 4"-5" groups at 100. I tried to convince him to let me clean it and see what I could get it to do but he insisted it was no good. Long story short, he died of cancer last spring and my son ended up with a couple of his guns one of which is the Weatherby. I told him to clean it down to bare steel and shoot it and see, well it shot 1.5 MOA with factory load and that is exactly what Weatherby gaurantees they'll do. I think with some tuning of handloads it will shoot a little better, but who knows.

Well...I guess I will spend $30.00 on some Warne Weaver style bases and put my rifle testing target scope on it...after a thorough cleaning and give it another whirl with the factory loads. If it will just get under 2"...I will by a set of dies.

Will also hull it apart...check bedding...tighten action screws properly when changing the scope.

Alberta Canuck,

Wanna buy or trade for that scope and mounts? I will post some pics of it.

I have a left handed Mark V in 300 Wea Mag. It is picky with ammo and tends to dislike light bullets. It absolutely LOVES factory Hornady 180 grain interlock loads (I order them from Natchez Shooting Supply). Puts 3 shots well under an inch at 100 yrds. I also free floated the barrel, which does not seem to work with many Weatherbys and the company will tell you not to do that. My .270 Weatherby hates being free floated but shoots incredibly well with barrel presure in the forearm. As others have said: make sure scope, mounts and bedding are all secure; then try different loads before you give up. Once I found what my 300 Weatherby likes, I have been very happy with the rifle. I really love that short bolt throw, especially in the cold weather when the addtional clearance between the bolt and the scope really helps. By the way, I am not a necesarilly a "Weatherby Lover." I have lots of different rifle brands and I love each of them - they need to shoot well and work reliably. If I can't get them to do that, they are gone.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I guess my question is this: Do any of these very thin barreled Mark V's shoot worth a dam? .

I had a .300 Wby Mag in a Japanese MkV with a pencil barrel. It was an OK shooter, sort of... It would probably shoot 1.5" groups. The factory tupperware stock probably did not help much either...

In the end I had it rebarreled to .375 H&H and restocked with a McMillan stock, a natural choice for an action as hefty as the MkV.

- mike

I have 5 Mark V's, all are sub-moa guns. I have never seen a mark V that wasn't with Weatherby ammo. They generally like bullets on the heavier side, pushed fast. They are fine rifles, taking a back seat to none.....Tom

I have a German Weatherby 300 magnum that shoots sub 1 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yds. I use a Hornady or Nosler 180 grain bullet, H4831,Weatherby cases, and Federal 215 primers. I have tried CCI magnum primers and the groups expanded to 3+ inches at 100 yds. The trick is heaver bullets and and a FEDERAL 215 primer.

Bob

I have one of the USA made ones that I have shot quite a bit of game with. Its a 3/4 in. rifle when I am and will do 1.65 at 200yds. One thing about mine is it likes flat base bullets. I never have been able to get a decent group out of boattails. 85grs of 7828 behind a Nosler Partition is near perfection at a clocked 3200fps.
If yours is a German low serial number it probably has a slow twist and will only like bullets up to maybe 180 grains, maybe only 165. I would suggest if your bullets are boattail, try some flat based ones. Which bullet is in the factory load you are shooting? I'd bet it will like the 150 Hornady. Just my $0.02.

I tried 150 gr Hornady Interbonds.

quote:

. One thing about mine is it likes flat base bullets. I never have been able to get a decent group out of boattails.

MH1 If it will only shoot flat base bullets, it probably has a small nick other problem on the crown. This is the classic crown problem. Have it recrowned and it will shoot boatails better than flat. It's probably a .5" gun, not unusual for a Weatherby.....Tom

P.S. If you don't have anyone to do the work send it to me and I will do it, you pay the shipping........Tom

If you use the same mounts when you change the scope, and if they are B&L QD mounts with adjustments for windage and elevation, don't be too surprised if you don't get much better accuracy.

Essentially, with both the B&L designs of mounts, the scope is being held on two sets of opposed horizontal cones by spring pressure. Every time you fire the rifle, the scope will move a bit on those cones during recoil.

In theory, the spring will always bring the scope back perfectly to the zero point. In actual practice, I view that about like if I was using a set of QD mounts and was taking the scope off of the rifle after every shot, then putting it back for the next shot.

It MAY work pretty well, but I wouldn't count on MOA groups doing it that way.

If the new scope doesn't improve the accuracy, both you and the rifle both deserve the advantage of trying a different (fixed position) mount.

Tapper2,
I have intended to re-crown that thing for years but its just something I never get around to. Thanks for the offer, that might be what it takes to get me to finally do it. You know how it is.
Doug

I ordered a set of Warne bases. I have a box full of old take off Weaver rings. I keep a Sightron 30x target scope just for testing rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by Magnum Hunter1:
Tapper2,
I have intended to re-crown that thing for years but its just something I never get around to. Thanks for the offer, that might be what it takes to get me to finally do it. You know how it is.
Doug

Doug, I understand, it will take me about 15 min. to recrown it, I have a good set-up. PM me if you want my address...Tom

BTW, when the Mark V first came out, the two most common "kinds" (weights) of Weatherby "factory ammo" were actually handloaded at the Weatherby factory in Southgate. It was available with 150 grain and 180 grain bullets.

