.257 weatherby for elk

[fredjake1]

Wondering if anyone has used a .257 weatherby for elk, and what were the results. I have one coming and just curious of it's limitations. All feedback will be a big help.

 

[Catahoula]

Hey Fred,
I have killed several elk and most of them have been shot with my 25-06. Another favorite rifle of mine is chambered in 25-06AI & I get 257 Weatherby velocities with a 26" barrel. A good friend of mine has hunted all over the world and his go-to rifle is a 257 Weatherby. Choose a proven bullet and go hunting. As always shot placement is what matters.
Kirk

 

[mike33]

I have only taken 1 elk and it was with my own version of a 25x270 WSM with a 100 grain sierra bt at 425 yards. Dropped in tracks.

 

[jrsdar]

I'm quite sure a .257 WBY will work for any elk just fine. I've killed 2 with a .243 (spikes 100 yds away) Anyway, get this, I was just reading the Pa. hunting regs. for our Elk hunts, If I'm understanding it right, They say a centerfire rifle with at least 27 cal. that propels a projectile 130 grs. or larger. Does that mean I can't use my .257 WBY. or someone else with a .264 Mag.??? but I could grab a 30-30 or .357 mag. lever action??? I'm not to worried though the drawing is only for a few animals anyway, just thought some of you folks would get a kick out of this

 

[mike33]

I hunt Pa. and have to laugh at some of there laws. Like you can not use a semi rifle but shotgun is okey.
Mike

 

[Buffalobob]

I have killed three elk with a 257 Wby but I use an 8 twist 28 inch barrel and I do not poke along at 25-06AI velocities. Bullet selection and placement is critical as in all hunting.

 

[celtic1839]

Wondering if anyone has used a .257 weatherby for elk, and what were the results. I have one coming and just curious of it's limitations. All feedback will be a big help.

In 2014 I used a friend's Weatherby 257 magnum and a specially loaded 120 gr bullet for hunting elk in SE Utah because my 308 was out of commission. It was a limited hunting area. 3rd day out on the ground, we found a 340 6x6 bull standing 320 yards away on a 30-40 degree mountain side. I kneeled down and aimed at the top of right shoulder and fired. The animal started running and went about 30-40 feet and fell down. When we cleaned him out we found the bullet had gone thru the right shoulder, his heart and lodged against the opposite shoulder bone. So in effect he was dead but didn't know it. This was my one and only elk and really only my third attempt at finding and bringing down an animal this size. I am a senior (74) and I am not a long standing experienced hunter. But I tend to feel if the shot is placed right the 257 will bring a bull elk down as the trajectory and energy coming out of a 257 is sufficient to do the job.