257 Weatherby Magnum For Hunting?

[Rowan]

Gday guys and gals, I am currently debating on selling my 308 and replacing it with a 257 wby mag it’s a calibre I’ve always wanted but also love my 270 win for deers here in Australia. Is it worth getting a 257 as ammunition in Australia is really expensive but if they are as good as they say I’ll pay it and also what’s barrel life expectancy if looked after and not shot hot cheers

 

[243winxb]

If you reload?
The wrong combinitation of components may cause this.

 

[nakneker]

257 weatherby is great cartridge, it’ll put a smile on your face. I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay for factory ammo, Weatherby brass is good brass and you’ll get several loadings out of it if your not leaning on it more than you should. It’s an overbore cartridge, they are always harder on throats and barrels. Just use common sense and don’t get it hot, it’s a hunting rifle so even if the barrel life is a 1000 rounds it will probably last you a very long time.


I’ve seen some spectacular kills with it, it’ll put a smile on your face.

 

[DaveTooley]

I have one and love it " But "
Barrel life maybe 800 rounds as this gets to the lower limit of ridiculous.
If you can put it together, build a 25-06 Imp.

 

[Jr solocam]

You only live once. I've shot dozens of deer with the 257. Broadside kills are spectacular. North end of a southbound deer use a controlled expansion bullet....barrel life? It's not a BR rifle who cares.

 

[nmkid]

My 257 WBY shoots .500 3-shot groups consistently every time I shoot at paper with 95 gr. HHT bullets. As member nakneker says, it puts a smile on your face when you shoot it. So the barrel will only last 800-1000 rounds, who cares, it is a hunting rifle and will last for many, many years. In full disclosure, though, mine was built by Zack at ODCR.

 

[Doug Casner]

I dont know but Id say most people that get a 257 weatherby arent worried about the barrel. Ive had one since I was a young buck. It shoots as good as it ever did. Just shot it hunting deer, antelope, coyotes. I dont know how many rounds but still shoots under an inch with 90 gr. hornadys. Doug

 

[mike mccormick]

A 25-06 has the same performance, without the scarcity of brass

 

[Downeast]

I own two of them and they are a hoot. Go for it. 800-1000 rounds on a barrel equals one huge pile of dead critters.

 

[snert]

If you have access to factory ammo, why not? It is a fine cartridge and if you shoot out the barrel, you desrve it! Just shoot it enough to get it settled, then more to get you setlled, then whack a dozen critters a year for the rest of your life. At the end, you will be old enought to shoot more poorly than the barrel.

 

[snert]

And if you reload, it's a total no brainer.

 

[dk17hmr]

I had a 257 weatherby for awhile it's a really cool cartridge but only shot prairie dogs. I currently have a 25-06AI it's an amazing cartridge for killing deer sized game and it's slower than the 257 weatherby.

New barrels are made every day. Barrel life doesn't matter haha

 

[Gary in MD]

The 257 was fast before fast was in vogue. The closest thing to a lazer that you will shoot.
It’s rare when deer size game doesn’t drop in it’s tracks. It works on a variety of game too!

 

[X Count]

I'm in Australia and had one. Shot a few fallow and ferals with it. I can't say mine was easy to tune. I tried 87gr nozler BTs and one shot they would blow up and the next they would pencil through. Went to 87gr Speer tnt and they were devastating on ferals. I feel once you get up to the 100-115gr bullet range for deer there are dozens of cartridges that are as good or better.

You must have very deep pockets if you intend to used factory ammo in in OZ!

If your looking for a fast, mid bore size round that you can get good off the shelf ammo and reloading components for, have a look at the 6.5 PRC.

 

[Hal]

A 25-06 has the same performance, without the scarcity of brass

Keep telling yourself that.

 

[mike mccormick]

Keep telling yourself that.

I've had them both. There isn't any real difference.

 

[ken158]

As noted, just get a 25-06 and you will never know the difference.

 

[Gary in MD]

Loaded with equal bullets to equal pressures?
200-300 fps in favor of the big 257 and they are equals? Funny

 

[Badhabit]

The 257 really starts to separate from the 25-06 with the heavy bullets. Build it on a 8 twist and shoot 135s.

 

[Keefe300]

I have played with the 25 CM, 25-06 REM, 25-06 AI, and the 257 Wby. So to say I like the 25’s is an understatement.

Of all the 25’s the 257 Wby is by far my favorite! I use Hornady brass and 110 Nosler AB chugging along at 3380 fps. This combo has been amazing and has definitely put a smile on my face more than once. I have taken quite a few whitetail with this combo and it’s been bang, flop. I have folded 2 large bodied bucks on a full out run! That’s amazing to watch.

I have played with and harvested deer with cartridges from 22-250 thru 300 RUM and everything in between. I no longer hunt with any of the others, just the 257 Wby.