257wby or 264win

Ruger007

Ruger007

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I'm planning on building a custom savage, But i'm stuck between two calibers the 257 wby or a 264 win mag. It will be used for sheep and deer. I have brass for both.

What do you guys think?
 
A 130gr Accubond has more downrange punch from the .264, but a 110gr at 3400fps is flatter out to 400 (by a hair) in the .257. I'm a fan of both cartridges so I really can't help you. I'd likely lean towards the .264 because it is what it is.
 
I could not pick! I own them both...

I have not killed anything with the 257 wby but it shoots like a house on fire very impressive in the accuracy department. I have taken lots of game with the 264 and it never let me down I am sure the 257 will be as good to me.

The 264 what can I say that has not been said before, becide the fact it launches one of the best projectiles that was meant to fly, you have to love what the 6.5 can do.

If you wish to shoot 120-140s go with the 264, if you wish lighter the 257 is best suited to 100-115s.

They both share the same case which came from the 338 win mag and so on down from the great belted one.

I think these cartridges are pretty equal on mid sized game giving the edge to the 264 for larger game, and that has little warrant because its just my opinion.
 
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One day Ill buy another 264, those older short throated Model 70's never had a chance (until modified). I wonder when the Ruger 264's will be available in Canada.

I think the 264 is more versatile. Lots of bullet choices from 85 gr. to 160 gr.
 
Ruger007,

Are you building your custom with a reasonably long barrel? Say, 26"?

264WM is a great choice, heck, if you want you can even go up to 160 gr. for those special occasions--still a surprising performer at more moderate range.
 
If you go with the 264WM,I have one, get the barrel throated normal,not to the SAMMI specs.It ends the finickyness.Look at the numbers on a 140 at 3200,drop,retained velocity, and wind drift.
 
I would go with the 264,It has a very high ballistic coeficient and there is still more options to shoot a heavier bullet then the 257. But I must admit though that is one tough desision to make!
 
I would probably split the difference and choose a .25/06. I object to the cost of Weatherby brass and a rifle in this class would see a great deal of shooting so a large inventory of brass is required. The .264 is a marvelous round, but when you consider the low round count barrel life and the small trajectory advantage over the .25/06 I'd pass on it as well.
 
Both are low round count cartridges,something like 1500 rounds.Neither are prairie dog cartridges. But if the barrels are kept cool and clean,as hunting cartridges they are good.
 
If you are "building" a rifle for sheep hunting you want to build it light. and not with a 26 inch barrel.

I have a win.70 in .264 and have hunted with it for a lot of years. Shot a lot of game with it too.

If I were building a light mountain rifle I'd have a 22 or 23 inch barrel and chamber it in .280 Rem.

Sorry, I genneraly hate it when somone says they want one or the other and someone comes on and posts "neather but .### is better"

But both of your choices beg for a long tube and a rifle with some weight. Not a sheep rifle.
 
I'm for the 264. The one I had was great except for the cooper fouling, that's the only reason I quit shooting it, I hated cleaning it! I think the barrel was pitted inside. Pretty tough to beat the BC of a 6.5! Gonna need a 26 inch pipe to get her to rock though! Mine loved RL25 & 140gr Sierras!
 
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