25 WSM versus 257 Weatherby

[Beruisis]

That Berger 115 gr 25 cal is probably the most accurate bullet I've shot. Bug holes at 100 yds with my 250 Savage & 2.2" groups at 425 yds.

 

[Beeman]

Don’t over look the 25-06AI. Mine drives a 115 Berger out of a 26” Krieger at 3350 fps. Not 257 Weatherby speeds but close. Brass doesn’t grow so no trimming and lasts multiple loadings at these speeds. I found H1000 the most consistent. 7828 gave a bit more speed but gave me pressure spikes.

 

[hoz53]

I did a 25Rsaum for hunting season. The 100's ran about 3200 with room for more. I have a 25-26Nosler to do when I get home this time. That ought to run with your Weatherby. I guess you have the 25 bug also. Almost forgot Preacher did a 25-284 Savage 99 for me. I have a 270WSM that I really like. When I finish my .45 smokeless muzzleloader I'll have a different gun for each deer. I have really enjoyed my old SB13. Fun hobby for sure.

how did you know i had an SB13. mine is in pieces though. Im trying to decide which way to go on the cartridge. i have some components ect for the Wby. Thanks for the info. its the kind i was looking for. i probably need barrels for several of these.

 

[Gb300wm]

I ran 100 gr. Gs customs in my 257wby at 3600 fps and it was an absolute hammer. Saw a whitetail drop in the scope at 402 yds. Imr 7828 is the powder for this round. I can see why Mr. Weatherby liked this round so much. Like a few said before me, speed kills. Absolute truth there as long as you have a bullet that can hold up. Monolithic bullets are much better for this round than lead core bullets. 110 accubonds just blow up with no exit. Gs customs and barnes work really well in the 257 wby.

 

[hoz53]

I ran 100 gr. Gs customs in my 257wby at 3600 fps and it was an absolute hammer. Saw a whitetail drop in the scope at 402 yds. Imr 7828 is the powder for this round. I can see why Mr. Weatherby liked this round so much. Like a few said before me, speed kills. Absolute truth there as long as you have a bullet that can hold up. Monolithic bullets are much better for this round than lead core bullets. 110 accubonds just blow up with no exit. Gs customs and barnes work really well in the 257 wby.

alot of good info i can use. Thanks

 

[hoz53]

I did a 25Rsaum for hunting season. The 100's ran about 3200 with room for more. I have a 25-26Nosler to do when I get home this time. That ought to run with your Weatherby. I guess you have the 25 bug also. Almost forgot Preacher did a 25-284 Savage 99 for me. I have a 270WSM that I really like. When I finish my .45 smokeless muzzleloader I'll have a different gun for each deer. I have really enjoyed my old SB13. Fun hobby for sure.

how about that 6.5/300 wby????

 

[sdean]

how about that 6.5/300 wby????

Would be a laser. I have a shortened 6.5 rsaumAI chambered in a hunting rifle. I am going to chamber a barrel for my fclass gun with it to play with the sierra 150.
The 25-26 nosler will be my last crazy project for now. Starting to get serious on Fopen comps.

 

[hoz53]

Would be a laser. I have a shortened 6.5 rsaumAI chambered in a hunting rifle. I am going to chamber a barrel for my fclass gun with it to play with the sierra 150.
The 25-26 nosler will be my last crazy project for now. Starting to get serious on Fopen comps.

thats an interesting choice for f class.

 

[Earnhardt]

I have been shooting .25/300WSM since the .300WSM was SAAMI spec'd (Henriksen reamer) - named mine .257 IdiotMag. With multiple (24") barrels, with Win. Supreme 780, and 110 Gr. BT (G1 BC right at .54), 3540 FPS is easily attainable - this is about equal to published loading DATA fro the .257 WBY and 100 Gr. bullets. Both the 257 WBY and 25/300WSM are great deer, pronghorn, and coyote cartridges. RG

Done any more shooting with the 25 WSM?
Especially with the high BC .25's out there now?
Any info on barrel life?
Thanks

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

Case capacity for the 26 Nosler is very close to the STW case line........ 25/26 Nosler should do what the 257 STW will do.......I've got a reamer for this but still haven't chambered up a barrel yet.

257 WSM will beat the Weatherby with a little to spare and is a pretty simple wildcat to do.

 

[choprzrul]

There are no high BC bullets in .25 cal.

