new member, with a new project.

[msu33]

Ok, be patient with me, I am new to bolt action rifles.

I wanted a flat shooting cartridge that is good for the whitetails here at home, and that would also be good to take out west for antelope and mulies. So, I decided on the 257 weatherby. The cartridge has really gotten my attention, it just seems like a fun cartridge to work up loads for.

Here is my project:
Stiller Rem. 700 action
Krieger #4 contour barrel
McMillan Lazeroni sporter stock, blind magazine
Trigger : undecided
optics undecided.

I am currently waiting on the action and the stock, but in the mean time I need to make a decision on my chamber reamer. I have read several places that I do not want any free bore. Without free bore I would be able to load out to the lands. With the factory chamber being too long it is not possible to load bullets out that far. So, is that basically it concerning free bore? Some people claim it is more accurate to shoot without any free bore, and some claim they are still shooting .2 and .3" groups with a factory chamber. What are the pros and cons? I am just getting my feet wet in custom bolt actions and need some experienced advice.

Thanks

 

[Preacher]

About the only problem is that the only good long-range bullet for it is the 115 Berger VLD... Set your reamer up for that one and you'll do good with it....
Buy a Jewell for it and you'll never want another........
A Nightforce or the S-3 Sightron will be a plus to your shooting.....

 

[ROBSTER]

also check with the barrel manufacturer and the gunsmith and deciede what projectile you will be shooting so that you get the right freebore and rifleing twist.
robster

 

[msu33]

It's a 1-10 twist, i went with this twist because I will be shooting 100 or 110 grain bullets. I was considering using barnes and nosler bullets, mainly because I have had such great results with them in my other rifles. I will look into the 115 Berger.

What kind of long range results can be expected with the noslers and barnes?

 

[Kenny474]

I was under the impression that most Weatherby cartridges had a lot of freebore to lower pressure to a safe level? Weatherby cartridges aren't your average round as they run at very high pressure, 65000psi. If you reduce freebore you will increase pressure. I would research that a bit.

The 257 Weatherby isn't a benchrest round, and I don't think reducing freebore is going to make that much of a difference. My Dad's factory .257 will shoot MOA or slightly better all day with a ton of bullet jump. I would rather have the freebore and not worry about pressure or having a case stick in the chamber with a game animal running away. Weatherby's have killed every game species on earth with a ton of bullet jump, I wouldn't worry about it. You have a better barrel than a factory rifle, so it should shoot well with a factory chamber.

Also, I have heard that with excessive pressure in a belted round you can have head separation easier than a nonbelted. I don't know how true it is, but it seems possible.

I have read that some have good results on game with VLD"S. GreyBull makes custom long range hunting rifles in 7mm mag and .243, and they claim to use VLD's exclusively. They say they open reliably and explosively, penetrate and break bones, and prefer them to controlled expansion bullets even in Elk. Check them out at greybullprecision.com.

In my opinion, if you want an absolute nail driver, another round would suit you better. If you want a long range deer dropper and MOA accuracy is ok, then the .257 is an awesome round. Just remember, Weatherby rounds are not like the others. They are high pressure and borderline overbore. They are made for taking game, not setting accuracy records.

 

[msu33]

Dont worry, this is not intended to be a benchrest gun. I want it for whitetail, hunting out west, and going to Texas to hunt hogs in bean fields at night.

Though it wont be a benchrest shooter, I do want to get it as accurate as possible. I like having confidence in my gear, and if I could be making shots on game out to 400 yards, then I want that extra bit of accuracy. If I am in TX and i have it rigged with thermal, I want to know that I can attempt that nearly 600 yard shot on a hog.

 

[JabaliHunter]

Personally I would try the 100gr Swift Scirocco or possibly the 110gr Nosler Accubond. Both great hunting bullets.

 

[Kenny474]

The only concern I would have with a hunting bullet is how will it drift at 600 yards? VLD's are proven to drift less, therefore should make it easier to hit at that distance. I would call GreyBull and get their suggestion on a long range bullet, as they have based their entire operation around super long one-shot kills.
Phone#888-427-4868

I also went back through my records, and my Dad's .257 is grouping closer to .5" than I remember. The best being .5" and the worst at .9" for 5 shot at 100yds. Not bad for a factory Vanguard. I don't think accuracy will be an issue at all. Just chamber with the bullet you want to use in mind. And if that 600yd shot presents itself you shouldn't have a problem.
This should also help you figure out what will stabilize in your barrel.
http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.0.cgi

 

[msu33]

Thanks Kenny....

I have decided I am going to chamber my rifle for the 115 VLD's. After talking with some gunsmiths....I should be fine to shoot any of the bullets I was already considering, and for long distance the VLD would be my choice round.

 

[Kenny474]

Give an accuracy report when it's done. With the components you have it should do very well.

 

[wapiti25]

I used the 115 Nosler in a 25-06 last year, it worked fine on an antelope in MT. Did you look at 6.5's before you made your decision. I also shoot 6.5-06's and have been thinking about the 6.5X270 WSM. You do need to reload only if the freebore is not going to be in this 257 weatherby custom. The pressure may be through the roof with factory ammo.

 

[msu33]

I will definately give a range report on this rifle, however many months away that will be....... ???

Wapiti, I hand load everything for all my firearms, except self defense handgun ammo. Half the fun of building this rifle is working up loads for it.

Now that i have the reamer decision out of the way....I have to decide on an optic. Sightron was suggested earlier, but I am afraid that it may have a little too much magnification for a hunting rifle. I did look at the Greybull leupold. That thing is pretty sweet.