I have a .257 Weatherby Magnum in a Mark V Deluxe that I have tried and tried to get to shoot consistently. Just when I think I have things looking promising...it goes to frustration in a hurry. I went shooting last week and a load that showed promise (more than once) went to hell. A load that had been a pretty good load in the past shot like crap. I blamed it on the fouling in the gun (less than 20 rounds) and decided I was done playing this game...the gun was going up for sale to be replaced by something more accurate.

Well, I got to thinking today about the barrel and the barrel channel. From what I understand the Mark V's in wood stocks, the barrel should be free of touching the barrel channel except for the pressure pad towards the end of the forearm. I decided to see what I had going and got a dollar bill and tested for float in front of the pressure pad...looked and felt fine. As expected I was stopped at the pressure pad. I couldn't get anything to go through the gap behind the pressure pad so I unscrewed the barreled action from the stock, inserted my dollar bill and put things back together. I couldn't even wiggle the dollar bill. On top of that I noticed that the bluing is worn on both sides of the barrel from apparently "riding" the stock.

I am guessing that I need to relieve this pressure if I expect things to get better. I have no intention of removing the pressure pad...at least at this point. Am I thinking correctly? If I am, how far back towards the action do I relieve this pressure? Do I go clear back to where the barrel meets the action, or do I stop short (front of the chamber)?

Any ideas and help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

If it was mine, I'd relieve the pressure point and all from the front of the action to the end of the stock.

If necessary one can add a bit of epoxy to replace the pressure point.....but a free floating barrel has been a solution for me many times and I've never replaced a pressure point!

quote:

I am guessing that I need to relieve this pressure if I expect things to get better. I have no intention of removing the pressure pad...at least at this point.

I believe you are guessing correctly! The barrel should not be touched by the stock from about 1"-1.5" ahead of the receiver ring up to the pressure pad, and from forward of this pad to the end of the barrel channel... You MAY even find that the pressure pad itself will have to be removed, OR have more material added to it to INCREASE the dampening effect. It could go either way. I personally don't like to have to completely free-float a sporter-weight barrel, especially one chambered for some hot number like that .257 Weatherby! I think such rounds need to have the barrel vibrations dampened a little to give uniformity.

Have you checked the leed? Older Wby's had a bunch..

Don't you believe that the pressure given by a wood stock to the barrel can vary (making potentially vary the point of impact) with changes in temperature and/or humidity?

If you want to try it without the Fore-end Pressure, "temporarily" raise the action in the stock with a couple of pieces of Shim Stock. Or cut a Credit Card(your wife's) to raise the front and rear the same amount. Then snug up the screws and see if you have the barrel Free Floated. If not, add one more piece on each end.

It is important to raise it the same amount on each end. And REALLY important that the Recoil Lug still makes proper contact with the stock.

And don't leave it like this. If it works, Float the Barrel. If it doesn't, you might actually want to try a bit "more" Fore end Pressure. If so, put a piece or two of Business Card across the Pressure Point and re-assemble the rifle.

This way you can go back to where you were before you started.

By the way, 257WbyMags are quite often difficult to get a great Load with. Normally it takes a lot of Load Testing. Nothing wrong with using ONLY 2-3 shot groups either.

I have one rifle that completely Fouls with the 6th shot of one specific type of Bullet. Those first 3-4 are amazing though. The rifle does fine with other Bullets.

Best of luck to you.

quote:

Posted 19 August 2007 10:48 Hide Post
If it was mine, I'd relieve the pressure point and all from the front of the action to the end of the stock.

If necessary one can add a bit of epoxy to replace the pressure point.....but a free floating barrel has been a solution for me many times and I've never replaced a pressure point!

+1

quote:

quote:
Posted 19 August 2007 10:48 Hide Post
If it was mine, I'd relieve the pressure point and all from the front of the action to the end of the stock.

If necessary one can add a bit of epoxy to replace the pressure point.....but a free floating barrel has been a solution for me many times and I've never replaced a pressure point!

+2