Sorry you had such a rough go of it.
Your post raises some questions.
Was the rifle purchased new with a serial number matching box from a dealer? The reason I ask is a couple things don't add up. The first is the synthetic stock. Fibermarks came with good fiberglass stocks pillar bedded from the factory. Not cheap synthetic plastic stocks. Those only came on the synthetic rifles that sold for around $600. Fibermarks were selling for about $1050 at that time.
Mark 5 scope screws holes come in 6-48. Was there something wrong with the scope screw holes that mandated the change to 8-40's or did it come that way?
Fibermarks did not get Criterion or Krieger barrels on production rifles. The Criterion deal was only on Accumarks. Not even the deluxes got the Criterion barrels.
Altered rifles do void the warranty but usually the warranty department would just replace the stock with the correct one at the owners cost and then move on with the warranty work. Asking you to buy and install a stock is not how it's usually done.
Referring you to Krieger is also way out of protocol. Krieger nor Criterion didn't install the barrel so no way they are going to warranty it. Once installed they can't even tell if it was one of theirs.
From the serial number Weatherby can document what configuration the rifle was shipped in and to where it was shipped. My gut is telling me something is way off here. Was this possible a used rifle with a Criterion take off installed. The rest of the Weatherby Mark 5's were getting button rifled barrels but not from Criterion. Was this rifle a second. At that time some dealers were able to obtain seconds and they did not get warranty support.
I would like to see what Teresa remembers about your case. All we would need is a serial number and we could get some of these discrepancies sorted out.
It's too bad you already switched the barrel because this is not how it usually goes down. Weatherby didn't get their reputation from crappy rifles or refusing warranty work. It just doesn't add up. Your whole rifle is a drop in the bucket for them and not taking care of you goes against the whole premise Weatherby built the company on.
Your reply raises some issues : NOTHING LIKE CASTING DOUBT UPON THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSON MAKING A POST .
I have a F.F.L. ,the rifle was purchased NEW from CDNN SPORTS WHOLESALE , Abilene , Texas , and was delivered in a new Weatherby box , serial #PB005946 on the rifle and box . The sales invoice # 409409 lists item description as : " MK V TUTONE 340WBY 26" ST BL , WEATHERBY CUSTOM 702435 ." It was advertised in CDNN sales flyer as having a "KREIGER STAiNLESS BARREL " , and having been assembled in the Weatherby Custom Shop . I have long-ago discarded the original box .
The oversize #8-40 screws were installed at my request by the Weatherby factory authorized gunsmith , Mr. Lou Wiliamson of WILLIAMSON PRECISION GUNSMITHING , of Hurst ,Texas , 76053 . He also installed the Accubrake , that I purchased direct from Weatherby .
The barrel was a Criterion .
All of my contacts with Weatherby customer service , were by telephone .
My first contact in which I asked to return the rifle for evaluation was when I was asked if any changes had been made to the rifle , I responded yes , an accubrake had been installed and the 6-42 base screw holes had been enlarged to 8-40screw size by Mr. Williamson , the factory authorized gunsmith that Weatherby had recommended . I also said that I had free-floated the barrel , and glass-bedded the action . This was when I was told that the warranty was void , BUT , If I were to purchase , from Weatherby , another stock , then the rifle could be returned for warranty , but they said that I should install the new stock and shoot the rifle , because that should correct the inaccuracy issue . Install as per supplied instructions . At that point , I purchased a new Accumark stock .
After installing the new stock , and seeing no improvement in accuracy , I again called Weatherby customer service , explained that there was NO improvement in accuracy , and asked if they would authorize the return of rifle for repair . Again I was told NO , however , I should contact Kreiger about the barrel .
When I called Kreiger Barrels at 262-628-8558 , I was referred to Mr. John Bautz in customer service . He was my contact at all times during Kreiger's testing of my rifle . Mr. Bautz is the person who identified the barrel as a Criterion . incidentally, today I called Kreiger Barrels and asked to speak to John Bautz . I was informed that he had retired about 5 months ago summer of 2014 .
BUT I GUESS THAT YOU KNOW BETTER THAN KREIGER AS TO THE ORIGINATION OF THE BARREL .
Once again , the serial number is: PB005946 .
YOUR GUT IS PROBABLY TELLING YOU THAT YOU NEED A BOWEL MOVEMENT , as you are spraying a lot of CRAP.
I have no idea if the rifle was a second .
It never was returned to Weatherby , as they would not authorize it's return .
There are no discrepancies on my part . This IS what happened .
I disposed of the junk barrel and sold the accubrake .
Good luck in your search , this all happened over 7 years ago .
