257 Weatherby Mag???

switchback00 · 05-02-2008, 05:57 PM

Anyone have this gun? I have shot one before and I am thinking of investing in one. If you guys do have one can you tell me what loads you run thru it and how each performs. I would mainly use if for deer over east.

tikkahunter · 05-02-2008, 07:59 PM

i have a buddy who loves his he hunts everything with it

hunt2much · 05-02-2008, 08:05 PM

I just bought a "Roy's Fav" about 3 months ago... I'm still saving up for the scope I want. I got a Wby Mark 5 Ultralight. I've only shot my buddies and theyre sweet. Big Mulies are a bit big... especially at a distance... for the 257 wby. I know I know... to each is own... But we use em for BT's and antelope and it flattens em. We've had good luck with all the factory ammo thats 100 grs and up. The 115 gr BST has the best performance. But I love barnes triple shocks!!! I wish they'd load em in 120 gr! I'd give up some speed and trajectory for the extra mass.

Matt

switchback00 · 05-02-2008, 08:23 PM

I would definately use it on antelope too. I do all my own loading and would probably try to do some ballistice tips with it. I shot a 270 weatherby mag and us ballistic tips loaded at 158 grains and it works wonders on the mulies. I would try to load 115 to 130 grains ballistics. Anyone shoot ballistics out of the 257?

hunt2much · 05-02-2008, 09:00 PM

I'd think the ballitic tips are the best choice... especially for this caliber... so you do all your own loading?

huntercgr · 05-03-2008, 05:44 AM

I have one and love it for deer. I do not reload, I just use Wby. ammo, 120 gr Noslers. Most of my bucks have just dropped where they stand.

ambush 1 · 05-03-2008, 05:51 AM

The balistic tip for me does not work in my 257 it comes apart. The Nosler 100gr partition has been my choice for more than 20 years. I have taken deer,antalope,elk ect, shot placement is very important. I hand load and find that H4831 at 68gr works well for me with 100gr bullet. I find that speed makes up for bullet weight to a point.

switchback00 · 05-03-2008, 03:46 PM

Yes I recently started doing self loads a couple years ago. My dad is the guru though. He suggested loading a 257 on the hotter side and using a nosler ballistic. Hotter he means up in the 150 gr range i believe.

baltz526 · 05-03-2008, 04:19 PM

150gr is in the blow up in pieces range

Big Billy · 05-03-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunt2much

I just bought a "Roy's Fav" about 3 months ago... I'm still saving up for the scope I want. I got a Wby Mark 5 Ultralight. I've only shot my buddies and theyre sweet. Big Mulies are a bit big... especially at a distance... for the 257 wby. I know I know... to each is own... But we use em for BT's and antelope and it flattens em. We've had good luck with all the factory ammo thats 100 grs and up. The 115 gr BST has the best performance. But I love barnes triple shocks!!! I wish they'd load em in 120 gr! I'd give up some speed and trajectory for the extra mass.

Matt

The Barnes tri-shock are an unbelievable bullet with their weight retention and velocity have killed many animals with them and everyone I have had try them won't shoot anything else

Great caliber though for deer on down IMO

Yeti · 05-03-2008, 09:37 PM

I have had a 257wm on my short list for a while. I have done alot of research on loading for it. Input from friends who own and love them:

Avoid Ballistic tips unless you are hunting speed goats and know your shot will be outside 200 yards. Inside that they go poof if you hit bone. Yes most animals will die but it is quite messy. I had a similar experience with a BT buck shot at 30 yards through the shoulder blade. Very messy and complete waste of one shoulder.

Partitions and TSX's are the bullets of choice for the 257wm.

mtn300 · 05-03-2008, 09:47 PM

257 weatherby ultralightweight is my next rifle for sure. Great gun and cartridge. Just have to come up with the $$$$.

Washington Hunter · 05-04-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchback00

Yes I recently started doing self loads a couple years ago. My dad is the guru though. He suggested loading a 257 on the hotter side and using a nosler ballistic. Hotter he means up in the 150 gr range i believe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by baltz526

150gr is in the blow up in pieces range

I think 120 grain is the heaviest you can get in 25 caliber. If it were me, I wouldn't use a Nosler Ballistic Tip in any weight in the 257 Weatherby. Too much velocity and you'd risk losing a lot of meat, or at least having poor bullet performance. Better to go with something like a Barnes or the new Nosler e-tip, if they ever produce one in 25 caliber. Use a good premium bullet and the weight really won't matter. Anything from 100 grains to 120 grains will do just fine.

Thumper · 05-04-2008, 10:03 AM

I hated mine. It was relatively unaccurate (1.5 - 2.0 MOA), and the muzzle blast was disconcerting, It actually seemed to recoil more than my 30 caliber rifles. Sold it.

By comparison, my .308s have been a delight, and I have a Sako Finnwolf that shoots an honest single hole at 100 yards.

Searcher · 05-04-2008, 03:10 PM

After 30 years I finally purchased a 257 Mark V UltraMark a couple of years ago. While a bit heavier than my Rugers it is an absolute tack driver, comfortable to shoot and gorgeous. I went with the wood stock for the quintessential Roy Weatherby look. I use 115 grain Barnes X bullets and have taken an antelope, a Wyoming mulie and a blacktail so far. No regrets other than I am pretty careful with it in the field.

Cliff D. · 05-04-2008, 03:20 PM

Some guns are like that, Thumper. Had a Savage 270 that rattled my teeth, which didn't help accuracy,had the exact same gun in 7mm. 3 in one hole at a 100.

switchback00 · 05-04-2008, 07:08 PM

Thanks for all the info guys!

Kamalot · 05-05-2008, 12:23 PM

My close friends father-inlaw owns every Weatherby Rifle Cal. and my friend has shot them all. He chose the .257wby Accumark and has killed numerous Mulies, Elk, Caribou and one Moose. All of the animals except the Caribou and Moose were taken over 300yds. He reloads with the Barnes 100gr bullet and loves the performance on all animal sizes! He said the only north american hunt he would consider taking a larger caliber for would be a Brown Bear hunt.

7pointbull · 05-05-2008, 12:36 PM

The only issue with the gun is the potential for muscle shock damage. its the same for all smaller caliber high speed rounds. I took a big 7x7 bull a few years ago with mine. I hit it dead center in the lungs and the whole front quarter on the impact side was blood shot from the bullet shock.

Yeti · 05-05-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7pointbull

The only issue with the gun is the potential for muscle shock damage. its the same for all smaller caliber high speed rounds. I took a big 7x7 bull a few years ago with mine. I hit it dead center in the lungs and the whole front quarter on the impact side was blood shot from the bullet shock.

What bullet were you using? How far back roughly from the shoulder blade did you hit? What range? Where was the exit hole?

Thanks.

baltz526 · 05-05-2008, 06:44 PM

i like the idea of owning this rifle. 110gr accubond in the 3300fps range. but a 7mm rem mag would be a better choice, 140gr accubond in the 3300fps range. with cheap brass. and ammo on every sporting goods store shelf

switchback00 · 05-05-2008, 07:21 PM

Its a very versatile gun from all your guys' stories and from people ive talked to. I think i will stop shopping them harder and make a purchase soon. thanks all

7pointbull · 05-06-2008, 07:34 AM

"What bullet were you using? How far back roughly from the shoulder blade did you hit? What range? Where was the exit hole?"

117 BTSP I am looking at the hide right now and I hit in the bottom half of the lungs and the exit hole was in the same spot on the other side. Not sure on the shoulder blades but I would guess 10" to 12". I shot from just over 400 yds across a canyon.