Weatherby Nation

I'm thinking about sending my 7MM Rem. Mag Weatherby Ultralight to a shop for a new barrel (Shilen Select Match Grade) installation in the hopes of improving the accuracy of the rifle.  Has anyone done this with a Weatherby which has had accuracy problems?

I have two Mark Vs.  One has great accuracy, but the 7MM Rem Mag. has just average accuracy (1.5 - 2.5 inches at 100 yds.)  Will a better barrel help assuming everything has been trued properly?

What work have you done to it already to improve the accuracy? Have you worked on the bedding and/ or trigger adjustment? Experimented with handloads?  I have two UltraLights and had work done to each. Now both will shoot well under 1" groups, one closer 1/3" with select hunting handloads. My other suggestion would be to contact Hill Country Rifle in Texas and talk to them about their accurizing work. They have a great reputation, and seem to generally get a rifle to shoot at its best.

I've heard horror stories about ULW's and how they shoot.  But, interestingly, all but a couple of those horror stories end with something like, "after I got the 'fill-in-the-blank' done, I did more load work and found a load that shoots three shots into less than an inch.  The first thing I always ask is how hot the barrel gets while shooting.  ULW's have very thin barrels.  Very Thin.  They cannot shoot well if they are allowed to heat up.  Be sure that the barrel is properly tensioned over the pressure points in the front of the stock, as well.  I believe it should be about 10-12lbs, but you can experiment with that, as well as glass bedding around the aluminum bedding block to truly secure the action.  Check the crown, and play with the COL on the handloads.  Also, check the bore for copper.  I like Break-Free foaming bore cleaner, but you'll want to chase that with some good oil, and chase it more than once.  I bet with a bit of tweaking and some experimenting with bullet weight, design, and manufacturer, you can find the load that shoots in that rifle.  Remember that ULW's are the most temperamental because they have the thinnest barrels.

I believe everyone is on the same wavelength here. I would exhaust every option before I would go to the expense of having your rifle re-barreled. I mean everything; torque of the action screws, bedding issues, bases, rings, forearm pressure, loads, clear out to the crown.

If nothing seems to work (and you don't want to sell it) and I had to choose between having it accurized or re-barreled by a good smith, I'd choose the latter. If no bedding or other issues are found, a rifle has to show me signs of potential accuracy before I will go through the trouble or expense of having it bedded or accurized. By potential accuracy I mean consistently patterned groups in the 1-1.5" range. In my experience groups in this range have a habit of shrinking with a good bedding job, or more extensive (but not always necessary) accurizing. Me, I tend to unload anything that does not show potential unless it happens to be wearing a desirable action.

I wish you luck whichever path you choose.

"Quote 
Posted by: j.chappell
Posted on: May 13, 2008 | 07:51pm
Quote this post I believe everyone is on the same wavelength here. I would exhaust every option before I would go to the expense of having your rifle re-barreled. I mean everything; torque of the action screws, bedding issues, bases, rings, forearm pressure, loads, clear out to the crown. "

After covering the above points in my experince ultralight rifles will  show better grouping by allowing the barrel to return to ambient temperature between each shot.  This requires a long wait or in my case a single shot  daily on the same target over several trips.  I have a range at home.  If it won't group then you should consider a new barrel from a good smith.

Thanks to all who replied.  I spoke with Hill Country Rifles yesterday and am thinking about sending off my Ultralight to them for accurizing.  I have to check a few more things first, but it sounds like they may be able to improve the accuracy of the gun it all else fails for me.

Thanks again to everyone.