257 Weatherby; Opinion ?

I did consider it too! I did a ton of research on the net and using ballistic calculators and ended up talking so much about it to the family I ended up with two for Christmas. Its small, fast shooting round that has a great point blank range making it a point and shoot for most hunting ranges (<400m). Takes alot of "buck fever" out of hunting situations when it comes to range estimation and holds.

It can take most medium game in North America, some use it for Elk and Moose. I think that might be pushing it but its all shot placement of course. I would have no problem with good ol'white tails though, and it will be in my hands for next season!! Wish I had it for this season past though!! I can't see it doing much meat damage as a 30cal+ almost more of the arrow theory I would think when it comes to putting down game, will see though.

For re-loaders its a great round once you get past the brass price. For non reloaders it can get pretty pricey, so does most of Roy's rounds. It can get a 120gr Nosler Partition going 3350fps with ease. It does heat up my #3 Weatherby mk5 barrel pretty quick so as great of a varmint round with 85gr Nosler Ballistic Tips it can be it definitely needs a rest between a string of shots when you go with a barrel that size. Then again not much out there sending an 85gr round at 3800FPS!!!

I have already put 156rnds through my one rifle and its only been a month.

Most of all it is known to be Roys Fav!!

Are there other rounds that can do the job, ya there is. They just aren't as interesting or fast;)

This is the link that got my started on researching this round http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/ammunition_st257weatherbymagnum_031706/
 
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The best long range caliber out there for anything from coyote to whitetail and a hair bigger if you want to stretch things. Lots of different calibers have come and gone in my safe, but there'll always be a 257. Only thing is that it needs a minimum 26" tube to really shine.
 
I have a Rem stainless fluted in an upgraded stock with a 4.5-14 Leupold, I'm shooting 110gr accubonds and have had great performance on game, perfect for deer, antelope and caribou size game but if a moose was broad side I would not hesitate if I had it in hand, 7mm rem mag brass+1 pass in your die will take care of the expensive brass problem, I used a lot of 7mm brass until I could accumulate enough weatherby brass,
 
Some guys take a long time to come around to the 257 W. I started out out with one and have never been without at least 2 in the last 35 years. Maybe that explains my utter contempt of lesser cartridges. Lol.
 
ive pilled up a lot of game with the 257wby shooting 100gr tsx. after seeing the extensive damage it does to bear and deer I would never think twice about not packing it for elk or moose. Ive got a Remington lss and shes a straight up killer, just don't shoot crap bullets and it will be your best friend.
 
naktabar72 said:
Would you consider a 257 Weatherby for your various needs?
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It was Roy Weatherby's opinion that the faster a bullet traveled, the better—the flatter it would shoot, the less it would drop, the harder it would hit—the better its terminal performance. It was a concept that would spawn many an argument among ballistics experts, gun writers and in many a deer camp.

This argument is still going today 50+ years later and I enjoy :nest: from time to time too and I'll say this... "nothing shoots flatter, hits harder or is more accurate" than a Weatherby.

The point is there are calibers that are close and then there are some that are not even close and all that matters is what your tastes are.

I just the like the performance of the .257Wby in the Vanguard for the money and the fact that I am 3 inches @100 yrds and in the bull at 300 yrds.

When I do my part then the bullet will do its part and truth be told the last deer I shot with the .257 over at Scotty Creek it was less than 30yrds...

Buy it if it turns your crank or stick with the "Odd 6'' and get out hunting.

Tight Groups,
Rob
 
Love my 257 Bee. One word of advice though, stick to a well constructed bullet for deer or larger. I was loading 100 gr Sierra Gamekings and getting fantastic accuracy out of my Vanguard with them, but I had to make a close shot on a deer two years back and the bullet absolutely disintegrated on impact. Fortunately the velocity was high enough that a great many little bits exited the opposite side of the chest and turned the inside of it into a bowl of Chunky soup. Messy deer and a fair bit of meat loss on the exit side. Lesson learned, tough bullets only for this rifle. Been playing with Barnes and Partitions now, but a different rifle got the nod this past deer season. I'm supposed to attempt wolf hunting this winter, maybe I'll break out the bee for that.
 
