Weatherby Nation

Hi,

I am new to this board and would like to introduce myself and post my first contribution. So, I am mid-age, work as a product support consultant in a large earth moving machine and engine company in IL and enjoy target shooting and plinking for fun - shooting primarily small caliber rifles. I also enjoy practicing my hand gun skills. I am not so much into hunting but who knows.... maybe one of these days.

Well, it was finally time for my first Weatherby. Actually two of them but no to get ahead of myself..... I had been looking at the XXii for some time and always admired the style, the lines, the finish and, off course, the reputation of outstanding accuracy. Turns out the difficult part was trying to decide whether to get the .22LR or the .17HMR. I went back and forth for quite some time until I finally got tired of not being able to decide..... You probably suspect where this is going.... Hah, I simply ordered both! Local availability is non existent, so I ordered online and it was Xmas in February today as I drove to my FFL dealer to pick up my new rifles. I unpacked and inspected the stocks and the barrels and happily signed the transfer papers. We packed them back up and driving home I could hardly wait to get them out again and admire them some more. Wow, what beautiful guns....! I am probably not telling any of you anything new but I do want to describe my excitement.

Unfortunately, my excitement then quickly turned into disappointment when I took the bolt for the .22 out of the plastic protective bag wanting to install it in the rifle. The inside of the bag was bone dry and the cocking piece on the rear end of the bolt is full of rust. I hope (remember this is my first post...) the image I am trying to include below shows up ok......



Pretty sad, don't you think?

Apparently the person packing this bolt did not pay attention or just did not care. So, I looked up a Wby customer support phone number on their website and called them. Off course, only to find out that they do not work Fridays.... Bummer.... I guess I will have to 'suffer' through it until Monday and hope that Wby will quickly send a replacement.

Once I have this issue resolved (and once the snow is finally gone....) I hope to take both rifles out to the range and have some fun....

I will also need to do something about scopes for both but I will have a look around this board and I am sure I can find some good suggestions. However.... if you just can't hold back to help me with advice     feel free to suggest optics. Most of my shooting will be on paper at 50 and 100 yds.

I'll let you know what happens with the bolt next week.....

stephanko

no company or person is perfect. Weatherby customer service is excellent though, I am sure they will resolve your problem quickly as possible for you.one shot

Agree, and my hope is exactly that....

stephanko

If you haven't already I would probably get the Talley rings/bases from Weatherby as a matched set 11mm x 1 " .   I'm sure there are other ring/base manufacturers out there for the grooved type bases , in other words save yourself the headache of buying bases from one company and rings from another and finding out they don't fit perfectly, don't expect a set of 3/8 " rings to sit on a 11mm base all that well. 

Buying a scope for 22's is not a place to skimp I know a lot of peope do and I'm guilty of it also just not for any match grade high end rifle.   Stay away from any rimfire only scopes because other than they are usually of lesser quality the Parallax is normally adjusted for 50 yds.  Since you intend on using it a greater ranges 1" big game scopes with an adjustable objective in the 3x9 , 4x12 or even 4x16  are not bad choices just make sure it has an adjustable objective so you can dial it in for different ranges.  Normally I wouldn't recommend AO's on big game rifles unless you really need them although  it's not a bad option,  more of a personal preference of what you want.  On  22's AO's do make a difference when target shooting.    Reticle type and size also makes a difference on 22's a much finer crosshair when aiming at really small targets again makes a difference, although a standard duplex reticle isn't a bad option just so long as it isn't one of those that are real heavy duplex type where the cross hair obscures the aiming point.   Very fine cross hairs or target dots are especially helpfull for punching paper only,  for hunting you end up losing these types of reticles in the background clutter.  I guess it how critical you want to be.  I can't see putting a cheesy scope on a high dollar rifle rimfire or not.

Good luck I'm sure Weatherby will get it corrected.  It's nice you put a picture on the post because Weatherby folks read these all the time.  Any more questions on scopes feel free to ask.    Ron

That sort of thing is becomming more and more common, unfortunately.  I have gotten two .22 Rugers with pitted barrels after cleaning out the factory preservatives.  New out of the box.  I have seen other makes with missing  parts, bent barrels, broken sights, and the list goes on.  Gotta look em over when you get them.  I probably would have just buffed off the bolt and just shot it, but I think you did the right thing by getting Weatherby to correct it.  It lets them know they have a problem.

Stephan:I completely agree with Ron.I love shooting the smaller calibers out to 100 yds.Very relaxing.Personally I like the .22 calibers best,have both and can out shoot the 17 with the 22 with rounds my guns like.Was a lot of fun experimenting with different 22's And 17's brand of ammos.I agree with you about the rusty bolt and am sure Weatherby will make it right.Get you a good scope.Good luck.
RogerRoger
Faster horses,younger women,older whiskey,and more money.

