I need input- I have a Weatherby lightweight S/S in 7mm08 and after trying 3 different ammos, it's still shooting 2-2.5" groups. Was shooting two other rifles and shooting MOA and sub-MOA! I thought Weatherby was supposed to be pretty accurate out of the box? Should I free-float the barrel or continue searching for a factory ammo that will shoot in the gun. I don't reload. Anyone with Weatherby experience out there?

[ 10-27-2003, 18:33: Message edited by: pk-n-atlanta ]

You have shot enough ammo now to see if the bore is rough.

Check the bore for fouling and clean it well, they have a problem of fouling.

After that then it is back to the action bedding and forearm pressure pad. Also double check your scope mounts for anything loose.

Most of the problems are from the rough bores and after several cleanings during the break in period then you are usually ok.

Jim Wisner

I don't know about newer ones, but back in the good old days the weatherbys were given a little extra freebore, which helps with velocity but not necessarily accuracy. If you don't reload, try finding the heaviest bullets for your caliber and see how they shoot. Also, before it is too late realize that you are heading down the slippery path towards reloading your own.......

How do the groups look, are they scattered all over or do they string in a certain direction? Also might want to try changing the scope and checking the mounts just for grins.

Weatherby brags about their accuracy guarantee in all of their adds.Maybe you should make them back it up.

P-n-A,

Check and clean the bore and scope mounts like Jim suggests, but keep in mind, many guns just don't like factory stuff. Some guns require some heavy experimentation with loads to find what will produce decent results.

You can tune a rifle to help address trouble spots, but don't expect a whole lot if all you intend to do is shoot factory ammunition.

I believe the factory will guarantee 1.5 MOA(BFD), if so, ask them what ammunition they guarantee it with. When you come across a factory rifle that shoots MOA or less, using factory ammunition, hang on to it as these are rare.

Good luck,

Malm

out of the 15 rifles i own my weatherbys have been the least accurate only after $1500 new barrel,load dev. etc.will my .30x378 shoot.i had a .240 lightweight the biggest P.O.S. i have ever owned finally unloaded it at a huge loss.the only thing i would buy thats got that name is a vanguard and thats cause weatheby don't make em.

DO NOT TOUCH THAT GUN!!! Return it to Wby if it is not shooting 1.5 inch groups.Warrant is VOID if you work on it.My ultra liteweight shoot 3 inch groups out of the box. Under an inch when I got it back ,but would not group barnes bullets. Sold it .

I was warranty for Weatherby for quite a few years. They bed the gun with pressure on the barrel with the forearm tip. That is BS with a wood stock & in a part of the country that is blessed with RAIN (may be OK in southern California or Arizona).

Accuracy was many times a problem. Most of it could be attributed to rough bores & or soft bullets. I had a heck of a time to get them to approve me to lap the bores.

What I would do was to use the Outers Foul Out electonic setup & solution in the barrel for a day or two. Then I would fire lap the bore.

I made my own by rolling a fine valve grinding compound into lead bullets by smearing the compound on a glass plate. On this I would lay a dozen bullets. On top I placed a steel plate & simply rolled the bullets back & forth, imbedding the compound in them.

Load about 4 grains of Unigue with a 1/4 piece of toilet tissue tamped in on top of the powder. Next push the bullet in the case, being sure to wipe off all the compound off the forward part of it. All you need is just enough power to push the lead bullet out the bore. Shoot about a dozen.

Clean up the chamber & bore & repeat the process with a finer valve grinding compound. This works wonders.

If you send it back to the factory, I would be supprised if they will cure the problem. There is no one left there now that knows what they approved for me to do in this case.

I think I'd run a patch or two down it...Clean it up nice...Then sell it

The only positive thing that I could ever say about Weatherby was the founder, Roy. He was the world's greatest salesman, with the world's lousiest product.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.