Help with weatherby mark V Leupold mount

[Woolley Bugger]

I have a new to me Weatherby Mark V on which I mounted a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x56 scope. I used the Leupold Mark V medium height ring mounts.

Much to my chagrin, when I took it to the range for the first time today, all of my shots at 25 yards were low, and I ran out of elevation. Does anything about this install look grossly wrong? I noticed the front base juts over the action, which seems weird. If I remember correctly, it was impossible to switch front and back due to the way the receiver is drilled.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Woolley Bugger]

I think I figured out the issue. Leupold customer service was very helpful.
Apparently, I have a Frankenstein gun. It appears to be a nine lug action rebarrelled for .30-06.

I bought the rings at the same time I bought the gun with the knowledge that Weatherby never made a 6 lug .30-06. So I bought the six lug ring amount. Apparently there are subtle differences in geometry between the six and nine lug receivers which explains the elevation problem.

So I will order the proper ring mounts.

Unfortunately, I have no idea the quality of the barrel or the gunsmithing job. I guess it’s part of the Gun broker crap shoot.

 

[PAHunter777]

I am almost certain they used to make all of their calibers on the 9 lug action when they were made in Japan so you might still have a factory barrel.

 

[Woolley Bugger]

A search indicates that you are likely correct. Yet another Grok fail. Grok tells me that Weatherby never made a .30-06 in 9 lug..

 

[mt terry d]

My 7mm wbymag is 9 lug
Purchased new early 80's

 

[K9kodi]

I’d put a lapping bar in the rings and make sure they are aligned. With a 56mm bell and the gap between bell and barrel your sitting proud that’s for sure, but you should absolutely still have elevation adjustment.

 

[SteveCNJ]

I thought only the Weatherby magnums were 9 lug. All others were 6 lug.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk

 

[Woolley Bugger]

I thought only the Weatherby magnums were 9 lug. All others were 6 lug.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk

Grok thought so too and was very adamant that’s the case. But apparently the earlier models were all 9 lug. This is from Wikipedia.

A version of the Mark V rifle equipped with a nine-lug bolt and chambered in .30-06 was also made available in 1967. The 30-06 and 22-250 cartridges remained the only two non-Weatherby chamberings offered in production Mark V rifles until the mid-1990s. However, Weatherby would still build a custom Mark V to a customer's specifications in virtually any caliber. Weatherby equipped all Mark V rifles made after 1967 that Weatherby chambered for non-Weatherby standard calibers (not magnum cartridges) with the six-lug version of the bolt; this made versions with a nine-lug bolt chambered in 30-06 (whether made in Germany or Japan) somewhat rare.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatherby#cite_note-Walter-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a>

Mine is an early 70s Japan model. So it’s consistent with being a factory 9 lug in .30-06.

The 9 lugs seem well regarded. So I’ll be happy if my specimen is a “somewhat rare” example.

 

[K9kodi]

What does the lug count have to do with mounting a scope on the receiver , save for the mounts being incorrect, but if they still align there should still be enough adjustment.

 

[Woolley Bugger]

The Leupold customer service rep told me that there are some geometric differences between the 6 and 9 lug receivers.
I’ll find out on Saturday when my new ring mounts arrive and will let you all know how it works out.