Building a custom out of a WEATHERBY MARK V

[DLFant]

I need some advice on building a custom rifle. A friend of mine has a couple of custom's built for long range. He used Krieger Barrels, Stiller actions, H S Precision stocks, Jewell Triggers and a few other extras. One is in a 65x47 and the other is 7mm mag. Then he added Nightforce scope with custom turrets built for the exact load each shoots.

I have a range out to a 1000 yards and he wanted me to try them out. He had a range finder with his load data built in. We set up 20" steel @ 500, 700, and 1000. He told me to pick a range so I said 700. He ranged it gave me the clicks to use. I shot out of a cold gun I had never seen before all in less than 20 seconds and hit 3 " from Bulls eye first try. Then I shot about 10 more and had about a 3.5" group. I was impressed. He said now try 500 gave me the clicks same results. He could give me the setting at any range from 100 to 700 and it was dead on with both guns. I was impressed,

Then he told me the price was to the tune of about $4000.00 each gun material and Labor and then $2500 for each scope plus $1600 for the range finder.
My question is it necessary to spend that much? I have a couple of nice Weatherby Mark 5S that I am in to them for the right amount. Rather than buy all that Why can't I build on the Weatherby's I have? Just have them tuned and re barreled. His smith says just sell them and buy all the above mentioned parts and Build one from scratch. But I think the stiller action alone is as almost as much as one Weaterby will bring. Does anyone have any experience with Weatherby customizing? I would love to have a couple guns like his but not for $13,0 00.00 to 15,000.00. I would appreciate any thoughts or advice anyone has.

 

[Broz]

It seems he is doing it right and enjoying the success that comes with good equipment.

Sure there are cheaper routes to get there but this reminds me of the old saying when we were racing.

" Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?"

I say do it right the first time and only cry once.

Now that said I did build my 338 LM off a Mark V stainless action. I have over $4000 in that rifle alone. Then a $150 rail base, $150 for rings, $150 for a ring mounted level and $100 for the angle indicator. Now add the $1800 for the zero stop NihtForce scope and that is where I ended up. The good news is the rifle shoots 1/2 moa still after 1500 rounds.

If I were to give you the best advice I can it would be the same as his smith gave you. Reason is by the time you do any machining on te Mark V to true it up, and figure what you can get for your rifles hole, you will loose money over what you can buy a custom action for.

Jeff

 

[jrsolocam]

You can get a Defiance, Stiller or Borden action for $1000 more or less. Thats the difference here, along with a trigger, about $200+ for a Jewel for example. A good deal on a full custom rifle is about $3200 to $3500.

If you use the Weatherby action, a McMillan stock of your choice and a custom barrel of your choice, along with the labor and skill of the builder, will set you back about $1200-$1400, depending on who builds it. This is just an estimate...

One can debate all night long on which build will shoot better, you never know. I have Defiance, Borden and Weatherby builds and like all of them. All actions have pros and cons. Get what you like and good luck!

 

[jrsolocam]

I forgot about the optics...I have never been able to afford a $3000 scope (or a $2000 scope for that matter) but in my experience $1300 or less buys a lot of scope.

I have Leupold M4, IOR Valdada, Bushnell Elite, Nikon tactical and Viper Vortex PST and for non millitary or law enforcement use I can't imagine needing better quality glass.

As for the rangefinder, a $600 Leica will do the trick for the ranges you will probably be shooting.

 

[slee]

I have a Mark V that I customized over the last couple years and it is a great shooter. It is my everyday hunting rifle.

Mark V action. with the stock fluted 26" barrel.
McMillan stock , I free floated and glass bedded the action $450 stock,$25 for bedding kit
Timney trigger set to 2lbs $125
Near 10moa alphamounts $325
Swarovski Z5 3.5-18 x 44 w/ ballistic turret $1500

Weighs in @ 8lbs scoped.

total cost of upgrades $2425

It's shooting 180TSX @ 3150 ft/sec. .3moa 5 shot groups at 100m. Off the bench it shoot about a .5moa 3 shot group at 800m

I have the ballistic turret set up for 100m-800m (don't have access to a range that is further)

I have done all the work myself. All pretty easy bolt on stuff. I have owned the rifle for 12 years now but only started to modify it this last two years.

