My first 1/4 bore was a 2506. Living and hunting in Texas it is really all that I needed. Near Eagle Pass I was hunting with a friend of mine on his lease and I couldn't shoot a buck. I had already shot a good size hog with my 270 and missed a big doe at about 350. And not happy about that. Sunday morning, I decided to drag out my trusty 2506 and shot one even further away. Sold the one year old 270 and found a 700 chambered in 257 Weatherby. The rifle was very picky to what load it would shoot. I sold it and went back to my trusty 2506. My 2506 was not as fast as the 257 but not as finicky. Partitions were not as accurate as Ballistic tips or Game kings. the ballistic tips were like a varmint bullet at less than 150. The 257 was worse than worthless with anything except partitions. This was back in the early 90's bullets are much better now. If you are going to hunt Texas Jack rabbits with horns a 243 is all that you need. Bigger game at longer range. Sendro chambered in 300 WM shoots most easy to find factory loads. Excellent using hand loads. My 2 cents. Remember the 94 30-30 was king when I was a kid and 30 anything can beat you up working up loads.
257 Weatherby Magnum For Hunting?
- Thread starter Rowan
- Start date
mike mccormick
Silver $$ Contributor
Maybe with some of the extra heavy bullets. When I was playing playing with them, a 117 was as big as there was.
If you have a 270 and a 308 unless you're looking to reach way out there on light and medium game, I'd advise no.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
Short freebore 257 Weatherbys with 26" barrels shoot the 100s at 3850 in 3/8" groups and the same for the 110g Accubonds and 115g Bergers at 3600. I have had Shilen and X caliber barrels with .030 freebore, and both of these barrels with my reamer take less than 20 shots on load development with R#22 and Federal 215s.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
Speed sets up a tremendous internal wound cavity, and at some point of stretch, the cavity becomes permanent. Speed is the secret to why the 257 Weatherby is so effective on deer.
IN a short freebore chamber, the 85g Nosler ballistic tips, 87g Speer, and Sierra are doing 4130 on a 26" 10T barrel.
In a 26". 10 twist with very short freeobore, the 80g Barnes TTSX would be doing 4200 fps.
I sighted my 257 Weatherby's in shooting the 100s at 1/2" high at 200, which put me 3.5" low at 300.
The 7 STWs shooting 120s at 3800 was the only rifle I have owned that would rival the trajectory and absolute knock down power of the 257 Weatherby.
I had a Pac Nor 3 Groove super match with .060 freebore(work done by Pac Nor) that only took 12 rounds to start shooting sub 3/8" groups with the 100s at 3900, fastest 26" barrel I ever owned.
With a good muzzle break, you see the bullet impact on the animal in the scope, water vapor fly off the animal, and the bullet hit behind the animal where terrain allows. You see the deer fold up while still standing with no life left in the animal at all.
IN a short freebore chamber, the 85g Nosler ballistic tips, 87g Speer, and Sierra are doing 4130 on a 26" 10T barrel.
In a 26". 10 twist with very short freeobore, the 80g Barnes TTSX would be doing 4200 fps.
I sighted my 257 Weatherby's in shooting the 100s at 1/2" high at 200, which put me 3.5" low at 300.
The 7 STWs shooting 120s at 3800 was the only rifle I have owned that would rival the trajectory and absolute knock down power of the 257 Weatherby.
I had a Pac Nor 3 Groove super match with .060 freebore(work done by Pac Nor) that only took 12 rounds to start shooting sub 3/8" groups with the 100s at 3900, fastest 26" barrel I ever owned.
With a good muzzle break, you see the bullet impact on the animal in the scope, water vapor fly off the animal, and the bullet hit behind the animal where terrain allows. You see the deer fold up while still standing with no life left in the animal at all.
Jrjones
Silver $$ Contributor
Impressive
Yes, YOLO, right? The two-fiddy seven is amazing. But you have to reload to eek out it’s true potential. I don’t currently have one, but I am back to my No.1 in 25-06.
With the advent of newer 25 caliber pills it’s a solid choice. The 25 CM may just be the best of the Creedmoor’s yet. Time will tell.
With the advent of newer 25 caliber pills it’s a solid choice. The 25 CM may just be the best of the Creedmoor’s yet. Time will tell.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
The 25/06 AI with the high BC bullets would be a monster and the std 25/06 or 257 Roberts AI would be no slouch either!
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Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
Im not a big Weatherby fan but I do like the 257. I have been close to building myself one many times. Built one for my buddy in Montana whos range I hunted. It was nasty on whitetails. I mean nasty. Hit them in the wrong place and your loose half your meat.
I have a 257 Weatherby in the form of a previously loved Mark V Ultra Light Weight.
I reload for everything except shotgun and 22LR.
I'm running Peterson brass with a charge of Ramshot LRT lit by Fed 215M.
Bullet is the 115gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.
One thing of note about the 25 caliber is that it seems to kill above what the caliber size would suggest.
I'm using 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 257 Roberts AI, 25-06, 25 WSSM, 257 WBY.
I reload for everything except shotgun and 22LR.
I'm running Peterson brass with a charge of Ramshot LRT lit by Fed 215M.
Bullet is the 115gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.
One thing of note about the 25 caliber is that it seems to kill above what the caliber size would suggest.
I'm using 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 257 Roberts AI, 25-06, 25 WSSM, 257 WBY.
Reminded me of an old steel frame Browning BLR I rebarreled to 250 Savage! Forgot about that one. Built that for my left eye dominant daughter for her first deer rifle, and it’s pretty sweet too…so I guess I have two 25 caliber rifles…oops, there’s also a Steven’s 44 1/2 action in 25-20…guess that counts too. None of them are in the same league as that 257 Weatherby though.
To get my Ruger 77 MKII in 257 Roberts back from my daughter, I built her a custom Mauser in 7X57 Mauser.
Cut the bolt handle off, made a custom, bent one and welded it on with a screw on bolt knob.
Dakota 3 position safety and a Timney trigger.
Drilled & tapped the action for an EGW 20MOA one piece base.
E.R. Shaw 22" sporter barrel, polished and blued with 11° recessed crown.
Wife and daughter ordered a Boyds AT-One stock.
In purple of course.
She's taken several deer here in PA with the 120gr NBT.
Even though she's somewhat recoil shy, she wanted to shoot my 257 WBY.
Her response...
"The kick is more like a push, but man does it hammer the steel plate at 300 yards!!"
Hence WHY, I liked ( and owned ), the thicker jacketed, Heavier, 150 gr Hornady Bullet at, 3,077 fps in the .270 Wby Mag. Rifle. ( Killed Well,.. ALWAYS and With, very Little, Meat loss ! )
The .264 Win Mag., WAS Also, very, VERY,.. "Hard", On Meat with, "Some", Bullets !
This was back in, the 1970's to 1990, Era,. when, Big Game was, everywhere,.. usually !
And for the Most Part, Bullets, WERE,.. KRAP !!
"Trophy Horn Hunting" & the Range Finder, wasn't invented, YET, we All were all proudly, Meat eaters, back, then !
IMO,. If, Hunting with, a .257 Weatherby,,. Pick,.. a TOUGH Bullet and TEST them !
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If you are pinching pennies or concerned with barrel life look elsewhere. For pure fun and joy get a 257W. The 240 with 85 gr Sierra at 3640 is a hoot too!
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