Custom barrel

[Cull hunter]

I am not a very experience gun person as far as building or using parts from guns. I mainly buy guns off the shelf and hunt. My guns are very accurate as all are weatherby but vanguards. I would like to go to a longer heavier barrel on my 257 magnums. Is it as simple as changing the barrel or will I need to change the stock and action as well?

Thanks for the 411.

[Cajun Blake]

bolt face and short/long action dictates cartridge options

since you have a magnum bolt face (.540") on a LA , it will only support a LA magnum cartridges with a .540" bolt face - see below list

Most custom barrel manufacturers can duplicate a factory barrel contour. If you want a larger barrel contour (say from Sporter to Varmint) , barrel channel on stock will have to be opened to accommodate larger barrel diameter

if barrel channel of stock is to thin, then you will need to special order a new stock



Long Action Calibers, Mag bolt face
264 Win Mag
Win Short Mag series fits very well in the long actions
7mm Rem Mag
300 Win Mag
338 Win Mag
300 H&H mag
375 H&H
264 Wby Mag
7 Wby Mag
300 Wby Mag
340 Wby Mag
7 Rem Ultra Mag
300 Rem Ultra Mag
338 Rem Ultra Mag
338 Edge (338/300 RUM)
7mm, 30, 338, 375, 416, 404 Dakota
404 Jeffreys

[captainsling]

bolt face and short/long action dictates cartridge options

since you have a magnum bolt face (.540") on a LA , it will only support a LA magnum cartridges with a .540" bolt face - see below list

Most custom barrel manufacturers can duplicate a factory barrel contour. If you want a larger barrel contour (say from Sporter to Varmint) , barrel channel on stock will have to be opened to accommodate larger barrel diameter

if barrel channel of stock is to thin, then you will need to special order a new stock



Long Action Calibers, Mag bolt face
264 Win Mag
Win Short Mag series fits very well in the long actions
7mm Rem Mag
300 Win Mag
338 Win Mag
300 H&H mag
375 H&H
264 Wby Mag
7 Wby Mag
300 Wby Mag
340 Wby Mag
7 Rem Ultra Mag
300 Rem Ultra Mag
338 Rem Ultra Mag
338 Edge (338/300 RUM)
7mm, 30, 338, 375, 416, 404 Dakota
404 Jeffreys

Listen to this man very carefully and you will not go wrong.

[Cull hunter]

Staying same caliber. Same number barrel just adding length should be a straight swap then correct? Not a re build. Barrels on a weatherby are not free on the stock. Any problem there?

[Cajun Blake]

Staying same caliber. Same number barrel just adding length should be a straight swap then correct? Not a re build. Barrels on a weatherby are not free on the stock. Any problem there?

send it to a qualified GS and he will remove your barrel, chamber and install a new custom barrel


custom barrel ... $300-350
chamber/install .... $250

if you want action and bolt trued, then add $125 to above

to get the most out of your rifle, consider pillar and glass bedding... add another $200

all rifles behave differently as I recommend free-floating with barrel NOT touching the stock

[Cull hunter]

Thanks for the help. Appreciate it. Just want the 26 in stainless as they are in the weather

[Cull hunter]

As for free floating like I said they are off the shelf and are extremely accurate.

[Cajun Blake]

Thanks for the help. Appreciate it. Just want the 26 in stainless as they are in the weather

FYI - stainless does rust - see 1911 below

barrel length and velocity loss ... on avg., there is a 30 fps decrease in velocity for each inch of barrel loss

so if you currently have a 24" tube, you could expect to see an increase of around 70 fps with a longer barrel.

If you just want something impervious to weather, get your barreled-action cerakoted for $125 - 175 (Titanium pictured below)

if your rifle shoots very good, I wouldn't remove it unless you have $650 burning a hole in your pocket

[Fajkus7]

FYI - stainless does rust - see 1911 below

barrel length and velocity loss ... on avg., there is a 30 fps decrease in velocity for each inch of barrel loss

so if you currently have a 24" tube, you could expect to see an increase of around 70 fps with a longer barrel.

If you just want something impervious to weather, get your barreled-action cerakoted for $125 - 175 (Titanium pictured below)

if your rifle shoots very good, I wouldn't remove it unless you have $650 burning a hole in your pocket

I will be doing this soon

[Cull hunter]

All my weatherbys shoot less than 1/2 inch at 100. Not long range shooters so 100 is god for us. Do like the speed of the 257 Roy and wanted more plus being able to shoot larger bullets. But I appreciate the info greatly. Looks like I will leave em alone and replace them when I need to with a brand new gun completely at some point. Appreciate the help.

[Cajun Blake]

All my weatherbys shoot less than 1/2 inch at 100. Not long range shooters so 100 is god for us. Do like the speed of the 257 Roy and wanted more plus being able to shoot larger bullets. But I appreciate the info greatly. Looks like I will leave em alone and replace them when I need to with a brand new gun completely at some point. Appreciate the help.

if it ain't broken , don't fix 'em

deer , hogs, coyotes, chee chee birds do not know the difference between 3225 fps and 3295 fps

[bphillips]

All my weatherbys shoot less than 1/2 inch at 100. Not long range shooters so 100 is god for us. Do like the speed of the 257 Roy and wanted more plus being able to shoot larger bullets. But I appreciate the info greatly. Looks like I will leave em alone and replace them when I need to with a brand new gun completely at some point. Appreciate the help.

I wouldn't mess with them then.. Most people probably have 1" - 1 1/2" Weatherbys except for the range certified versions

[Cull hunter]

Thanks and advice taken. Then I have been lucky with my weatherbys. Only two are sub moa guaranteed. The non guaranteed have been more accurate than the guaranteed.