Weatherby Action Length?

[Autorotate19]

I was wondering if all the weatherby mark V magnum actions are all the same length? Like for example is the 7mm action the same length as the .338-378 action? Thanks

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Exact same action. The groove in the bottom of the bolt is different for the different throw of the shorter 7mm but it can be easily lengthenned. Open up the bolt face to the 378 and get a 378 magazine.

 

[Pdvdh]

I never see any decent priced Weatherby Mark 5s. Seems like you have to buy a Wthby Mark 5 Rifle and then scarf up the action for custum build. At those costs it almost seems like the better route is to buy a custom action. No? Or do the custom actions that will handle the 378 Wthby class cartridges even more expensive than buyin a donor Wthby Mark 5?

 

[shortgrass]

May be a bit 'off thread', but, I'm not impressed with the 'engineering' in Weatherby Mk5 actions. IMHO, there are better commercial actions for customs available and you can get about anything you might want in a custom action, if you're willing to wait.

 

[Autorotate19]

I'm not actually wanting to build, just want to install the longer box magazine in my 7mm so I can seat bullets to the lands. LTLR, how do I do it, probably need a smith right? Thanks for all the replies!

 

[shortgrass]

Weatherby chambers have extremely long throats. Have you set a round yet so you have an OAL? (the Pacific/Stoney point OAL gage is a useful tool). Ya', you'll need a gunsmith.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

If it is a mk 5 with standard freebore it will take an extremely long heavy bullet to reach the lands and not run out of the case first. You can get a gunsmith to change it though and allow you to seat the bullet way out there. He would have to lengthen the channel in the bottom of the bolt to 300 wby length so it would go back for enough to pick up the longer rounds. Also take out the 257,270, 7mm magazine and install the one for the 300 and 340 wbys. That is easy, you can do that. But need a lathe to cut the bolt channel. I have done the 7mm wby's from a 300 wby and they have the ability to seat the bullets way out there. You would be changing yours from 7mm to 300 basically except for the barrel. Should not be very expensive at all to make that little cut that will allow your bolt to slide back to 300 wby length. I build everything I can on the wby mk 5 action because it is far and away the best action on the market for custom work unless you get a custom action. I look for the wby synthetics at used prices and pick them up in the $400-$500 range. I love these guys on the forums that run down these actions and cause guys to dump there mk 5 actions for nothing. I have benefitted greatly from that and strongly encourage all the wby bashing they can bring. Saves me a lot of money to get the best there is out there.

 

[Autorotate19]

It is a 7mm remington mag, so it has a standard throat, not the weatherby long free bore. That is why I got a rem mag and not a weatherby mag I really like their guns so that was the compromise. Yes I do have a hornady oal gauge. At magazine length I am 69 thousands off the lands so with the longer box I shouldn't have a problem getting to the lands. Right now accuracy is fine but I wouldn't mind having the extra magazine length if its an easy modification. Thanks for the help.

P.S. I agree with LTLR, I dont get why everyone rags on the weatherby acton. Its a cool design, super strong, short bolt throw, and no its not a custom but I dont know of a commercially manufactured action out there thats better but thats just my opinion.

 

[Pdvdh]

I build everything I can on the wby mk 5 action because it is far and away the best action on the market for custom work unless you get a custom action. I look for the wby synthetics at used prices and pick them up in the $400-$500 range. I love these guys on the forums that run down these actions and cause guys to dump there mk 5 actions for nothing. I have benefitted greatly from that and strongly encourage all the wby bashing they can bring. Saves me a lot of money to get the best there is out there.

That's the kind of info I was looking for. I've read from knowledgable smiths (now you included) that the Mk V actions were good to build on for 338 Lapua or 378 Wthby sized cases. Just didn't know they could be had cost effectively compared to the full blown custom actions. Better sit on this information. Now I'm competing with you for a Mk V!

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I hate to admit this but I have purchased six mk 5 wbys, all synthetics, in the last 2 years for $300-$500. Four were unfired in the box and one didn't have the box but if it had been fired I couldn't tell it. The other had no more than a box of shells through it. Three had scopes on them like new that were $500 scopes. After floating the barrel and bedding they all shot .5 moa or better. This economy is great. One is now our pet rifle that shoots 1- 1/2" groups at a quarter mile. I am taking it to Alaska this year for dall sheep, grizzly and caribou. Most all were convinced by many that those old wby's were a piece of junk and wanted to get out of them so they could get a good rifle.

By the way one is a 7mm rem mag like yours and is an awesome shooter after just a little work. Bargains are out there if you keep looking. Unfortunately for you Phorwath the bargains are not in Alaska. Everything is high in Alaska, even these old junk wby's.

Forgot about one, edit to make that seven. I bought a browning A-bolt gold medallion like new for $500 with a like new 2-10 nikon monarch scope on it. I kept the scope and traded the A-bolt for a like new 378 wby deluxe with a beautiful walnut stock on it. Along with the rifle I got 378 loading dies and nine boxes of 378 wby rounds. He didn't like the wby and thought it kicked way to much. He just wanted to get out of it for a nice rifle he could use. We both got what we wanted.

Good luck with your 7mm, for very little you can have it fixed like you want.

 

[Autorotate19]

Sounds good so I can order a box from weatherby right, and can anyone recommend any smiths that would do it? Thanks

 

[Pdvdh]

Bargains are out there if you keep looking. Unfortunately for you Phorwath the bargains are not in Alaska. Everything is high in Alaska, even these old junk wby's.

LTLR,
If I want to build a 338 Lapua off a Mark V action, do I need to buy a 378, 416, or 460 Wthby Mag rifle? Are the action OD diameter and the bolt body larger in these three cartridges than with the other Wthby Mark V caliber actions?

Thanks

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

You can get the 300 magazine from wby. They have always been very prompt when I dealt with them. One year my ejector clip broke the day before I was to leave for a big Alaska hunt. I called wby at 5 pm central time and had a new ejector by 9 AM the next morning free of charge. That is service. I flew out later that day and Delta airlines delivered my rifle to me in two pieces with the scope in a horseshoe shape at Anchorage airport. My friend at Bay Air let me borrow his 338 win mag for the hunt since he had taken his moose. I took two beautiful caribou and a 68" moose with the borrowed rifle and remington bullets I bought at the Dillingham hardware store.

All mk 5 actions are identical from 257 wby on up. If it is not the 378 bolt face no problem to open it up and get a 378 magazine box. Then you are fine with the lapua/378/416.

 

[Autorotate19]

Thanks for all the help, I really appreciate it!