.257 Weatherby Mag

[Sully2]

Im in the building mood again and have already ordered the scope and action for a new rifle. Been thinking about the 257 Weatherby mag. My rifle smith says its his fav hunting caliber......Lots of BANG and very lo recoil and if you have a good load running about 3650 or so with a 100 - 105 gr bullet and a solid hit on a deer you can just about spin him around!!

So...those of you that might have a 257 Weatherby might clue me in. As good as stats say they are or a lot of hooie?

 

[WildRose]

It's a great varmint round, and out to about 300-400yds a decent deer cartridge.

I hunted for many years with a Dr who shot one that had been given to him by his father and he eventually came around and had it redone as a .264WM after watching one too many antelope (pronghorn) which he'd hit perfectly run over four hundred yards before hitting the ground with a lot of life left in it.

If I wanted to build a custom along these lines I'd probably go the same route or maybe go with the 6.5x284.

You just have so much of a better slection of Higher BC heavier bullets for the 6.5's they leave the .257's in the dirt.

If I just had to have a .257 though the .257Wby would certainly be the way I'd go.

 

[Sully2]

It's a great varmint round, and out to about 300-400yds a decent deer cartridge.

I hunted for many years with a Dr who shot one that had been given to him by his father and he eventually came around and had it redone as a .264WM after watching one too many antelope (pronghorn) which he'd hit perfectly run over four hundred yards before hitting the ground with a lot of life left in it.

If I wanted to build a custom along these lines I'd probably go the same route or maybe go with the 6.5x284.

You just have so much of a better slection of Higher BC heavier bullets for the 6.5's they leave the .257's in the dirt.

If I just had to have a .257 though the .257Wby would certainly be the way I'd go.

Well...I dont have a 25....and it was this or a 25-06. Both take a long action...but this needs the mag boltface. Ive got 22-250.....243....260...but no "25".??

 

[WildRose]

Well...I dont have a 25....and it was this or a 25-06. Both take a long action...but this needs the mag boltface. Ive got 22-250.....243....260...but no "25".??

Well like I said, if I were going to own anything in 257 that's the way I'd go in a standardized cartridge.

Now I did read about some guys who after having some success with the 6.5 STW tried necking down to 257 and had some great initial success, but man was that a barrel eater!

 

[parkj5]

After owning and selling a 257 WM. my advise would be go with a 25-06 AI.Brass is cheaper for 25-06 . I broke barrel in with 50 rounds of cheap corelocks and load some 110 accubonds.and 100 grn BT.I could get 3500 fps easy out of my remington 700 .257 weatherby with 71 grns of IMR-7828.IM within 120 fps with the 25-05 AI.

 

[Sully2]

After owning and selling a 257 WM. my advise would be go with a 25-06 AI.Brass is cheaper for 25-06 . I broke barrel in with 50 rounds of cheap corelocks and load some 110 accubonds.and 100 grn BT.I could get 3500 fps easy out of my remington 700 .257 weatherby with 71 grns of IMR-7828.IM within 120 fps with the 25-05 AI.

Already got the action on order with a mag boltface...

 

[Sully2]

Well like I said, if I were going to own anything in 257 that's the way I'd go in a standardized cartridge.

Now I did read about some guys who after having some success with the 6.5 STW tried necking down to 257 and had some great initial success, but man was that a barrel eater!

I dont need a barrel eater...

 

[600BP]

I have had one for over twenty years. And I agree a 6.5 caliber will take you out to 1k much better. But for a quarter bore, it does the job. I have been shooting barnes 100gr bullets out of it for some years now. In my experience with the 257 I have had no issues when a good hit was made. Please let me be clear, I have only had the opportunity to stretch this gun out to a distance of 500 when hunting. 100gr barnes ttsx's I have gotten very good groups with, at just under 3800fps. RE 22, and MAGPRO are the powders of choice in my MarkV.

ERIK

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

600 BP is right on. It is one of our favorite go to rifles for deer and antelope. Accuracy is outstanding with the 100 grain ttsx at near 3800 fps. My son has shot 2.5" groups at 600 yards with it. We have taken several antelope and deer in the 500-600 yard range and the most important thing is when you hit them with the 257 weatherby they go down quick.

 

[WildRose]

Already got the action on order with a mag boltface...

Swapping the bolt body is an extremely minor deal. Check with PT&G.

 

[Hired Gun]

I have had both. I really like my 25-06AI until I tried a 257Wby. A 26" barrel in 257 Wby will exceed a 25-06AI with 100 grain or better bullets by almost 300fps. With heavier it will for sure. Put 30" barrel on that 257 and 100 grain bullets are knocking on 4000 fps. At 3800+ you don't need much doping or dialing if any to get from 0-400 yards.

I put a brake on my 257 and it makes it a hoot to varmint hunt with too. My Accumark will litterally shoot tacks at 100 yards.

My son shot a little black tail doe at 155 yards right behind the shoulder. I was watching in my 10 power stabilized bino's and I swear it looked like you held a 10 gauge on the hide and blew the stuffing out the back side. It painted the hillside red. No meat damage but it took most all it's blood out at the shot. It was devestating. We both have them now and so far everything has been dropped instantly. Something about that high velocity shock wave or something.

For us it's a solid 600 yard rifle. Beyond that we have better tools for the job.

 

[Sully2]

Decisions, decisions!....

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Magpro is the best powder I have found for this one. The lack of high bc bullets make the 25's not as good a long range choice as the 6.5. But if you want a 600 yard lazer they are fun to shoot. Recoil is light but we have a brake on the one we shoot the most to observe hits through the scope. Like shooting a 22 with the brake. The high velocity hits are pretty spectacular. Most times the animal hits the ground faster than the eye can follow. Several companies now make brass so it is same cost as other brass. You can use either 270 wby or 7mm wby brass so whichever you find the cheapest. New brass prep always requires running it through the sizer so no matter which one you use. With one pull the sizing die makes it all 257 wby with no difference anwway. If you want a 25 it is a good one. I have two 257 STW's and the wby mk 5 257 wby shoots basically the same velocity with less powder. The STW is just to much overbore. The 264 STW though is one of the best and an incredible long range performer shooting high BC 129/130 grain bullets over 3700 fps with Retumbo.

 

[Sully2]

Swapping the bolt body is an extremely minor deal. Check with PT&G.

I plan on contacting them and see how much PITA it is to have "interchangable" bolts. If the body is bored to "X" diameter it should make 2 different bolts "swappable"