Weatherby Nation

Hey Corey,

I love my out-of-the-box Weatherby's for the job they were intended to excell at, hunting. I'm not sure all the calibers listed or any stock rifle is a good or even mediocre choice for 1000 yd competition/hunting.

I'm fortunate to have one of the preeminent long range rifle builders in the industry in my back yard, Clarence Hammonds. I own a few of his custom builds that carve clover leafs at 100 yds all day, but my guns are much different than those he builds for 300 yd and 600 yd competition. A few thoughts to consider:

1. The standard factory twist rates are much too slow to stabilize most Scenar and VLD bullets.
2. Factory stocks have too much heel drop to present a linear recoil on bags or in most bench mounts.
3. Roy's primary goal with all of his propietary calibers was maximum velocity. He accomplished this, and simulataneously kept pressure in check, by increasing freebore in his chambers. Downloading a Weatherby caliber so that you can push the bullet closer to the lands defeats the orginal intent.
4. The MK V action is an outstanding choice for accurizing, but most smiths like working with custom actions (BAT) or Model 700 as a starting point.
5. Factory triggers aren't even in the same ballpark as those used for long range work.
6. Though the custom shop can build you a rifle with a Kreiger tube in a viable caliber, the cost would be prohibitive (>$3500).

Savage has a selection of out-of-the-box rifles for Palma and other long range categories that are excellent performers for the price. Second choice would be to give Clarence or one of the many other custom smiths a call to build you a fully custom piece. JMHO

PA- I went with a Savage F Class 5.5x284. Going to my first 1000yd club practice on Monday. She already shoots well below sub 1/2 MOA out to 325yds.

I read a lot of good things about the Savage and my builder recommended the Savage as a good entry point into F Class. Lots of guys are running them stock in F Class and rebarreling them when they burn out. I don't think I could have done any better for $1100. I can use the action and stock when I rebarrel, but I'll probably get a custom stock with a taller adjustable cheekpiece and buttplate on it when I rebarrel.

Read on here on my progress..... http://www.weatherbynation.com/spikecamp/conversation/31/6-5-talk/0/Somewhere in Kenya.... a village is missing an idiot.....