German made left hand .257 Mark V

[KCScott]

I have a German made, left handed .257 Mark V, Serial #P20277 that I purchased used 20 yrs ago.
The stock & bluing are in Very Good to Excellent condition, with a couple of small nicks in the stock on the grip and a little loss of bluing at the end of the barrel.   Unfortunately I lent it to who someone I thought was a close 'friend' for over 5 years.  When I got it back the barrel had quite a bit of internal corrosion, as did the locking lugs on the bolt & the receiving lugs in the action.  It appears that he got it wet while hunting and didn't clean & oil it, just wiping down the outside.  I tried cleaning it  the best I could, I even sparingly tried some JB bore cleaning compound on the barrel.      I was told that Weatherby doesn't even make this same barrel taper anymore, so to rebarrel it I would have to have the forehand let out to accommodate a larger diameter barrel; and that doesn't even address the severe rust to the bolt locking lugs & the receiving lugs in the receiver.  What options do I have other than using it as a boat anchor?

[Grouchy]

Welcome to the nation!  I have used Kano Kroil penetrating oil on rusty guns with a good outcome before. 

[224KING]

Welcome to the nation!  I have used Kano Kroil penetrating oil on rusty guns with a good outcome before. 

You've used it on the locking lugs of an action?

[224KING]

I would think that the action is toast if the locking lugs were rusted.Especially if pitted.Sounds like the barrel is for sure.

[TexWeatherby]

Pretty stock on that rifle. Unfortunately, any corrosion results in permanent pitting of the affected surface. The million dollar question is, how deeply is it pitted. All oils can do is halt the corrosion and aid in its removal. Pitting can't be removed without removing surface metal. If it's very light pitting, it could be salvageable. If it's deep, I think your "friend" should be buying that rifle (some friend). A visit to a good gunsmith could help you decide what to do. Have you been in the barrel with a borescope?

[Grouchy]

If it is pitted, yea, it's toast. The rifle I used kroil oil on was not pitted and yes, I used in on the bolt and the entire action. It worked.

[mikea]

I would agree some friend! I would contact a good gunsmith and consult with them. As far as the friend, I would have them pay for or replace the gun.

[txaggie]

Last year when the markets hair was on fire like everything else (inflated) that gun in salty condition would prob bring over 25-2600 maybe over 3 depending on overall good cond. I have a pretty decent collection of LH rifles, two of my sons and myself are LH shooters, they are hard to come by and well 257 is the most popular by far.

I would contact a reputable gunsmith and see what's salvageable. That's just awful - i do not understand why someone doesn't take the insignificant amount of time to routine care of something so expensive even a 500 gun is expensive if you have to replace it due to laziness. It's not rocket science - I have 4-5 year old shotguns that go to the salt-water bays to hunt ducks that look like they came from the factory!

I'm off my box - sorry to hear this! what a gem you had my friend;

[kmoore]

That's terrible that someone ruined your rifle. I am an old timer lefty and been looking for Mark V in .257 used for years that is a hunting rifle, not collector. As I read the story, I was hoping that the rifle might be for sale. But if a new barrel and bolt or even possible gunsmith work done on the bolt to make it a usable rifle again. At any cost over a few hundred for just the rifle. After repaired, the owner would be upside down in money spend vs worth.
As a side note: I found a 1980s LH 7mm mark V, 3 years ago at Cabalas for 1500 that had been rebarreled and had same vintage Leupold scope. It was there for around 6 moths that I knew, I offered 1000 and got it. It shot great, bluing was in bad shape. I ungraded the scope, after some shooting at the range the stock split. I replaced the stock with a custom composite and had it reblued. I now have 2400 invested in a rifle worth? Maybe 1,000-1500. It does shoot great.  But is a money pit.
It makes me sick to hear how that .257 was ruined.   
   

[KCScott]

I would think that the action is toast if the locking lugs were rusted.Especially if pitted.Sounds like the barrel is for sure.

The bolt locking lugs and the lugs in the action look pretty bad to me, but I'm no gunsmith.  I bought a borescope once I got the gun back 'buddy' and the throat is all crocodile skin looking & the barrel has quite a bit of light pitting.  For all I know the throat & barrel may have looked this way all along.  I shot it for over 15 years with no accuracy issues other than being finicky to copper build up.  It never was a 3-shot clover leaf shooter, but was ~ 1.5" at 100 yrs off a bench and that's about all I can do.  I've not shot it since getting it back from my 'buddy'.   I guess my best bet other than use it as a boat anchor would be to try to find a left hand Mark V action & have it re-barreled.   Any ideas on where to start looking for a Left Hand Mark V action?

[TexWeatherby]

Wow, sounds like it may be toast. Even if it still shoots 1.5 MOA, copper is going to get picked up like a cheap hooker by that pitted barrel. Perhaps on here or somewhere online, you can find somebody with a LH with a damaged stock that wants to sell their barreled action (just a slight maybe). Regardless, it may not be cost effective to save just the original stock (which you could sell as Plan B) and do a rebuild unless you can find a nicely priced LH B/A. It still couldn't hurt to get a gunsmith's opinion. Appears that "friend" owes you some money. I suppose how far you go into this money-wise depends on how much that rifle means to you. This is why I don't lend out any firearms!

[224KING]

What condition is the trigger guard and floor plate?If it's good for a re-blue you can use a Japan made, mark V,lefty,barreled action.The German made stock is inletted different than a Jap made stock so you would have to keep the same trigger guard and floor plate from the German action.