.257 wby mag suitable for moose/elk?

I dont know what to make of 224 posts and only 1 positive feedback. Did you buy a 257 Weatherby on the EE.

So many firearms can do multiple weights of game and multiple purposes. Would the 257 kill a Moose or Elk certainly, a 375 H & H could also be a sheep rifle. Neither the ideal purpose they are designed for. Projectiles have come a long ways since the Roy was born. I would still use a different caliber, in a pinch at moderate range, with premium projectile, and in the hands of a good shot...no problem.

Truly though isnt the 257 Roy the premier small plains game, pronghorn, deer in a bean field rifle.

I have only bought a set of rings on the EE thats why I only have 1 positive feedback, Ive never purchased or sold a firearm on the EE. And the only reason I asked is because I do not know very much about any of the WBY calibers. I know that it puts out enough energy on paper yes, but as far as real life situations sometimes numbers dont mean anything.
 
257 wby 120gr bullett 2900ftlbs @ the muzzle 270 win 130 gr 2700 ftlbs at the muzzle . Not a big difference also if you are shooting a 270 u would use a 140 or 150 gr bullett which puts the 257 to bed .
 
While I'm not an advocate of marginal cartridges in this case that last comparison with the 270 is very flawed, all this info is published load data in the nosler manual and the energy data is from an online calculator.

The sectional density of the 120gr 257 bullets and 140gr .277 bullet is virtually identical, so I will use those weights to compare,

The weatherby is pushing a 120gr bullet at 3400 fps with an energy of 3081

The 270 is pushing the 140gr bullet at 3000fps for an energy of 2798

For those of you that believe Sectional density is a big factor In penetration these bullets are 261 and 260, so pretty much identical, 1 bullet is 20gr heavier and the other is 400fps faster. Both would be up to the task but pretty hard to determine how dead it will kill the moose.
 
Don't listen to half of these guys. Yes there are better choices. I would not hesitate for a second to shoot at a moose out to 250 yards with my 25/06 with a nosler partition. So properly loaded with your mag. 300 yards is easily obtainable!!! How many guys on average shoot an animal beyond that distance? Some yes, most no! Besides, most hunters other then bowhunters, are HORRIBLE range estimators! But, That being said. Shot placement is everything! Just my 2 cents!

Dave.
 
Don't listen to half of these guys. Yes there are better choices. I would not hesitate for a second to shoot at a moose out to 250 yards with my 25/06 with a nosler partition. So properly loaded with your mag. 300 yards is easily obtainable!!! How many guys on average shoot an animal beyond that distance? Some yes, most no! Besides, most hunters other then bowhunters, are HORRIBLE range estimators! But, That being said. Shot placement is everything! Just my 2 cents!

Dave.


Excellent ! ;) RJ
 
It would not be my choice leaving the house specifically heading out for moose, elk or bears, HOWEVER were I out sheep or caribou hunting and happened upon a super moose or elk, I wouldn't hesitate for a second. My 257 Bee shoots 110 gn accubonds into 1/2" @ 100 mtrs and I know my holds out to 600+ mtrs with a muzzle velocity of 3620 fps. I would not even hesitate on a big grizzly as long as he was between 200 and 400 yds, I would likely pass on a big bear inside 150 and outside 400.
 
Yea that is Funny ? c-fbmi gets 3600 + fps and 1/2 " grouping out of his 257 Bee with the 110 Accubond ! Thats Excellent ! RJ

Hey, its not like I didn't want them to shoot. Picked up a far amount a long time back, so whenever a 25 cal wanders through its the first thing that gets tried. Besides it fits my idea of a perfect bullet for the caliber; decent BCs, partial disintegration and at least a base that will stay together for just a little extra insurance. For whatever weird reason I get such easy results with the NBTs that its almost boring.
 
Hey, its not like I didn't want them to shoot. Picked up a far amount a long time back, so whenever a 25 cal wanders through its the first thing that gets tried. Besides it fits my idea of a perfect bullet for the caliber; decent BCs, partial disintegration and at least a base that will stay together for just a little extra insurance. For whatever weird reason I get such easy results with the NBTs that its almost boring.

