.257 Weatherby vs. Whitetail Deer

[MudRunner2005]

Hey guys,

I've decided that for this year I'm gonna go ahead and get an Accumark in .257 Weatherby.

I've decided to go with a Zeiss Conquest 3-12x56 (30mm) scope.

I've been told that the 110gr. AccuBond is the way to go...is there not any heavier bullet weights a .25 cal., as far as Barnes or AccuBond goes???

I would really like to be shooting around 130-150gr. Barnes TSX...but I don't know if they make it in that size for a .25 cal.????????

Sounds crazy...but I just want something to have as much "pop" to it, when it impacts. I couldn't care any less about how fast it is.

Anybody got any suggestions, ideas, help, anything????

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Based on the projectile that you'd like to use, you may want to consider a 6.5mm or 7mm cartridge.

How about a nice 7WSM (or 7 Wby) with the 140 TSX? Plenty of "Pop" for most game at any reasonable range.

You could probably get a very heavy .257 bullet from a custom bullet manufacturer but then you would likely need a barrel with a faster twist then you would find in a factory Wby barrel.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

You have been looking at the .257 and the 30-378. Two ends of the spectrum. I think varmint hunter is correct. Go with something in between. You like the Weatherby, so get a .270 Weatherby or a 7mm Weatherby, or a 300 Weatherby. Worry about the extreme ends of the spectrum after you have your go to hunting rifle.

jmho, Steve

 

[MudRunner2005]

You have been looking at the .257 and the 30-378. Two ends of the spectrum. I think varmint hunter is correct. Go with something in between. You like the Weatherby, so get a .270 Weatherby or a 7mm Weatherby, or a 300 Weatherby. Worry about the extreme ends of the spectrum after you have your go to hunting rifle.

jmho, Steve

Hey Steve,

Good to see you chime in.

Yeah, I guess yall are right...However I did a home-made ballistics comparrison chart using ALL 4 calibers, with their bullet weights & types, that I am interested in...

Here are the results:

1.) .257 Wby. / 110gr. AccuBond - M.V.: 3,460 / M.E.: 2,950

2.) 7mm Rem. Mag. / 160gr. Barnes Triple-Shock X - M.V.: 2,940 / M.E.: 3,071

3.) 7mmSTW / 160gr. AccuBond - M.V.: 3,100 / M.E.: 3,414

4.) .30-378 Wby. / 180gr. Barnes Triple-Shock X - M.V.: 3,360 / M.E.: 4,513


These are the results I found.

If you look closely...the .257 Wby is NOT that much faster, nor is it that far behind on its energy, than the 7mm Rem. Mag.

I used to shoot a 7mm Rem Mag. for a LONG time...it's still one of my all-time favorite calibers!

So, why not get better ballistics, with virtually the same energy?

I was just saying that I AM getting a .257 Wby. Accumark for Whitties this year...however, I was asking is it possible for anyone to put a larger grain bullet in there...somewhere around 140gr.???

Don't you think that would be a deer killing machine!!!???

A .257 Wby. firing a 140gr. Barnes TSX!!!

 

[MT4XFore]

Slayer, +1 on what the other two said. I have been telling you that the .257 is the cat's meow. You just dont want to listen. Factory loads stop with 120 grain bullets in 257 Wby. You can get heavier, I've shot 125's and 130's but they get harder and harder to stabilize in a factory barrel. The 125's work well, but finding them is tough, need a custom bullet maker and then reload them. Seems to me that the deer season will be over before you can make up your mind. Get the 257 and dont look back or second guess yourself. The 257 will dispatch whitetails faster than you can ever imagine. The others cant do it any better!!
Jim

 

[RockyMtnMT]

You would have to re-barrel specifically for that bullet in order to get it to stabilize. The calibers built on the 6.5mm bullet will give you that long skinny bullet w/ high sectional density.

Steve

PS

I think you should get one of each. It is too hard to decide, and it would be much more fun. At least 7 new rifles, one for each day of the week.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Slayer, +1 on what the other two said. I have been telling you that the .257 is the cat's meow. You just dont want to listen. Factory loads stop with 120 grain bullets in 257 Wby. You can get heavier, I've shot 125's and 130's but they get harder and harder to stabilize in a factory barrel. The 125's work well, but finding them is tough, need a custom bullet maker and then reload them. Seems to me that the deer season will be over before you can make up your mind. Get the 257 and dont look back or second guess yourself. The 257 will dispatch whitetails faster than you can ever imagine. The others cant do it any better!!
Jim

Hey Jim,

Good to see you in here, too!

Oh trust me...I'm getting an Accumark .257 Wby. That's final!!!

