Weatherby mark v hunter 280 ai

[Ag 04]

I have a new Weatherby Mark V Hunter 280 AI ordered. Is there anything one should look for/do a once over before putting some rounds through it? Are there any upgrades that would make it a better rifle? I will have a Leupold VX 5hd with Talley rings. My local gun shop is going to work up a load for it. He is going to start with Hornady 162 ELD-X.

 

[UnckleBob]

Get your ammo (and brass) situation sorted out well before the rifle arrives.
- Factory 280 AI ammo is hard to find. I have only seen the Nosler Ballistic Tip load in the wild. It is expensive as well.
- I reload and got 100 pieces of Nosler Brass. It allows me to shoot/practice for a reasonable cost.

 

[Ag 04]

I found my brass already. I’m thinking I’m going to burn some ammo down the barrel to see if it needs any kind of break-in. And if the ammo works, then I won’t need to do much load development.

 

[Ag 04]

For the rifle in hand finally. So the barrel is offset to the left side of the barrel channel in the stock. I noticed a rattle in the stock, so I unscrewed the butt pad to find what looks like a ladder lock buckle for 1 inch webbing. But it is tapered so I think I it might of been something to hold something on the assembly line. The bolt is not near as smooth as some of the tikkas I have handled, but hopefully it gets a little smoother. Working the bolt has rubbed some of the coatings. Other than that it seems like a pretty nice rifle. No shots fired yet.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

For the rifle in hand finally. So the barrel is offset to the left side of the barrel channel in the stock. I noticed a rattle in the stock, so I unscrewed the butt pad to find what looks like a ladder lock buckle for 1 inch webbing. But it is tapered so I think I it might of been something to hold something on the assembly line. The bolt is not near as smooth as some of the tikkas I have handled, but hopefully it gets a little smoother. Working the bolt has rubbed some of the coatings. Other than that it seems like a pretty nice rifle. No shots fired yet.

Pics?

 

[Ag 04]

Using Talley ultra light low rings, the scope is pretty much locked in front to back with the taper of the objective bell, and the magnification ring. Good thing the eye relief and LOP work out good for me. The scope is a Leupold Vari X 5hd 3x15x44

 

[stan5677]

View attachment 561836View attachment 561825View attachment 561826

Using Talley ultra light low rings, the scope is pretty much locked in front to back with the taper of the objective bell, and the magnification ring. Good thing the eye relief and LOP work out good for me. The scope is a Leupold Vari X 5hd 3x15x44

Let us know how she shoots this is on my short list.

 

[MAP1]

Good looking rifle with the Bronze! How’s the stock ergonomics and rigidity?

 

[ddd122]

I put mine in a peak 44 stock mine seems to like 140 accubonds haven’t gotten to try the 162 eldx to see if it like them

 

[Ag 04]

The stock forend is able to flex side to side pretty easy. I don’t know how else to check rigidity honestly. The rifle seems to shoulder and point pretty easy so I guess descent ergonomics. I’m more of a bow guy than a rifle man so I’m not sure exactly what to comment on for such things like palm swell and whatnot.


DDD122, did the Peak stock improve much on the rifle?

 

[ddd122]

The forend is alot stiffer no flex and flat on the bottom. Never shot if with the factory stock but I also had it bedded into the new stock dont have any pics of groups on hand but easily shoots 3/4 moa groups. Also took a doe with it this past deer season the 140 just dropped it

 

[Ag 04]

Well the initial loads didn’t seem to shoot to well. Granted it was while breaking in the barrel. The rifle is now with the gunsmith working on some different loads.

The Weatherby action is not very smooth, but I’ve heard they get better with use.

 

[Mojave]

I was hoping you were gonna say different. Good luck with your new rifle.

 

[UnckleBob]

Well the initial loads didn’t seem to shoot to well. Granted it was while breaking in the barrel. The rifle is now with the gunsmith working on some different loads.

The Weatherby action is not very smooth, but I’ve heard they get better with use.

I like to buy a box of good factory ammo to make sure bad initial hand loads (pre load work up) don't take me off track. My 280AI loved Nosler's load with the Ballistic Tip bullet in it.

Good luck.

 

[hickman_5]

Nice rifle, hope you get it dialed in.

 

[6mm Remington]

What a fantastic rifle, scope, and cartridge you have selected. I have a 280AI on a Winchester Model 70 that I had built. I put a 4.5-14x40mm B&C Leupold scope on it. Love that rifle and it shoots very well. I shoot 140 gr. Partitions or Accubonds out of mine. They both shoot to the same point of impact. My load uses IMR7828SSC. I use it for everything from coyotes, antelope, deer, elk, and my one and only grizzly bear.

You might consider trying 160gr. Accubonds in your 280AI if you are looking at bullets in that weight range. They seem to shoot exceptionally out of most rifles and they work wonderfully on game animals. The Accubonds are fantastic bullets.

 

[Ag 04]

I will definitely relay this load info to the guy trying to find a good load.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I will definitely relay this load info to the guy trying to find a good load.

Any updates? How is it shooting? You still liking the rifle? What load did you/the gunsmith settle on?

 

[Ag 04]

Well I’ve had a little time to shoot this Weatherby. It’s been about a 1 MOA gun. But then I shot 200 yards and had it open up. The picture off the target is the 200 and the other is the 100 yard group. I don’t recall the impact sequence, but I now notice there are 2 hits close (.75 ish MOA) and the third is lower and farther from the spread.

Factory hornady precision hunters with ELD-X grouped a little over an inch.