I've got a 257 Weatherby Mag that I bought new around 1988. I had put maybe 2-3 boxes of shells through it back then and then put it in storage for the last 11 years while I spent time in the military(it was packed well, so it still looks brand new). Now that I'm out and have time, I started getting serious about loading for it.
It's not on the website, but it looks exactly like the Mark V Deluxe, only it has a 24" barrel. I've tried 100gr Nosler Partitions, 100gr Sierra Spitzers, and 117gr Sierra Gamekings. Powders have been IMR4350, RL-22 and RL-25. Tried different primers as well. I can't get it to group at all. Two inches at 100yds is good for this gun. Heck, my fouler shot out of a clean barrel today didn't even hit the paper!
Now my question: Did any of you have to float your barrel or bed the action to get your guns to shoot well? It has a wood stock, so I'm wondering if that is the problem. Any similar experiences out there with this gun? I'm at my wits end

One idea before you start fiddling with it would be to call the factory about the 1.5 MOA guarantee with Weatherby ammo. I assume they will honor the guarantee, and you can sent it off to them. Who knows what it is, bedding, etc., but they should be able to fix it for free.

By giving them the first shot it you will avoid doing something up front (free floating, etc,) that might void the warranty. I have heard good reports from people who send stuff back (although it is a pain in the neck to have to do it in the first place.)

Worth a consideration (unless you have a lot of time on your hands and are dieing to play with it).

Good luck

Just a thought, as this may not be the case with your rifle. My 300 Wea Mag shot great groups and I was extremely satisfied. One fall, after not being shot for over a year, the groups opened up. No scope or ammo problems were found. What had happened on my rifle was that the wood of the stock had warped or moved just enough that the barrel barely touched the wood half way up the barrel on the right side. I removed wood from the spot touching the barrel and it was back to tight groups, problem fixed. Don't know about your rifle but Wea. barrels "were" free-floated except for a pad just behind the front rosewood tip of the stock, on the bottom of the barrel channel. Weatherby told me that the stock screw pulled down onto this pad about 16 inch pounds. You should be able to slide a dollar bill between the barrel and stock freely, from the action to the pad on the stock. If you have a tight place it could be the cause of your problem. Might check the stock screw tension too. Hope this cures your problem on your rifle as it did on mine.

P.S. Don't remove the wood of the pad, if it has one. It's there for a reason. If your rifle has a free-floated stock except for this flat "pad" your paper will slide freely from the action to this pad before it stops. Again, don't remove the wood that makes the pad.

I've got a SS Mark V with a 26" barrel and I use IMR4831 with Fed. primers and Norma cases. I am getting sub MOA groups with mine. I also had a blue MK V that shot the same way. BTW I am using 100gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips.

John

Check the Scope first before you get pissed off with the rifle. I had a shitty Tasco which when turned upside down would go out by 2 inches. Took me a while to figure out why my rifle was shooting like shit. i would set it in and then rest it in the front seat of the car not knowing that when i did this the scope would go out of alignment. I remember that i had gave the scope a slight knock and thats all the shitty Tasco took to be screwed up.
Mick..

Good info given! This is what I would do: First, I'd let someone else shoot for goups, just to prove it isn't the shooter. Then, swap scopes. Then, buy a can of Wipe-out, and clean the barrel with it, twice. Then, buy a box of factory ammo, and fire a couple of groups.

If, after all that, it doesn't shoot, send it to Weatherby with a note that describes what you have done to fix the problem. JMO, Dutch.

Thanks for the info guys. I'm gonna try 2 more loads with the 100gr Sierras before I do anything.

Dutch, the only thing I haven't done that you listed is change scopes and shoot factory ammo. I've currently got a Leupold VX-II on it that I already checked for looseness. I'll look at it a little more closely though. Do you really think the factory loads will make that much of a difference? I guess I could at least send the factory load target to them with the rifle as evidence.

Was your gun stored in a gun cabinet for all those years? If it was, maybe the weight of it leaning against the barrel has ever-so-slighlty bent the barrel. Please remit an appropriate amount for this opinion.

