Varmint loads 257 Wby Mag

[Bainbridge Varminter]

I've done a bit of searching on here and haven't found the answer to my question. With the 257 Wby Mag and using varmint bullets how difficult is it to reach the lands while still having sufficient neck purchase? Varmint bullets being any facilitated by a 12tw barrel. Knowing the 257 Wby Mag has a freebore of .3627" raises some concern.

Thanks in advance!

Mike

 

[Albany Mountain]

I am guessing impossible and not quite sure how safe or what is to be gained by it.

 

[FDCaptain]

I've done a bit of searching on here and haven't found the answer to my question. With the 257 Wby Mag and using varmint bullets how difficult is it to reach the lands while still having sufficient neck purchase? Varmint bullets being any facilitated by a 12tw barrel. Knowing the 257 Wby Mag has a freebore of .3627" raises some concern.

Thanks in advance!

Mike

257Wby for varmint, seems to be extreme over kill and a waste of powder.

 

[SD guy]

My 1st solution would be to purchase a 22 Hornet or a 221 Fireball, 223, , 22 ARC, 6mm PPC or 6mm ARC.

Then we all are wired different. Hodgdon does offer loads for some lighter varmint bullets, so, the op is not the first to consider this. Hornady does offer a 95 gr ELD VT. So if your goal is to go down this path, there are options. Should make for some fine acrobatics from the pasture poodles. Yet I ask at what cost, components & barrel life would be my consideration. In this day age I would be strongly looking at a suppressor if I went down this path.

Looking at somewhere between 60 & 82 grains of propellant it would seem..... I would tend to think you could achieve the same effect w 33 grains of propellant or less, in the 22 ARC.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Isn't it about impossible to reach the lands even when using the heavier/longer bullets in a 257 WM with all that freebore?

I would just load up some 85g NBTs long as you can and see how they shoot. A calibers depth is all you need in the case to ensure sufficient tension from what I've read. Maybe a bit less depending on the actual neck tension.

A 257 WM would be a great LR flat shooting coyote rifle, but I couldn't imagine using it for anything else varmint related.

 

[SD guy]

Isn't it about impossible to reach the lands even when using the heavier/longer bullets in a 257 WM with all that freebore?

I would just load up some 85g NBTs long as you can and see how they shoot. A calibers depth is all you need in the case to ensure sufficient tension from what I've read. Maybe a bit less depending on the actual neck tension.

A 257 WM would be a great LR flat shooting coyote rifle, but I couldn't imagine using it for anything else varmint related.

Good point, Weatherby never was a fan of touching the lands with any of there offerings as I recall. The considerable jump to the lands had been their claim to fame regarding higher velocity while achieving the lower pressure than most may expect for the high powder column behind the projectile.

 

[fisherman987]

It is impossible, I've tried just wanting to find touch and it couldn't reach