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.

 

[K9kodi]

Right, but if the mounts bolt up n line up, they may not cosmetically fit, but if they line up

 

[EasilyExcited]

Check out near manufacturing. He builds some bomber weatherby mounts. Expensive but worth it

 

[flyboy214]

A few options you can try. I worked through a similar problem set, figuring out solid mounts for my Weatherby's-- one 6-lug and the other a 9-lug. I was not happy with the fit of the Leupold backcountry mounts. The Leupold backcountry mounts were too long on the 6-lug model, resulting in an overhang past the receiver. I see the Leupold backcountry mounts overhang on your gun as well. It could have been a package mix-up, but I switched to a different mount.

You could try sending your serial No. to Weatherby customer service to get better data on the rifle.

Talley makes rings for both the 6 & 9 lug variants. I use these with a Leupold VX-3i on a 6.5-300. I did lapp them, but they have held zero and killed stuff for me since 2021. They preserve the aesthetic of that rifle and keep the weight low. (7.2 lbs with scope)

Another solution is the Peak 44 rail and a good set of rings, such as Nightforce or Warne Mountain Tech. The cutout on the back end of the peak 44 rail allows for a lower mounting height, which is what sold me on it. This is what I run with my 6.5 RPM.

Near manufacturing makes the alphamount that is one solid piece, but it is $325 and ships from Canada so you would want to be 100% sure which mount is correct.

Another legit one-piece option is the DNZ (short for deadnutz) game reaper. I use this mount on my muzzleloader, and it is extremely solid.

DNZ also makes a 2-piece mount, and their machining is pretty decent.

Do you have an update?

 

[Woolley Bugger]

Update: I ordered the 9 lug model, and my first impression was that it eliminated the overlap over the receiver which I saw with the 6 lug model. I took it to the range a few days ago, and it's eliminated my elevation problem.

So, problem solved. Thanks for everyone's advice.