257 WBY - Real Life Hunting Experiences Requested

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shanesymyrozum

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Hey Boys,

I am considering picking up a new rifle, and you know how it is, you go through a hundred different scenarios before you settle on a chambering.

Anyhow, I have been intrigued by the 257 Wby for some time now. As you know, a little time on Google and you will be able to find articles to justify any cartridge that has grabbed your fancy at that moment. What I would rather hear is real world experiences from those who have used this round, or have seen it used, on game consisting primarily of deer, moose, and the odd elk hunt thrown in. Not at all interested in hearing about what other cartridge is similar or better. I just want real world experiences from those who have seen it in action.

Tell me your thoughts, good, bad or otherwise.

Thanks in advance.
 
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I got one. Took my last whitetail with it a couple years back, was pretty uneventful though. Shot him right behind the shoulder at a hair under 200 yards, he jumped up, stumbled, and keeled over. If you hunt in an open area and can afford the ammo, it's an outstanding long range sledgehammer. I find mine prefers the 100gr bullets at like a half million feet per second or something, the faster they go the tighter the group gets.
 
I took a 6'6 (Brown) black bear at 450 meters with one shot from my 257 wby I was using the 100 gr spitzer. The bear dropped in its tracks as I squeezed the trigger apon further inspection the bullet passed right through never to be found I was quit impressed



 
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I use a Weatherby Mark V Accumark, and have bagged deer, bear, and miscellaneous coyotes. If the hunting draws come my way this year, I hope to add antelope, moose, more deer, and sheep to the list.

Nice to shoot.
 
Its way too boring and hampers the learning process. Everything just sort of stiffens and drops straight down. Booooorrrrrrring.

Then there's the education aspect. How's a guy supposed to learn about elevation and range estimation when the first 400 yards are a no brainer? Then there's tracking, you're never going to get good at that. Handling recoil? You might never learn. And eating right up to the bullet hole? May as well forget all about that.

Besides, every time I get a .257 either my kid steals it or someone twists my arm until I give in. I should hide the current one.







 
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It is a good chambering. I owned one in the past and my friend still owns one.

I shot this buck with a 75gr X - muzzle velocity was measured at just under 4000fps.
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Good:
mild recoil
kills well
flat shooting

Bad:
expensive brass
relatively short barrel life (if you like shooting lots)

Otherwise:
Brass can be made quite easily from 7mm RM
 
I have used Mine mostly as a mule deer, black bear and whited tail rifle. It has worked great for me, my longest shot on a mule deer was 629 yards and it fell like it was struck by lightning. I have been using a 110 grain accubond at 3480 fps. I did take my spring black bear with a 90 grain gmx at 115 yards this year. If you buy one you wont be sorry.
 
The .257 Wby Mag is a devastating cartridge. Nothing but praise for it, if your choice of game animals is within a 120 grain bullet, it's the best. I have a nice left hand one for sale on the EE.
 
Here is my custom 257 Weatherby made by RMR. Remington action, Brown pounder stock, 28 inch Gallard barrel, snow camo. Shoots sub-1/2 moa.
 
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I cannot say anything negative about the 257 Weatherby, well maybe one thing, "it's to fast". When this cartridge is fired the projectile turns into a laser beam and just keeps on going. Fast, flat, accurate and kills big game. A hunter cannot go wrong with this cartridge, after all Roy Weatherby favored this one over all others. I've killed four big bucks with this cartridge, here are a couple.

 
gunrunner100 said:
I paid $38 for 20 new Norma brass the other day. Only stuff I could find.
Click to expand...

Cabelas sells Weatherby factory ammo for about $44 a box in .257, .270 and .300. Once I discovered that the bottom fell out of the brass market.;) Necking down new 7 Rem Mag to .257 works perfectly, but now seems rather pointless for the .257.

There is bound to be other places with the same price; Frontier used to but I can't find it on the website any more.
 
I've had a few 257's and it's a great caliber, fast and flat. A couple of things to consider would be that due to its extreme velocity it needs premium bullets for good performance and it's one of the pricier rounds to shoot, especially if you don't reload. And keep in mind it's still a 25 cal., some guys tend to "overuse" it on large game. While the energy figures on paper may say otherwise, it doesn't exhibit the traits of a heavier bullet caliber on animals,at least that's been my experience. It's best suited for open prairie hunting on deer sized animals and needs a 26" bbl. to reach full potential.
 
Id like to hear more about barrel lengths and twist rates, it sounds like it is better suited to a 26"+ long barrel.
 
I have one in a Blaser R93, and up til recently used the 100gr Barnes load. I've taken many whitetail, lots of coyotes and 1 cow elk with it. Everything I shot at wondered for a brief second where that bolt of lightning came from before dying. The shock effect is amazing. Bang flops all day long. To me it hits better than my 7mm mag did.
 
cody c , I shota smallish buck at a great distance of 25 yrds.
It was a poor placed shot into guts.
Bullet (100grn spitzer) poked a hole in him and intestine popped out and plugged said hole.
Necropsy revealed the liver was split into three and bled out in 20 feet...dead and retrieved !
Plus I luv the sound and smell after touching the ole Wby off ;)
Wby Vanguard first generation 24 inch barrel.
The 26 inch ones make full use of all that powder and get the hyper speeds that make Wby famous.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
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