Ron, thanks for your comments. I saw the rings you were referring to on Wby's site. Unfortunately, I am not sure I understand the different items listed. I hope they don't mind that I use their picture here for clarification:



Maybe someone can answer a couple questions I don't seem to understand:
Wby lists:
- 'Mark XXII 1" 11MM Medium Rings' for $49. These would be (only) the two rings that mount/dovetail directly onto the rail. Also shown in the picture. Right?
- 'Mark XXII Base' for $29. What is this base? Do I need it? This 'base' is not shown in the picture, correct?
- 'Mark XXII SA Tip-Off Rail' for $19. What is a tip-off rail? Is not shown either, right?

Obviously I am confused and any clarification would be appreciated.....

Does anyone, by chance, know what lens diameter I am limited to with the rings Wby offers? They call them 'medium'.

I agree with your AO and reticle comments. As I almost exclusicely shoot paper, I really do like fine cross hairs.

stephanko

Roger: I never looked at it that way but you are absolutely correct. 'Relaxing' is a very good description of what I experience when shooting .22s.

What ammo did you and/or your guns end up liking best?

If you don't mind me asking, what scopes are you using for your .22 and .17s?

stephanko

Tip off mounts are generally thought of as the old Weaver detachable mounts with thumb/coin screw that clamps down on a Weaver type base.  Not the permanent Torx/Allen screw on the side of the rings that can be used on the same type bases.

Most 22 either have a built in groove or bases with grooves of a certain width some use 3/8 ", 11mm, and some 13mm.  So if you buy a rings of 3/8 " where the groove is it will fit on a 11mm  base, but won't sit flush on the bottom or clamp down correctly.

If it doesn't have a groove on the top of the receiver it will require  seperate bases as I'm pretty sure yours will need.

The 1 " part is just the scope main tube diameter, be it 1 ", 30mm or older style 3/4 " of course there are some much larger odd balls for military application. 

I suspect you could get by with a 40 to 44 mm scope, but remember that's the ojective lens diameter only not the total package diameter, and there can be some large differences in total outside diameters between scopes.  You need to get in the specs sections of these different scopes to make sure.  Worst case buy the ring/bases first and take a measurement from the bottom of the ring saddle (the bottom portion of the U in the ring) to the top of the receiver or barrel,  that will give you at least an idea of what you have to play with.    Hope that helps.   Ron

Stephan: I have Bushnell 4200 scopes on both.My Savage 22 likes Federal Gold metal and my Ruger 10-22 likes Wolfe.The 17  shoots best with Federal.I have probably tried 30-40 different 22 rounds and some shoot better at different ranges .They may not shoot good at closer ranges but shoot better farther out.I don't understand .We shoot 25,50,75,100 yds and see what we can do with them.Subsonic rounds seem to be most accurate except with the Federal for some reason.Try a bunch of different brands and loads and you will find the most accurate and have a lot of fun doing it. The Federals costs about $3 and the Wolfes about $6.I have shot up to $10 a box but refuse to go higher but you sure can.It all depends on what your gun likes.Have fun.
RogerRoger
Faster horses,younger women,older whiskey,and more money.

Well, I can report mixed feelings about the phone conversation I just had with a gentlemen in the service department at Weatherby.

After describing my problem, he suggested I go through one of their service centers. That was definitely NOT what I wanted (or expected) to hear! He asked me for the serial number but was not able to look them up to see, as he stated, when they were sold. He sounded to be quite busy on the phone so perhaps he didn't listen when I mentioned a problem with my NEW guns.. Anyway, I mentioned this post to him and let him know that he could see the concern I was calling about.

After questioning the service center approach and repeating to him that the rifles were brand new, he took down my name and phone number and said someone would get back with me tomorrow...

He also did not offer any comment when I mentioned that I had left a voice mail of Friday and that I had not received the requested call back. Hence my second attempt to reach them this evening.

Honestly, my first encounter with Wby Service was not up to my expectation. My expectation was for someone to, first, apologize for the condition of the bolt and, second, work with me on how to best replace the rusted piece quickly. Instead, I am told to go through one of their service centers.

Bottom line: I am still hopeful that Wby will live up to their reputation and fix the problem.... We'll see what they have to say tomorrow.

Stephan

Keep us posted I'm sure it will all work out.  I don't want to make lite of the problem but I agree with you the first thing out of their mouth should have been I'm sorry you had a problem and how can we help.   I'm a little weird on the service center idea I guess it's kind of like a car you aren't going to send it back to Detroit to get fixed.  Did you ever figure out the scope mounts ?  Ron

I also am disapointed in your service.I think your gunbroker should take care of the service you have received.They should see That you recieve a new bolt.
RogerRoger
Faster horses,younger women,older whiskey,and more money.

Ron, I decided to keep this post focused on the rust issue and started a new post on the 'Optics' board in the 'your gun rack' category. Perhaps you can have a look over there and give me some more advice. I still don't fully understand what exactly Wby is offering.

Stephan

Roger, I agree that the seller has a part in this as well. However, I think Wby should really step up to the plate here. Consequently I am looking to him only as 'Plan B' (for now anyway). Makes sense?

Stephan