I was basically throwing out that ballistics info. for comparison purposes only.

I am planning on using the factory Weatherby loads with the 110gr. AccuBonds.........for now.

I don't reload...however, I wish I did...but I just haven't prioritized my money properly enough to purchase a reloading setup.

However, I think I might treat myself to one this year for Christmas!!! Hahaha!!!

Then I can start experimenting with my 7mmSTW!!!

That's gonna be fun!!!


I was just saying that don't you think for 0-300 yard shots that a .257 Wby. with a 140gr. Barnes TSX would be one BADD mama-jama!!!!


Hey Jim & Steve...@ what distances do the heavier grain bullets get "flimsy" traveling through a factory barrel?

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I don't know about flimsy, they just won't group. There is really only one good way to find out, buy the bullets, start load development, and see if you can make them work.

Steve

 

[MudRunner2005]

I don't know about flimsy, they just won't group. There is really only one good way to find out, buy the bullets, start load development, and see if you can make them work.

Steve

Don't you have a .257???

You reload too, don't you?

Why not try it?

When I get my gun, and I get my reloading setup, then I can do the same, and we can compare results.

I just don't really know enough about reloading as to even make a semi-educated guess, as to what would allow a bullet that heavy fly properly???

I would guess super-hot powder...lots of it! And a super-hot primer???


That would be my guess...

 

[Hired Gun]

I have 2 257Wby in Accumarks. I shoot 110 Accubonds in mine and 100 grain Partitions in the other. The Partitions shoot a bit flatter due to their greater velocity but both do a fine job killing deer. My son shot a nice blacktail at about 15 yards Sunday morning and I would have thought it would have about cut it's head off. It didn't. It just dropped in its tracks with a minimal exit wound. His last deer at 158 yards was shot behind the shoulder and exited the far shoulder and we lost about all but the little bit of leg meat on the far shoulder. I have yet to kill a deer with my Accubonds but in different medium they hold together well and pentrate deep. They have a bit more punch beyond 600 yards due to the better BC. I firmly believe the 6.5-20 30mm LRT by Leupold was made for Accumarks. It just looks so right on there.

A 257 Weatherby is the perfect other rifle to compliment a 30-378. It will cover from squirrels through the biggest Whiities, Blackies and any other 'ies you need to shoot. I don't think it needs any heavier bullet. 26" is not enough length to get any reasonable speed out of anything much bigger. Believe me the 100 -110 grain bullets put one heck of a pop to them. I retired my 7mm mag in favor of a 2 gun battery of Accumarks. One 300Wby and the other the 257Wby. Between those two it is hard to justify anything else.

 

[3006savage]

Slayer the Berger 115 grain bullet is step in the right direction. It works with a 1:10 twist and has a .523 BC which is quite a step up in performance from the Accubond.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

QUOTE: If you look closely...the .257 Wby is NOT that much faster, nor is it that far behind on its energy, than the 7mm Rem. Mag.
I used to shoot a 7mm Rem Mag. for a LONG time...it's still one of my all-time favorite calibers!
So, why not get better ballistics, with virtually the same energy?

Because you are only comparing muzzle energy rather than impact energy over distance. Over the long haul the 7mm mag, of any flavor, will deliver more energy than the .257's. Game animals do not get killed at the muzzle.

QUOTE:

I was just saying that don't you think for 0-300 yard shots that a .257 Wby. with a 140gr. Barnes TSX would be one BADD mama-jama!!!!

If you limit range to 300 yds I think the 257Wby would be a "BADD mama-jama" with any biggame bullet.

Enjoy the new rifle. I also find the 257Wby to be a very interesting cartridge for soft skinned biggame animals.

 

[Quarter Round]

I just don't really know enough about reloading as to even make a semi-educated guess, as to what would allow a bullet that heavy fly properly???

I would guess super-hot powder...lots of it! And a super-hot primer???


That would be my guess...

Slayer to my knowledge you will not find bullets that heavy in .257. Wildcat Bullets does produce some heavier than standard offerings, but you will need a faster twist barrel for Wildcat's heaviest offering. The Weatherby is a 1 in 10 twist.

I prefer bullets in the 100 to 120gr. weight for the Weatherby and leave the 75 to 100gr. for my 25-06 Rem. Tonight I will load some Berger VLD 115s at starting load for testing.

Powders typically used for large cartridges have a slower burn rate and our lit off with a magnum primer used when starting the load out at min. and working up to recipe book max. if that particular rifle can be safely loaded to max. So buy you a good reloading book now and start studying and be ready when you get your reloading tools.

 

[Tyler Kemp]

Bergers or Wildcat bullets are your best bet for high BC which is crucial to long range.