Questions for Ernie

[BillR]

I have been watching and waiting to find a Specialty Handgun ever since I met Ernie Bishop. Came close a few times but just was not satisfied with either the caliber or the pistol or the price. Things finally changed and I have the chance came up to pick up a new Weatherby Compact Firing Platform in 7MM-08 and I'm going to buy this one finally. Anything bad about the Weatherby I should know about and is this a good starter gun? I think the 7MM-08 should keep me satisfied for a while anyway.
Looks like Ernie is going to have to spend some time with me come spring teaching me a thing or two about shooting long range with it.
I have a number of scopes I can use from 6.5X20X40 LR's to Mk4 Tatical TMR 6.5X20 and I am not sure which one I'm going to use yet. Could use some recommendations on that one also on Rings and Bases. Might start out with an older VXIII 6.5X20X40 AO with a 1" tube and a set of Stoney Point turrets till I outgrow that one.
Another thing Ernie. Do you recommend I go with a muzzle brake right away. Seems to me that I might want one just to keep from getting beaned by the recoil with that short eye relief. Not even sure how to go about holding it yet. You need to put some your tube video's on here showing some of that.
Anyway this whole learning curve could get interesting.

 

[zuba]

I'm not Ernie, but if you plan to use a rifle scope you will need a brake! I have heard of a few people having accuracy issues with the weatherby pistols.. I do most of my shooting with a harris br-s 6-9 bipod and a small rear bag. Good luck and have fun! I've been using only pistols for 5 years now and they are lots of fun

 

[BillR]

Thanks for the reply Zuba. I sat down with my gunsmith yesterday and really thought this one out. In the end it came down to this. The pistol will need a bunch of changing to do what I want to do and its a bit on the light side to do it also. I was looking at rechambering the gun to .280 AI to get some more horsepower out of it so I could shoot long range with it. And with all it would need and the cost of the gun on top of the changes we decided that I could spend my money better elsewhere and so I passed on it. Good thing I did this before I completed the purchase.
What we did decide to do was to build a Specialty Pistol using a Savage Precision Action and build it right the first time. More money yes but less than it would take to correct the short comings I was finding in the Weatherby. And it can have extra barrels made for it and can be whatever I want it to be without a huge outlay of cash each time.
So in the end I still do not have a Specialty Pistol but at least have a direction to go. Quick fixes are not always the best I guess.

 

[RT2506]

I think you made the right decision. I have learned over the years that I hurts a lot less to go ahead and shell out the cash for what you really want/need than it is to shell out much more cash in little piles in the long run trying to fix something.

 

[dougm]

I know the Weatherby's and you made the right decision.

If you want long range, you can do it with the calibers you are thinking about, but think of this. You will want to shoot a low drag bullet. The heavy for caliber ones will give the best BC's which really matter beyond 600 yards. In a 7mm the 168 Berger or better yet the 180 Berger have great BC's and also work well on animals.
When pushing the heavier bullets you need case capacity. Don't worry about recoil it's only a 7mm and with the new brakes such as "the muscle brake" or "pain killer" or any of the radial styles you won't have to worry about recoil. There use to be a video on here of Ernie shooting his 7 DAkota with 2 fingers using the holland radial brake! You need case capacity to get your velocity up for long range.
I have a 7 SAUM with a 17 in barrel Kirby built for me and I can get 168's to 2800 fps. I also have a 7 dakota with a 25 inch barrel that I'm hoping will get the 180's to 2900 fps. The dak weighsh a pound more than the SAUM (10 pounds with scope and bipod).

In the 7mm I'd think about doing a SAUM or WSM with a 18 inch barrel and shooting 168's, or maybe a Dakota or similar with 18 in barrel and 180's should go 2750-2800 fps.

