You can kill a moose with a .223, but that does not prove a thing about it being adequate for the purpose just because you've done it. I've seen people kill deer with 22 magnums, guess that's a perfect deer round now? The .257 is a great cartridge if kept within its capabilities but if large critters are on the menu, opt for a better suited cartridge please.
257 Weatherby; Opinion ?
- Thread starter naktabar72
- Start date
You can kill a moose with a .223, but that does not prove a thing about it being adequate for the purpose just because you've done it. I've seen people kill deer with 22 magnums, guess that's a perfect deer round now? The .257 is a great cartridge if kept within its capabilities but if large critters are on the menu, opt for a better suited cartridge please.
Great cartridge. If you are buying one my advice would be get a 26 inch barrel as like the .264 Win. Mag. it is overbore case capacity and needs the extra length to get optimum performance. Use premium bullets as well , she will really shove them out fast and cheap bullets DO NOT perform well at close range and high velocity.
Went that route, $45 for 100 gr spitzers, Weatherby claims higher velocities in their factory ammo than it shows in some of my loading manuals as well (in a 26" Mk V) but I haven't chronographed them. And the brass is top notch stuff for refilling. On a side note, was it 7mm Rem mag brass that can be sized to 257 Bee? For those who might be interested....
buckbrushoutdoors
Regular
- Location
- fort saskatchewan AB/Edson AB
comparing a 22mag to a fast well constructed bullet with a diameter in relality that is not much smaller than a .284 is foolish. Most people are caught up in the old school you need a big heavy bullet to kill a bigger animal. In reality our new "modern" bonded and gilded bullets offer more penetration and deeper wound channels than ever seen before. When paired up with a light for caliber bullet speed and increased penetration become even more so. So tell me where does a 100grtsx fall short of compared to a 7mmrem mag with 140gr tsx? I would guarentee that penetration would be almost equal in the two. Sure the 7mm will have a bit more energy over the .257 but what will that do if penetration is equal? and yes there will be a bigger exit but ive never found a set of lungs with a perfect hole in them, 99% of the time there are jelly inside the cavaty. Im only basing my opioin on the 10-15 head of big game I take annually in alberta saskatchewan and bc. Im on the train of thought that fast premiium bullets throught organs kill very fast. Its always about the bullet and less and less about the cartridge
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I wish more manufacturers would offer it in a lighter rifle, right now the only avenue is to go with a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight or the custom route. I've considered having a Kimber Montana rebarrelled to 257. I had a Rem 700 CDL SF in a McMillan Edge that was somewhat light, but it felt too front heavy with the magnum barrel, even with fluting.
Think you missed what I was saying completely. Penetration does not kill animals, actually its quite the opposite. My experience too much penetration and not enough shock or energy transfer will leave you tracking with a small hole and small blood trails. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Premium bullets work when pushed fast enough to expand. Cup and core bullets work just as well shot at normal velocities. Expensive bonded bullets are nothing more than tougher and harder to make expand. Perfect for .257 Weatherly class cartridges and of very little need for .30-06 class. no one can convince me that a 100 grain at 3800 kills faster than a 180 at 3000. I have done extensive testing with my savage ml 10 with 185-300grain bullets with speeds ranging from 2900 to 2400. The 300 at 2400 kills much faster and the animal is noticeably more shocked when hit. Read up on another factor of energy called momentum. There is a difference.
It was the "old school" boys who created the 257 wby (1944) and the Nosler partition bullet (1948). Roy Weatherby did not invent the 257 for moose and elk, there were other cartridge/calibers conceived for that purpose. It's prudent to pay heed to the grey haired................
You can neck down 7mm Rem in one pass. It works better if you use new cases. .264 Win Mag will also work, and being closer is likely a better bet if you can find it. I made a bunch out of Winchester 7mm Rem cases, but I have so much factory brass (and Norma) now I don't bother.
I would have a hard time with that statement without first considering how and where the gun is to be used and on what. I see a 257WBY as a great long distance cartridge for deer sized game.
If one was hunting where shots are normally longer than 300yds, then the extra velocity would really be of benefit, but in a place like most of Eastern Canada where shots are usually +/- 100-200yrds a 250Savage or 257R would be a better, more balanced choice.
Actually, many bonded bullets are violent expanders and weight shedders. That's often a good thing for the fastest possible kills on lightly constructed animals. What the bonding buys you is some assurance that it won't explode altogether with the highest impact speeds at the closest ranges.
I have a custom 257 Wby on a mauser action. Tried a variety of bullets with varying results. The 257 Bee will certainly test the ability of a bullet's jacket to hold together. Switched over to TSX & TTSX bullets and its a whole new game. These bullets hold together and penetrate and kill large game all out of proportion of their size.
Oh please, not another 375 is king thread with guys prancing around in pink tutus !
The guy wants to know what the masses think of it, Did the Op even ask about moose or large bear ?
There are better choices for those large game animals and thats all I gots to say about that.
Rob
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Yup, Accubond and Interbond come to mind.
Who makes one? The only reason I held back on getting one is because it needs a 6.5 not a .25.
You probably know already, but neck a .257 up to 6.5, scratch the Weatherby shoulder, ditch the free-bore and you have a .264 Win Mag.
I've always thought this rather strange myself.
The 264's barrel burner, loud 270 reputation is hogwash. Somehow necking the same basic case to 257 and giving it a long throat changes everything?..indeed.
Just an update on an old thread. I said I would likely never own a .257 Weatherby . I lied and picked up a Vanguard Laserguard and must say I am really eating crow here. Reformed 7mm brass took care of expensive brass. Biggest thing about this caliber is the unbelievable accuracy. It burns a lot of powder but I am really enjoying shooting my bee.
It is a fun little cartridge. STW velocity, .270 recoil and animals dropping deader than dinosaurs. We had some deer go down so hard and fast that their hearts were still beating in the gut pile or in your hand if you wanted. Very Indiana Jonesy. Very strange, its like the electrical system got shut off so fast that the heart never got the memo.