The Japanese made MK V's would have the shorter barrel...the US made ones have the 26" barrel. I would make sure the screws are tightened correctly...use only Weatherby factory ammo. If that doesn't fix it then try another scope and possibly maybe another shooter. If none of this works send it back to Weatherby I am sure you will get it back in a timely fashion..my experience with their customer service has been excellent.

Jethro, it's not that the factory ammo is "it", it's just that if you send it to Weatherby complaining that it won't shoot handloads, they don't have much sympathy. Their guarantee is three shots, 1.5", with factory loads, and that is the only thing they worry about.

So, if you are going to send it in for service, that's what they are looking for. FWIW, Dutch.

Jethro I would change the scope. I have a VX-II 4-12 and two of my buddies have the same scopes. They will group good but won't track worth a shit. The new VX-II might have some problems. It took thrity shots to get sited in but shoots a five shot group well under a half inch with 100gr partitions.

jethro,

Listen to what Dutch said,

quote:

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it's not that the factory ammo is "it", it's just that if you send it to Weatherby complaining that it won't shoot handloads, they don't have much sympathy. Their guarantee is three shots, 1.5", with factory loads, and that is the only thing they worry about.

---

Also Weatherby Did make a number(small number) of Mark V Deluxe's in .257 Weatherby Magnum with 24" barrels. They didn't sell very well so Weatherby pulled them from their line up. Also the .26" barrel gave max. velocity data. This very well may increase the value of your rifle. Lawdog

Jethro seen your other post on 257 on white tails. My first 257 had a 24 inch barrel Iam left handed and thats all they made in any thing below the 300 wby at that time. I used 69gr of imr 4831 in that gun for a speed of 3550 100gr par. I sold that gun and bought a 257 accumark with a 26 inch barrel left hand. been as high 3950fps with 76gr. of imr 7828 with no pressure signs with 100gr par. still working on a load that suit me thanking of 74gr. at 3825fps with a spread of 11.6 feet in five shots but still need to put it on paper.

I honestly like the 24" barrel. It doesn't get me max performance, but this rifle is so comfortable to carry, as well as shoot. Not to mention that it is one of the most beautiful rifles sold in my opinion. I guess that is what frustrates me most. Kind of like buying an expensive hunting dog that won't hunt. You love it to death, but get so pissed when you take it out.
I'll pick up some factory ammo this week and give it a shot. Maybe I'll try to post the targets for you guys as well. My concern is that the stock may have warped and is placing too much pressure on the front of the barrel. I guess I'll let Weatherby figure it out.

If all you are experiencing is stock warp, I'd say you need not worry a bunch - easily fixed by either the factory or a competent gunsmith, or even as a DIY project?? Go the factory way, first, though. That was good advice the guys offered above.
- mike

Well, I tried my final loads of RL-22 and the 100gr Sierra Gamekings. Still terrible groups. However, I am getting serious blowback over the case every time I fire. When I pull the fired case out, it has black powder residue down the sides all the way to the case head. I quit firing after 5 rounds because it was getting too bad. Could my dies be sizing the shell too small? I will purchase some factory Weatherby ammo today and shoot it tomorrow. If that doesn't work, the gun is going back to Weatherby.

The Jap made ones also had 26" barrels if you so wanted. 24" was/is on request only. Some great advice given here. I suspect the rifle needs a GOOD barrel cleaning down to bare metal ( copper fouling). Then shoot 3 shot groups with factory Weatehrby 100gr ammo ( with Hornady bullets, as that is what they are tested with). Save all the targets and call Weatherby. They'll make it right. Do you still have the original target the rifle came with? jorge

I know it's not a dirty barrel. I took Sweets and Wipe Out to is several times until nothing came out.

I bought some factory loads (100gr Hornady Spire Point) and shot them today. The best group I could get was 2.07" at 100yds. One problem I did solve was the blowback I was getting. My dies aren't sizing the case properly. They are an old set of Pacific dies from an old friend that will be replaced before I reload again. I'm guessing that won't be for a while though since I'm sending this thing back to have it looked at by Weatherby.