257 Weatherby 500 yard or not

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bearhunter338-06

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I was thinking of getting myself a 257 Weatherby for deer hunting in northern B.C and Alberta. I have friends up there with big wheat farms. Shots could be as far as 500 yards. Yes I know 500 yards is a long shot and yes I allways try to get as close as I can (that's the fun of it). What is your thoughts on the 257 Weatherby as a 500 yard deer rifle.
 
or an 80 or 100gr TTSX

500 yards is no problem for a 257. Hell I'd push a 257 Rbts or 260 to 500. Accuracy is key
 
500 with a 257 is totally do able! Hell I can reach out to 500 with a 22-250. As a long range hunter/target shooter i'd have to say you'd be better off with a 7mm or a 30 cal with 150gr to 168 gr bullets with a decent BC though. Not saying the 257 is'nt capable anything is do able with practice and the right gear.
 
In the hands of a competent 500 yard shooter,it will do just fine.Unfortunately too many people think that buying a 500 yard gun,makes them a competent 500 yard shooter.
 
100gr TSX's move very quick out of the weatherby 500yds is doable for sure!.... The cartridge can do it the rifle likely can do it the question is can you shoot reliably and accurately out to 500yds?. How many times have you practiced shots that distance from sitting, standing or kneeling positions out in the field?.......
 
long range shooting

Be careful of all the B.S you'll get from all the super snipers in Canada, 500yds is a long shot and only 2% of the shooting population are able to take an ethical shot at that range. It will work fine but do your homework, buy a good rifle and shoot lots, Until you can hit an 8" pie plate at 350 - 500 yds every time with a field position (not from a bench) then you are ready to attempt an ethical shot if it presents itself. Also if you donot have a perfect braud side shot you will not penetrate through those big mulies or white tail bucks you are hunting in that area. I shoot a 30-378 and my partner shoots a 300 win mag, we have killed 3 whitetails and 4 mulies over the past 7 years without loosing one, I did shoot a 257 Wetherby accumark and had to track a 160" whitetail buck over 500yds in the bush to get a kill shot, that is why I went to the 30-378. Good luck
 
I use the 257 wby for everything except grizzly, although if I had a partner to back me up I would love to try it. I shot a moose at 440 yrds with a 25-06 with 100 gr tsx and another one with my 257 wby at 360 yrds this year. My son also shot 1 at 100 yrds and absolutely flattened it. I shoot 100 grain tsx exclusively and out of my vangaurd I get 5/8 inch 3 shot groups from the bench @ 100 yrds. Its more than capable 500 yard mulie capable.
 
The .257 Wby is a bit of a temptress -- lazer flat trajectory, but with a light bullet of relatively small diameter. I have one, enjoy it, and have used it successfully on some longer shots. I've also owned a .257 Roberts for nearly 30 years and have shot a good number of deer with it as well. So I'll put myself down as understanding a fair bit about what a .25 cal bullet in 100 - 115 grain weights is going to do and what it's not going to do.

At 500 yards, with most deer-class bullets you're going to be down around 1100-1300 ft-lbs of energy. No, energy doesn't kill deer. But it's a good indicator that there isn't going to be a lot of hydrostatic shock going on when the deer is hit. Nor are you likely to see an exit wound.

Now, what you will see with a good, precise hit is a dead deer. But more likely than not, it's going to run a bit. Not a big deal in the middle of a snow-covered field where blood sign is impossible to miss. But if that deer is way down yonder cutline in the middle of a lot of green growth, and you forgot to get a very clear reference on a nearby landmark before pulling the trigger...

I guess it just depends on how good you are as a marksman, and how favourable the conditions (both shooting AND tracking) are. Myself, as I've become more comfortable with longer shots, I've learned to assume that as range increases the need for bullet diameter and full penetration also increases -- because there won't be much shock and a good blood trail is often a great boon in recovering the animal.

Myself, I don't really think of my .257 Wby as an ideal 500 yard deer gun. It will do the job, sure, if I do mine. But I don't think it's the best tool for the job.

As for what is the best tool, I think that's the pair of boots that would allow me to cut that distance in half ;)
 
416 Rigby said:
Be careful of all the B.S you'll get from all the super snipers in Canada, 500yds is a long shot and only 2% of the shooting population are able to take an ethical shot at that range. It will work fine but do your homework, buy a good rifle and shoot lots, Until you can hit an 8" pie plate at 350 - 500 yds every time with a field position (not from a bench) then you are ready to attempt an ethical shot if it presents itself. Also if you donot have a perfect braud side shot you will not penetrate through those big mulies or white tail bucks you are hunting in that area. I shoot a 30-378 and my partner shoots a 300 win mag, we have killed 3 whitetails and 4 mulies over the past 7 years without loosing one, I did shoot a 257 Wetherby accumark and had to track a 160" whitetail buck over 500yds in the bush to get a kill shot, that is why I went to the 30-378. Good luck
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416 Rigby: I have seen you shoot. You are probably a better marksman that the mystical 2% you refer to.

Regarding distance, In 2002 I was on a long range shooting course with our late friend Ian McMurchy as the instructor. Ian shot a gopher at 863 yrds with his 308. It was out between the 800 and 900 yrd targets.

I asked Ian about his own long range hunting. This was a guy who shot targets at 1000 yrds and beyond all the time. He said 550 to 600 yrds was his personal limit (at that time anyway) on game. He explained and then later had us learn the hard way that the 500 yrd targets were easy. The jump to 600 yard target became much more difficult that the jump from 400 to 500. Then when we got over 600 and were trying to hit at 700 it was an order of magnitude harder. We were there with our hunting rifles, not specialized long distance rigs.


If I can stay under 400 I do, with 300 being so much better. 500 to 600 if you have been practicing and aren't trying it for the first time.

My 2cents.
 
Thanks everyone. all good advice well take it all in. Now worries about me going out and shooting 500 yards right off the get go. I have shot enough to know I will need to practice long range shooting before hand. It is just a thought incase a guy needed a long shot. Like I stated in the beginning all the fun is getting close.
 
I know it can be done with a 257 Weatherby but I would move up to a 270 Weatherby and load 140gr bullets to 3300 + fps for hunting everything.

My buddy had a 257 W years ago it was an awesome rifle/cartridge combo I was always amazed at his capability of hitting at + 500 yards I just feel a slightly heavier/wider bullet at a marginally slower velocity will be a better choice.
 
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