Hey i hear ya :D - a lot of fellows rifles shoot them well - its JUST funny that NONE of your 257 or 25-06 will shoot them ! I am going to try them when i can in my 257 and see soon as the Gun shop gets me some ! :D Or have you got some i can BUY from you ? :confused: Please let me know ! Thks RJ
 
Hey Dogleg, you gotta try RL 25 it's absolute magic in the 25 Bee...........200 fps faster than any other powder I tried. Neither mine nor my boy's will shoot TTSX for more than 30-40 rounds and then the copper fouling is so bad that groups open up to over 4". I really wanted to use the TTSX but I'm not going through the decoppering all the time........no problems with the ABs though.
If you want to trade them ABs I got all kinds of 25 cal bullets including a bunch of TTSX.......let me know.
 
Besides, most hunters other then bowhunters, are HORRIBLE range estimators! But, That being said. Shot placement is everything! Just my 2 cents!

Dave.
I happen to be an avid bowhunter and now that you say it your very right. Most guys who hunt rifle only cant judge distance for their lives. I try and hunt by myself rifle, muzzleloader and bow but when I hunt with some guys who only hunt rifle they cant judge range at all.


Besides the point I just purchased a RCBS reloading kit and now I'm waiting for dies and a caliper and I can start loading my own shells. So now the world of caliber choice has been extended greatly :D
 
The .257 is a great cartridge for terrible rangefinders. All you need to do is learn when to quit.

I've never noticed that bow-hunters are any better at estimating range at rifle distance than anyone else.
 
but why would you just because you can , maybe start a thread 22mag. on a moose hunt , yha just cause you can now some bla bla bla it is a rimfire .. There are a lot of hunters out there, who could not shoot a moose at a 100yds with a 458 win mag maybe set them up with a 257 weather or not weatherbeeeee
 
A pal of mine is a real .25-06 fan and only fairly recently moved up to a .280. He's shot several moose with his jr. '06, and is of the opinion that with a 100 gr TSXs it kills about as well as a 7X57 (140@2900). I'm not fully on board, as I believe that general purpose big game cartridges start with the 6.5s and bullets over 130 grs, but one cannot completely discount the experiences of successful hunters with years of practical experience behind them, even if one's own observations are not compatible. He likes 168 gr Bergers in his 7mm too, but that's another argument.
 
As with bow and arrow, there's always the argument of fast & light vs slow & heavy, to create kinetic energy and penetration. The .270 Roy is a fast, flat shooting cartridge, great out to 400 yds for deer, sheep and pronghorn!!! For large game, I'd say 200 yds max, and use the heaviest, toughest bullet you can find. A bullet that retains the maximum weight, and keeps on plowing along, after the initial "mushrooming". Personally, for (my) .270, I'm thinking 130 gr min for elk, and 140 gr min for moose. Today's bullet technology, along with the tried and true Nosler Partition, allows a crossover in cartridge use. All the best:)
 
A pal of mine is a real .25-06 fan and only fairly recently moved up to a .280. He's shot several moose with his jr. '06, and is of the opinion that with a 100 gr TSXs it kills about as well as a 7X57 (140@2900). I'm not fully on board, as I believe that general purpose big game cartridges start with the 6.5s and bullets over 130 grs, but one cannot completely discount the experiences of successful hunters with years of practical experience behind them, even if one's own observations are not compatible. He likes 168 gr Bergers in his 7mm too, but that's another argument.


In most ways if every caliber under .277 ceased to exist it wouldn't change my life much. My nature tends towards using a little extra and not having to wonder whether I have enough. I remember when I got my first .270 as a youngster and prying open that box of Imperials. I can still remember that sinking feeling when I thought those skinny bullets could never kill anything like a .30 cal. Those misgivings went away, just on observed field results.

The line between .257 and .264 bullets is only 7 thousandths of an inch. There's a considerable overlap in bullet weights that have BG applications. My own .25 and 6.5 examples of .257 Weatherby and .264 Win Mag are so similar that if it weren't for the Weatherby shoulder it would be hard to tell the cases apart. With the same case, similar velocities and potentially the same bullet weights there just isn't going to be huge difference in the field over 7 thousands of an inch. My own arbitrary line is drawn at 6mm, the point where my observations show a decided drop off in killing speed.

Observation tells me that there isn't a great deal of difference between a 25 caliber through .338 cal TSX when it comes time to kill things. Although I'm on record as being less than enthused with TSXs as a type they are remarkably similar to each other when they hit. It wouldn't surprise me much if your friend did all his hunting with that 100 grain without problem.
 
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