224 weatherby Varmintmaster

[bobcat93]

I just came across this cartridge in my hornady load book, then i looked up the cartridge.
Looks like good stuff.
Then i found out Weatherby is bringing back the 224 weatherby mag.
It looks like a beautiful rifle.
What is barrel life like with the 224 weatherby mag.
Is this combination worth looking into? It looks awesome

Mark V® Deluxe Varmintmaster – Weatherby, Inc.

weatherby.com

 

[K22]

I have the 223 (12" twist) Rem Mark V Super Varmint Master. Been shooting it since 2009 and taken a bunch of ground hogs and some predators with it. Out of the box, with no aftermarket changes except a minor trigger adjustment, this rifle shot in the 2's and 3's with tailored reloads. Still shooting in the 4's and 5's.

Couple of features I do not like about the new proposed model.

1. Walnut stock - fine for a show piece or range rifle but not so much for field hunting rifle.

2. Not sure if this new model has a varmint contour barrel but I would opt for that rather than a sporter weight barrel given the high heat generation of the calibers offered.

3. For the price they quoted, I would much rather build a rifle to my specs than pay that much for a factory rifle. Or, I would get a 22 250 Tikka Varmint for half the price. Based on my experience, its' hard to believe the Weatherby would outshoot the Tikka by any significant margin, if any.

If I went the route of buying this model which I would not, I would opt for the 22 250 model. This will do everything you need to do for a varmint rifle that is within the skill of most hunters without going into the weeds on a caliper where the ammo will most likely be terribly expensive, difficult to obtain, and the brass to reload hard to find and probably expensive.

 

[Bob3700]

In the past, the 224 was built on a scaled down MK 5 action. Very nice.
Ballistics are just a shade behind a 22/250. While I have always liked the Weatherby line, check on the availability of loaded ammo / brass. U will be hard pressed to find any ammo in local gun stores. Price of ammo/ components vs 22/250 will be higher.

Today, the majority of rifles have composite stocks. U can’t tell any of them apart. The Weatherby doesn’t fall into that category, as the stock is very unique n distinctive.
Good advice to check on the barrel profile. Heavier is better as the 224 will generate some heat with the velocity it produces.
At the range, u won’t blend into the black stock/ all look the same crowd.

 

[LCazador]

The 224 Weatherby is a barrel burner but like any other over bore cartridge if shot respectfully will last a life time. Mine has. Most recently I found Norma brass for it. So there must be an interest in the cartridge. Typical Weatherby generous free bore chamber. Just a cool little belted caliber

 

[Mark M.]

I just came across this cartridge in my hornady load book, then i looked up the cartridge.
Looks like good stuff.
Then i found out Weatherby is bringing back the 224 weatherby mag.
It looks like a beautiful rifle.
What is barrel life like with the 224 weatherby mag.
Is this combination worth looking into? It looks awesome

Mark V® Deluxe Varmintmaster – Weatherby, Inc.

weatherby.com

Barrel life, will somewhat be determines by the availabile twist, meaning, a tight twist, would allow for heavier bullets

 

[TRSR8]

Barrel life, a bit longer than 22-250, decent, not great, in line with hot rod 22’s.
As far as wood stocks, 90% of my chuck shooting, for decades, with nice wood, never put a ding on any of them.
They’re not exactly giving them away but love the return of classic Weatherby, that wood is not cheap. I almost bought 1-2 HB models but just never was thrilled with 9 locking lugs, now 6 but still….meh.

 

[dvraa]

All good advice. Myself if I was going to build another .224 size rifle it would be a 220 Swift. I built one 30 years ago and shot it every day I owned it. I Loved that rifle and put 16lbs of H-380 through it before switching to IMR-4064.

 

[bobcat93]

Hahaha...yep! Its a pretty rifle has that classic mirror blueing and in a hot cartridge.
I was reading the 224 has a barrel life of 1000-2000 rds.
Ok, and then what?
Unless Weatherby is gonna produce replacement barrels youll end up with a beautiful rifle and a stainless barrel
The barrel replacement alone makes me turn away.
What do you think it would cost to rebarrel that rifle with matching blue finish?
Weatherby has always came up with weird ideas in my opinion.

