Where should I go from here?

[rosganom]

I have been given a Mark V in .257 Wby Mag from the 60's. The gun was left by a kid in a car trunk for 2 months wet. Looking from the breech end, the bore is rusted out in the 9 o'clock position. I've killed the mildew under the polyurethane in the stock, and saved the action. I would like to rebarrel to a 6mm/.243 bore. Bolt is setup for a .541" cartridge head. Stay with .257? Go with 6mm/.257? I would like to build around the VLD 105's and 107's. Just want an easy to prep round for coyotes.

 

[rosganom]

Thanks, that's what I'm looking for - opinion. I have no direct experience with any of the WSSM's, but it sounds very good. I just checked 3 300WSMs in the mag and they work just fine. So the .243WSSM ought to work as well. I've heard of a 6mm-300WSM. Is case prep simple with it?

 

[M700]

.257 Weatherby is a hot-rod that will flat out zap coyotes, rockchucks and deer with aplomb.

It's as easy to load as any other belted magnum. Easy on the shoulder and very flat trajectory. From experience, you can do it all with the 100 grain bullet. The Sierra SPBT for 'yotes and other things you don't mind blowing apart, and the Barnes TSX for deer,or bigger) where penetration might be more of an issue.

If the barrel is shot, I'd just re-barrel in .257 Wby mag all over again. Great cartridge!

 

[rosganom]

See, the deal is I've got a .270, a .30-06 and an 8x57 that all shoot better than I can, and I just wanted to go smaller. The .22's don't work too well in South Texas in the wind - I have hell doping the wind - it blows in circles out here on the prarie, so I wanted to go smaller, but not too small. .243's work good here with the heavier bullets. It's just that I've got this stout old Mark V action that grabs rims bigger than most of the more sensible sixes. I guess the best thing to do is go with a new .257 Wby barrel and load a tad light and save powder, brass and the bore.