Let's Talk Weatherby

[bowmansdad]

You won't go wrong with the 257 Weatherby. My 300 Mark V Lazermark is absolutely the best shooting gun I own, hands down.

[BSOB]

I was looking the the Vanguard Series 2 because it is nicely priced and sharp looking. But it only comes in a 24 inch barrel from what I am seeing.

My ? is: Does a 26 vs 24 inch barrel make that much of a difference? If so what other .257 WM's are priced reasonably under $600-700? I do not want to spend 1000+

Thanks

[wassaw]

I would think more velocity from the 26" barrel is nice to have. The 9 lug (magnum) and 54 degree bolt of the Mark V series is a winner also.
(Vanguard 90 degree and 2 lug bolt)

(never had the .257 but did have a Mark V .270 mag, until i loaned it to a friend for a Colorado Elk hunt and he dropped it down the side of a mountain ) I hated buying ammo for that gun anyway $32 a box and hard to find in the late 80's, now $67 a box)

[STXJunkee]

I've got a Accumark in the .257 I bought new last spring and it's the smoothest shooting gun I own. I've also smoked two mngt bucks this fall with it and it was a hard hitting round.

[ItsLeo]

There were some MKV's made in Japan for a little while.

Don't sneer at one that is made in Japan if you find one in good shape used. They are solid actions. Only real issue is the synthetic stocks on the Japanese made MKV's. Those stocks are much too flexible. Plan on getting a B&C medalist stock and you will have as good a MKV as you can get.

[Slewfoot]

Howa makes the actions for Vanguard. Still a good gun.

[Clintbow]

I have several Weatherby Mark V Accumarks. They feel solid and are the most accurate guns I've ever shot. Made in the USA. I know the Vanguard is good, but the Accumark is pretty much a custom gun. The .257 was Roy Weatherbys favorite cartridge. He once shot a cape buffalo in Africa with it.

[Alaskan]

There were some MKV's made in Japan for a little while.

Don't sneer at one that is made in Japan if you find one in good shape used. They are solid actions. Only real issue is the synthetic stocks on the Japanese made MKV's. Those stocks are much too flexible. Plan on getting a B&C medalist stock and you will have as good a MKV as you can get.

If by some for a little while you mean all for decades. Pretty much all of the '70s, '80s and half the '90s.

[Texans42]

Thanks for all the info, gents........I guess I was mostly concerned about getting ahold of an older rifle with a slower twist barrel that wouldn't handle the 115-120gr bullets well. And I know the .257 mag really needs a 26 inch barrel to get the most from the case capacity. Looking at the Weatherby website, my best option may be a new production gun........off to start shopping the internet gun sites........

Stu

Don't be scared to shoot the 80gr ttsx, it's some nasty medicine on game. Watched my wife oryx chin hit the ground hard. It passed through.... both shoulders at 150-+ yards.

It's also fun round on antelope and whitetails

[Cottonfish]

Well, I decided to go with a new production gun.........bought it online from Bud's Gunshop.......it will be at my local FFL today. I can surprise Dad with it for his birthday this weekend rather than Christmas, and I can put a scope on it for him at that time. It took a little searching to find some ammo, but got a box of 100gr Spire Points at a gunshop outside of Canton. Factory loaded stuff, as we know, is waaaaaaay premium priced, so I got a set of dies and we'll roll our own after the first box is gone. I actually found some brass online, although it's premium priced as well.

I'll post pics after I pick the gun up, Dad's gonna be really happy.......

Stu

[Coach W]

Which one did you pic up?

[Cottonfish]

Which one did you pic up?

Went with the old school MkV Deluxe in .257 Weatherby (26" bbl), 'cause Dad is an old school kind of guy.....

I would have bought an Accumark if I was buying for myself, but to Dad a Weatherby means the Deluxe-style walnut stock with blued metal. Come to think of it, I do kind of like that look myself.........

Stu

[Coach W]

Sweet can't wait to see the pics.. Those things are sexy!

[Rwc]

Went with the old school MkV Deluxe in .257 Weatherby (26" bbl), 'cause Dad is an old school kind of guy.....

I would have bought an Accumark if I was buying for myself, but to Dad a Weatherby means the Deluxe-style walnut stock with blued metal. Come to think of it, I do kind of like that look myself.........

Stu

That's what I'm talking about, I also prefer this model / style of rifle. I gave my youngest daughter this exact Weatherby model and caliber a few years ago and she has killed everything she has pointed at with it. You will be shocked how good it shoots with factory ammo.

Rwc

[BrandonA]

I was told that with Weatherby you have to shoot Weatherby ammunition for the rifle to be accurate. Is this true. Looking at one for my daughter.