Blackjack 131gr at 0.332 g7 BC. Is that a high BC bullet?

Blackjack 131 grain ACE Match Bullet (100 ct) – Blackjack Bullets

.

 

[284winner]

Older thread but still worth responding to due to the introduction of the newest 131/133/135 bullets. The .257 caliber has been reincarnated so to speak. IMO the .257 Wby is a cartridge to be reckoned with. It's probably still the fastest factory cartridge. Sure Sherman cartridges may outperform it or a crazy wildcat but Roy's infamous Wby mag has it going on for sure. Too bad the heavies weren't around at it's introduction. Faster barrels would have been standard or optional and more of the heavies would have been the norm.

 

[284winner]

Blackjack 131gr at 0.332 g7 BC. Is that a high BC bullet?

Blackjack 131 grain ACE Match Bullet (100 ct) – Blackjack Bullets

.

Josh's post was pre heavy .257 bullet introduction. Even the 131 BJ

 

[284winner]

I think at that time, the 115 Berger and the 120 Speer/Sierra WERE the heavies.

 

[wboggs]

I see this old subject is being discussed again.
I for one do not believe that speed alone kills. Bullet placement and speed is the answer. I was on a combo sheep/goat hunt in Alaska in the 60s shooting a 300 Wby loaded with 180 Hornady spire points at a measured 3301 fps. I broke out of a heavy fog into a goat herd at 25yds. I shot a nice billy broadside throught the lungs and saw lung tissue explode out the offside exit. The goat just turned his head and looked at me, then walked over to the side of the ridge and started down. I was so shocked I watched him for a few minutes before a second shoulder shot dropped him. I find it hard to believe a 3700fps 25 cal bullet would have shocked him to death. Just one of my experiences but never again did I believe that speed alond kills.
Bill

 

[AckleymanII]

I have an X caliber, 9T #5 contour, 26" in length. We shoot the 110's at 3590 fps, bug holes, R#22, fed 215's. Gentry muzzle breaks allow you to see the deer collapse in the scope at the shot!

Reamer has .020 freebore

 

[AckleymanII]

I see this old subject is being discussed again.
I for one do not believe that speed alone kills. Bullet placement and speed is the answer. I was on a combo sheep/goat hunt in Alaska in the 60s shooting a 300 Wby loaded with 180 Hornady spire points at a measured 3301 fps. I broke out of a heavy fog into a goat herd at 25yds. I shot a nice billy broadside throught the lungs and saw lung tissue explode out the offside exit. The goat just turned his head and looked at me, then walked over to the side of the ridge and started down. I was so shocked I watched him for a few minutes before a second shoulder shot dropped him. I find it hard to believe a 3700fps 25 cal bullet would have shocked him to death. Just one of my experiences but never again did I believe that speed alond kills.
Bill

Bill, there is a lot of difference in jacket thickness of the 25 cal and 30 cal bullet, plus a lot more speed on the 25 cal version....lots. I have never shot a deer that did not collapse at bullet impact with the 257 Weatherby.

 

[wboggs]

Bill, there is a lot of difference in jacket thickness of the 25 cal and 30 cal bullet, plus a lot more speed on the 25 cal version....lots. I have never shot a deer that did not collapse at bullet impact with the 257 Weatherby.

I shot a running doe at 20 yds through the chest with a 100gr nosler partion out of a 257wby and she ran for about 40-50 yds before collapsing. Another broadside chest shot on a large boar hog with a 220 gr hornady round nose out of a 300 mag dropped him on the spot.
In my experience there is a lot of variation in response. A spine or brain shot is the only sure way to a DRT shot.

 

[AckleymanII]

Lots of variations. Adrenaline is a huge factor, all of mine have been standing, relaxed when hit. Indeed, there can be a lot of variations in response. I shot 100g Hornady Flat base in the 257 and 100g ballistic tips...neck shots are my favorite.

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

Any high velocity.......3500pfs+.......... will usually drop a whitetail in its tracks if the bullet is put where it's supposed to go.

I've used an improved version of the TTH 224 on many deer and none have taken a step after the shot.

It can't do anything else BUT drop them. The bullet impact blows out (shock) the central nervous system. Then they bleed out before it can recover.