Need a Stock For My Weatherby Mark V- 300 Wby. Mag

[ValleyHunter88]

I have a Weatherby Mark V Deluxe (German model) chambered in 300 Wby. Mag.. I would like to improve my accuracy by free-floating the barrel. However I don't want to do this using the deluxe wood stock. Is there any reasonably priced stocks (under $300) that you would recommend? If at all possible I would like one that is already free-floated.
Thanks, ValleyHunter88.

[chukarguy]

I have a factory synthetic stock from a 257 wby I would be willing to sell for cheap.  You might want to check http://www.stockysstocks.com as well.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Have you considered putting a couple of small spacers/shims between the action and the stock that would lift it slightly and allow the barrel to float?   It wouldn't take much to lift the barrel in the channel, and can easily be done with something as simple as folded layers of tin foil.  Do it to both front & rear mounting screws to avoid binding the action.

Then you can test the newly floated barrel to see if it makes any improvement and either remove it, leave it, or continue on with your plan of changing stocks.  But this would at least allow you the chance to test the rifle with the barrel floated and not in contact along the barrel channel before you lay out money on another stock.

I can't say I have ever had a rifle shoot worse with a floated barrel, but I have had the occasional one not show any real difference between floated and not.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

[ValleyHunter88]

I have a factory synthetic stock from a 257 wby I would be willing to sell for cheap.  You might want to check http://www.stockysstocks.com as well.

PM sent.

[jasnt]

Could go with a black hawk axiom. I have one on my weatherby, much better than the original stock.
 I may be wrong but isn't a 257 wyb a short action. 300wyb mag is long action ??

[b23]

257wby and 300wby are both long actions.  I'm not sure if there has ever even been a short action Weatherby Mark V made. 

Why don't you want to free float the factory wood stock that's on it?  It doesn't damage the stock in any way and it only takes minimal sanding to free float the barrel channel. 

Have you checked to see if it even needs to be free floated? 

Have you tried to slide a piece or paper or a dollar bill in between the barrel and stock, then slide it all the way down to the receiver to see if the paper hits any high spot/s and won't slide freely all the way to the receiver?

To improve, consistent, accuracy in just about any rifle it's always a good idea to have the stock bedded and make sure the barrel isn't touching the stock anywhere along the barrel channel.  Free floating a barrel is something anyone can check and fix, if required.  Bedding an action is a little more involved and if you've never done it before, I probably wouldn't recommend you try it on something like this for your first time. 

Having your factory stock that is currently on your Mark V, properly bedded by a professional gunsmith would be something they could do very easy as well as it would cost you less than a different stock and especially if you are looking to improve your rifles accuracy, no matter what stock you put on it, I would highly recommend you have it bedded at the least and if this is a rifle you care about keeping for a long time, I would have pillars put in when you have it bedded.  A 300Wby Mag is one of my all time favorites rounds.  If I could only have one rifle to do everything with, it would likely be a 300wby mag but they're also pretty big thumpers and have a pretty good amount of recoil so having a good foundation to evenly support the action in the stock is always a very good idea and that little extra money it cost to have pillars put in when you have the stock bedded, will pay you dividends in the long run.  You can have the nicest most expensive house in the world but if it doesn't have a good solid foundation under it, how long do you think it will last when Mother Nature, time and natural elements start taking their toll....

[jasnt]

I stand corrected

[ValleyHunter88]

Yes, I have raised the barrel with aluminum foil, and it shot much better. I don't want to alter the factory stock because I don't want to decrease the resale value, as the German Mark V's are a collectors item, and mine in particular has a beautiful stock. My grandpa does that kind of work on guns and is willing to do it for me, however I would like to keep the stock in original condition.