The 180 grain "factory" load used Norma brass, 180 gr. Hornady spire point bullets, and IMR 4350 powder. Presumably the factory twist was correct for that combo as it seemed to shoot gangbusters (extremely well) in just about everyone's Mark V rifle.

I had one of those rifles and a friend who worked for Weatherby loading ammo. I tried loading my own ammo with the same bullet and powder components in brass fire-formed from Western brand .300 H&H cases. I got results undistinguishable from the factory ammo. (I had one of the first chronographs available to home handloaders, and the match was complete, even to velocity.)

quote:

a bunch of BalVar 8 scopes, which varied from 2-1/2X to 8 X.

AC,
You are correct...it was a 2.5-8 Balvar scope. If you want it...I will give it to you if you pay for shipping.

After taking those mounts off...I can't see how it would ever shoot. Very poor design!!!

Got the barrel soaking in Wipe-out right now. Screwed on a set of Warne bases...will put my Sightron Target scope on there and re-shoot. Can't help but think it might be better.

Try this.

http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...solvent-5-oz-aerosol

Slider,

That is exactly what I did...ran a few patches of Butch's through it...patched it dry...one patch of brake cleaner...patched it dry...foamed full of Wipe-Out to sit til this evening.

There is a not to well known fact that a number of german 300 wby owners are not happy. The reason is that the barrels are to SLOW. Meaning that you have probably have a 10 1/2 or 11 inch bbl. The bullets do not rotate fast enough for the caliber. You can SLUG the bbl. or just use a cleaning rod--push into bbl for a full revolution and measure the advance of the rod, which will give you the turn rate.

Slow twist factory Weatherby barrels????

If your rifle has a factory 300 Weath barrel the twist is 1:10 !

If you have the old German Weatherby it is a Sauer barrel, the twist is 1:10 !

The 1:10 twist is how Weatherby originally designed it, how they were always made in factory how it was submitted and accepted by CIP in 1984 years after it's inception.

Hello ledvm,

My closest friend has a Sauer-Weatherby MK V, bought in Europe 40 years ago. It is a .300 Wea with a very thin 24" barrel with iron sights and double triggers.
It is a autenctic sub-moa rifle! Normally 1-1,5" at 200 meters. Normally. With handloads: 180 grs Hornady Spire Point, 84 grs 4831, the early surplus one salvaged from discarded 20 mm ammunition by my friend when he was an active Navy Officer.
The absolute best precision was, and is, obtained with his own bullets, also 180 grs, made with his Corbin press and dies.
ALF, my friend, an engenier, very strict and serious about dimentions and so, allways told me it is 1 turn in 12". Anyway, with your imput, I will tell him to measure it again to confirm that.

Regards

PH

That is exactly what it is...an old German Weatherby. Since I am cleaning it anyway...will verify with cleaning rod.

So...what bullet weight is best in that twist for that cal???

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

a bunch of BalVar 8 scopes, which varied from 2-1/2X to 8 X.

AC,
You are correct...it was a 2.5-8 Balvar scope. If you want it...I will give it to you if you pay for shipping.

After taking those mounts off...I can't see how it would ever shoot. Very poor design!!!

Got the barrel soaking in Wipe-out right now. Screwed on a set of Warne bases...will put my Sightron Target scope on there and re-shoot. Can't help but think it might be better.

I certainly do want it!! And I very much appreciate your gesture of kindness. I am sending you a PM with contact info. Please send me one too, with an address to mail postage to.

Thanks very, very much.

AC

ledvm I had a 264 Mag that was shooting 3 inch groups. The barrel looked clean? After 3 (2 did nothing)applications of Wipeout it will now shoot M.O.A.

quote:

Originally posted by PatagonHunter:
Hello ledvm,

My closest friend has a Sauer-Weatherby MK V, bought in Europe 40 years ago. It is a .300 Wea with a very thin 24" barrel with iron sights and double triggers.
It is a autenctic sub-moa rifle! Normally 1-1,5" at 200 meters. Normally. With handloads: 180 grs Hornady Spire Point, 84 grs 4831, the early surplus one salvaged from discarded 20 mm ammunition by my friend when he was an active Navy Officer.
The absolute best precision was, and is, obtained with his own bullets, also 180 grs, made with his Corbin press and dies.
ALF, my friend, an engenier, very strict and serious about dimentions and so, allways told me it is 1 turn in 12". Anyway, with your imput, I will tell him to measure it again to confirm that.

Regards

PH

As 50 years ago I was not working for Sauer in Europe, I don't claim to know for certain exactly what all they did.

I DO however recall articles in the shooting press about .300 Mark V Weatherbys with a 1-in-12" twist causing problems with heavy bullets. Whether that was just one batch of them, regular stock production, or a very infrequent factory error, I have no recollection. But I do recall it being reported upon.

Do I remember which articles? No, and I don't remember the headlines of the newspapers printed on each of my birthdays back then either. Didn't know I would ever need to.

But I did pay attention to the articles' general contents in the press, as starting 53 years ago I owned my own gun shop and also did 'smithing and bluing as ordered by the customers. That stuff always influenced what the customers wanted to buy, so it was wise to take note of it.