The 257 wby. is my go to gun for mule deer. I has also accounted for an elk, a moose and a couple black bears. I shoot a 110 grain accubond at 3480 cps from a mark V accumark. I will always own a 257 wby.
 
I wanted a 257 Wby ever since I was a kid and saw the Wby pics in a gun catalog.

Still haven't got one. Came really close two months back when I bought a new Vanguard II - could have got it in 257 - great price, but the brass is just wicked expensive if you can find it.

While I would use it, without reservation all the way up to Moose sized game I already have other calibers that cover the spectrum and there is a few other guns I still want "first", that will be more economical to shoot.
 
naktabar72 said:
Would you consider a 257 Weatherby for your various needs?
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For antelope and deer they are the perfect cartridge, however; personally I would not use it on game bigger than mule deer. I had a custom built 257 by Corlane Sports who had performed a wonderful job on it with snow camo powder coat finish on the entire firearm, including the bi-pod. It was a tack-driver extraordinaire and velocities of over 3,700 fps, mind you it had a 28" barrel. If you don't mind weight on a firearm and want the extra velocities, then purchase the Accumark, and not the Vanguard. Vanguard only has the 24" barrel. Had a few dead flop deer with this cartridge.

 
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Not to stir the pot here but I don't own one and likely never will due to it being to small for moose and bears and to large for varmints. Only real use is for deer with very well constructed bullets which I don't buy. Proper caliber selection avoids the need for this. Don't get me wrong it is a very flat hard hitting caliber but doesn't really do anything perfectly. Add expensive brass and large quantities of powder burnt, it just doesn't make sense. If I wanted to make massive damage and speed, I would just load 110 vmax into my .30-06. personally I own a .257 Roberts for my .25 cal which is perfect for deer with a 120btsp at 3000fps or a 75 vmax at 3500 for varmints. The .25 cal have very limited bullet choices (75-120) and generally poor BC. To each his own if you own it and love it but a do it all cartridge it is not.
 
Actually, it's damn near a perfect Sheep and Mountain Goat rifle as well. Out West there is a much larger selection of game of all sizes, and each cartridge's niche grows as a result. The Barnes TTSXs and Hornady GMX changed the game in .25 cal BCs and bullet construction for high velocity rifles.
 
People that claim the 257wby is to light for moose and elk and bears haven't shot many apparently. Of the 50+ head of game I've killed with one, I've never felt under gunned. In fact I've never even had an animal make it more than 5 yards after being struck by a 100gr tsx
 
shorttrac said:
Not to stir the pot here but I don't own one and likely never will due to it being to small for moose and bears and to large for varmints. Only real use is for deer with very well constructed bullets which I don't buy. Proper caliber selection avoids the need for this. Don't get me wrong it is a very flat hard hitting caliber but doesn't really do anything perfectly. Add expensive brass and large quantities of powder burnt, it just doesn't make sense. If I wanted to make massive damage and speed, I would just load 110 vmax into my .30-06. personally I own a .257 Roberts for my .25 cal which is perfect for deer with a 120btsp at 3000fps or a 75 vmax at 3500 for varmints. The .25 cal have very limited bullet choices (75-120) and generally poor BC. To each his own if you own it and love it but a do it all cartridge it is not.
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Totally agree with you! The 257 wby is perfect for antelope and deer size animal. the least I can do when I hunt moose, elk or bear I go to the larger calibers/cartridges for humane/moral reasons, not my ego. The 100gr Nosler ballistic-tip hate's deer so much that it kills them instantly.
 
Cabellas and a few others sell Weatherby factory ammo for about 40 bucks a box, which is cheaper than the empty brass in the same store. That takes care of any expensive brass issue for it and the 270 and 300 Weatherby as well. You can pay more for ammo for a 30-06 without even trying.

For lightning fast kills on deer sized game in open country it's about as good as it gets.
 
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