 

[Gary in MD]

In the past, the 224 was built on a scaled down MK 5 action. Very nice.
Ballistics are just a shade behind a 22/250. While I have always liked the Weatherby line, check on the availability of loaded ammo / brass. U will be hard pressed to find any ammo in local gun stores. Price of ammo/ components vs 22/250 will be higher.

Today, the majority of rifles have composite stocks. U can’t tell any of them apart. The Weatherby doesn’t fall into that category, as the stock is very unique n distinctive.
Good advice to check on the barrel profile. Heavier is better as the 224 will generate some heat with the velocity it produces.
At the range, u won’t blend into the black stock/ all look the same crowd.

Agreed

 

[Gary in MD]

Hahaha...yep! Its a pretty rifle has that classic mirror blueing and in a hot cartridge.
I was reading the 224 has a barrel life of 1000-2000 rds.
Ok, and then what?
Unless Weatherby is gonna produce replacement barrels youll end up with a beautiful rifle and a stainless barrel
The barrel replacement alone makes me turn away.
What do you think it would cost to rebarrel that rifle with matching blue finish?
Weatherby has always came up with weird ideas in my opinion.

LOL
It sounds like the Weatherby isn't for you.
FYI. All barrels on just about any rifle cartridge will wear out... if you shoot it.
What happens next? You have it re barreled if you want to keep it or turn it into cash and move on. It doesn't matter what brand of rifle...
Different strokes for different folks.

 

[jwv2001]

The only thing that would stop me would be availability of brass. If Weatherby is re-releasing this rifle this month, I would hope they would be making plenty of brass available for the public.
In years past, when ever I went to the Los Angeles area, I would make a trip to South Gate and buy once fired brass. They would have mounds of it on the counter at Weatherby's, used for test firing their rifles. They sold it for $5 a box. I don't know if they still offer test targets with their rifles.
One day, I was at the range, there were 69 pieces of once fired 338-378 Weatherby brass just laying on the ground. The first thing I thought was, who was the rich stud that fired 69 rounds in one sitting off a bench? I picked it up and found in one of the garbage cans 3 empty Weatherby boxes. Price tag on the boxes was $96 each. Took it all home, knocked the primers out and sold it all on Ebay for $100 dollars. This was when Ebay still allowed components to be sold.

 

[Bob3700]

Hahaha...yep! Its a pretty rifle has that classic mirror blueing and in a hot cartridge.
I was reading the 224 has a barrel life of 1000-2000 rds.
Ok, and then what?
Unless Weatherby is gonna produce replacement barrels youll end up with a beautiful rifle and a stainless barrel
The barrel replacement alone makes me turn away.
What do you think it would cost to rebarrel that rifle with matching blue finish?
Weatherby has always came up with weird ideas in my opinion.

If this is used as a groundhog rifle, bbl will last a lifetime. Prairie dogs, not so much. IF PD usage, check with Weatherby and see what the cost would be to fit an extra bbl. I would want to keep that pretty deep blue finish.

 

[bobcat93]

Really? Barrels wear out with use, thanks for crack-n the case Colombo.
The comments bring me to the conclusion this is a specialty rifle for Weatherby lovers, or maybe a collection addition
Its beautiful and definitely an interesting cartridge. Combination.
I was just kind of interested if any one had a highly polished blued barrel made up and installed.
Whats that service running .
On average

 

[Bob3700]

If this is used as a groundhog rifle, bbl will last a lifetime. Prairie dogs, not so much. IF PD usage, check with Weatherby and see what the cost would be to fit an extra bbl. I would want to keep that pretty deep

Really? Barrels wear out with use, thanks for crack-n the case Colombo.
The comments bring me to the conclusion this is a specialty rifle for Weatherby lovers, or maybe a collection addition
Its beautiful and definitely an interesting cartridge. Combination.
I was just kind of interested if any one had a highly polished blued barrel made up and installed.
Whats that service running .
On average

Purchasing n fitting a SS bbl will run u $700-$900. U will wait approx. a year from the day u order that bbl. and including the special contouring to match the org. bbl. Now if u want blued chromoly, knock off $100 from bbl purchase price. Add that $ back for ur deep blue finish to match the receiver.
I see a Tika in 223 in ur future.