 

[J E Custom]

I need some advice on building a custom rifle. A friend of mine has a couple of custom's built for long range. He used Krieger Barrels, Stiller actions, H S Precision stocks, Jewell Triggers and a few other extras. One is in a 65x47 and the other is 7mm mag. Then he added Nightforce scope with custom turrets built for the exact load each shoots.

I have a range out to a 1000 yards and he wanted me to try them out. He had a range finder with his load data built in. We set up 20" steel @ 500, 700, and 1000. He told me to pick a range so I said 700. He ranged it gave me the clicks to use. I shot out of a cold gun I had never seen before all in less than 20 seconds and hit 3 " from Bulls eye first try. Then I shot about 10 more and had about a 3.5" group. I was impressed. He said now try 500 gave me the clicks same results. He could give me the setting at any range from 100 to 700 and it was dead on with both guns. I was impressed,

Then he told me the price was to the tune of about $4000.00 each gun material and Labor and then $2500 for each scope plus $1600 for the range finder.
My question is it necessary to spend that much? I have a couple of nice Weatherby Mark 5S that I am in to them for the right amount. Rather than buy all that Why can't I build on the Weatherby's I have? Just have them tuned and re barreled. His smith says just sell them and buy all the above mentioned parts and Build one from scratch. But I think the stiller action alone is as almost as much as one Weaterby will bring. Does anyone have any experience with Weatherby customizing? I would love to have a couple guns like his but not for $13,0 00.00 to 15,000.00. I would appreciate any thoughts or advice anyone has.

I have built many long range rifles on the Mark 5 action and they have all shot extremely well.

I will say that they are best suited for the big cases (378, Lapua Etc with large bolt faces) so if you are looking to build something with a magnum or standard bolt face a smaller action would be fine.

But if you already have several Mark 5s and want to build of them, as long as the bolt face is not
larger than the cartridge you want to build. I would say Have at it.

Remember the action is there to hold the round accuratly in the chamber and almost any action
(custom or Factory)will do that if it is properly sized and smithed.

Just my opinion

J E CUSTOM

 

[jrsolocam]

Good opinion. Nothing wrong with the Mark V.

 

[sp6x6]

My hunting buddy has just been dabling in LR last few years.He is archery nut w/many custom recurves.He cant see the $$ in rifles.He shot a 3 1/2 '' 3 shot group last week with his stock Contender 25-06. His stock Sako he hit 3 1/2 dot and had 14'' group.other shot was 6'' from bull.This was at 1000. His Sako is $1500,Lieca LRF 1600=$650.That is small investment, he shot a 180 type muley last year at 500 +.Yes HE likes my full blown custom,but he is not spending the$$ and I CAN ALREADY tell his Sako Finnlight in 300 WIN is a shooter, my scope cost more than his rifle.The group at 1000 out of 06 was with a 14x scope,he just 1/4 paper.No you dont need to spend a bunch,but you have to spend the time working on rifle.His is a few weeks old and 200 Bergers are down the tube.

 

[grit]

It depends entirely on your taste.

A full custom is mighty nice. However, a $200 truing job, $35 factory trigger tune, and using existing bottom metal and magazine will get you a lot of performance, for a lot less money. Compare this to a $1000 action, $300 trigger, and $300 mag system.... The difference is make or break for a lot of folks.
You won't have all the nice features. But, you won't want for accuracy, function, or looks.

Point is, a guy on a budget can have a mighty nice custom!

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I agree with Grit and JE. The Mk5 is an excellent action for building on. The factory trigger just needs a little work and it is fine for hunting. The magazine and action length are long enough for most magnums without modification. Back in the 90's when I did all the 338-300 RUM's the MK5 was my action of choice. Screw the barrel in and with a little work you're ready. Feeds great with the rum's. Let a good smith who knows wby's work on it and you will be in good shape. I have several excellent long range hunters built on wby mk5's.

 

[DLFant]

Thank you I felt like they were very good. Your right I need to find a smith that know's Wtby's around Dallas Fort Worth. do you know any good ones? What would be the Cal. of choice?

 

[jake50]

We are have biult a .300 Supermag on a Wby MkV action It is a 30/378 doner shell
and it has been modified to hold around 137 grns of powder, it has a 32" Lilja
heavy varmit barrel

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

You can send your action to Pac-Nor and have it rebarreled into the cartridge of your choice at a fair price. Google pac-nor barrels and look at what all they can do for you. I have a number of pac-nor barrels that shoot very well.

 

[texas]

Robert Turner in Austin, Texas is your Weatherby man!!!!