Just something to think about

 

[Ernie]

Bill,
I have been out of town for awhile. sorry I missed your post.
I have not hear overwhelmingly good things about the accuracy of the stock Weatherby pistols. Although I know of one or two that have shot real well.
Your truck knows the way to Gillette so I will expect to see you in 2010.
Also on the Weatherby, I do not know what trigger options are.
If not going with a custom action I like the XP-100's the best.
I do recommend a muzzle brake if you using a riflescope. I use Holland's NEW Radial brake most often. Here is some of my thoughts about that:
Handgun Hunter Magazine - Rifle Scopes On Specialty Handguns

It also shows my evolution to using riflescopes.
I have had several people asking for You-Tube videos, but I don't even own a camcorderlightbulb

I have been watching and waiting to find a Specialty Handgun ever since I met Ernie Bishop. Came close a few times but just was not satisfied with either the caliber or the pistol or the price. Things finally changed and I have the chance came up to pick up a new Weatherby Compact Firing Platform in 7MM-08 and I'm going to buy this one finally. Anything bad about the Weatherby I should know about and is this a good starter gun? I think the 7MM-08 should keep me satisfied for a while anyway.
Looks like Ernie is going to have to spend some time with me come spring teaching me a thing or two about shooting long range with it.
I have a number of scopes I can use from 6.5X20X40 LR's to Mk4 Tatical TMR 6.5X20 and I am not sure which one I'm going to use yet. Could use some recommendations on that one also on Rings and Bases. Might start out with an older VXIII 6.5X20X40 AO with a 1" tube and a set of Stoney Point turrets till I outgrow that one.
Another thing Ernie. Do you recommend I go with a muzzle brake right away. Seems to me that I might want one just to keep from getting beaned by the recoil with that short eye relief. Not even sure how to go about holding it yet. You need to put some your tube video's on here showing some of that.
Anyway this whole learning curve could get interesting.

 

[Ernie]

Bill,
How is the process going?

 

[BillR]

Ernie, I passed on the Weatherby in the end. It was close but no cigar. Guess i will just keep looking. Really really thought I had found one at last but after talking to a number of people and hearing the same thing I decided to pass.
I am going to start looking for a XP100 and even if its not what I want I can make it into one. Just take me a bit more money and time is all. Its that or build one from scratch using one of the Savage actions which that Idea is still in the running. I like the idea of being able to change calibers fairly easily. I kind of wanted a center grip but everyone says stay with the rear grip but time will tell. Don't know what I will get till I find it.

 

[Ernie]

Ernie, I passed on the Weatherby in the end. It was close but no cigar. Guess i will just keep looking. Really really thought I had found one at last but after talking to a number of people and hearing the same thing I decided to pass.
I am going to start looking for a XP100 and even if its not what I want I can make it into one. Just take me a bit more money and time is all. Its that or build one from scratch using one of the Savage actions which that Idea is still in the running. I like the idea of being able to change calibers fairly easily. I kind of wanted a center grip but everyone says stay with the rear grip but time will tell. Don't know what I will get till I find it.

For field use I am a center-grip man myself.
If I all of your shooting will be from the bench then there is advantages for the rear grip for me.
Give me a holler this week and we will talk XP's.
307-257-7431

 

[yotefever]

For hunting I like a rear grip while shooting prone or off of shooting sticks at closer ranges.
For silhouette shooting I like the balance of the center grip and it gets the scope closer for shooting in the creedmore position.
Here are some vids on silhouette shooting
YouTube - Introduction to Handgun Silhouette at LASC

 

[BillR]

I really like the balance of a center grip stock although the rear grip seems to be great for prone which is how I shoot most of the time, even when sighting in. Center grip might be a bit tough to do prone.
Might have to put this on the long time burner Ernie as I think I just bought a Savage F-class in 6.5X.284 that will eat up my pocket book for a while.

 

[Ernie]

I really like the balance of a center grip stock although the rear grip seems to be great for prone which is how I shoot most of the time, even when sighting in. Center grip might be a bit tough to do prone.
Might have to put this on the long time burner Ernie as I think I just bought a Savage F-class in 6.5X.284 that will eat up my pocket book for a while.

One part about the center-grip is that your arms are not bunched up quite so much when using a riflescope.
As long as those "R's" keep tempting you, it may be difficult to save your pennies for a Specialty Handgun.

Congrats on the 6.5-284.