.257 Weatherby Mag

[sharpshooter94]

I've heard that the .257 weatherby is very hard on barrels with factory loads. Would the life of the barrel lengthen if moderate handloads are used? I don't want to buy a gun and have to re-barrel it in a few years. I know that it is sufficient to kill whitetail and Roy Weatherby even hunted Cape Buff with this round. I will be handloading my ammo for this round because of the price of ammo.

[dave-t.]

You could down load the 257W to 25-06 velocities, but even the 25-06 has a reputation as a barrel burner. Unless youplan to put 100's of shots per year down the pipe, I wouldn't worry about it.

Look into 100grn tsx bullets.

I believe the Weatherby factory loads are topped with the 100grn Hornady interlock, so those two projectiles should give you a decent place to start. You will want a sturdy bullet for the speeds the 257W puts out, even if down loaded a bit.

[bugsNbows]

I use the 100 gr. TSX in my 25-06...they are the bugs' nutz.

[Altjaeger]

If you are going to handload to .25-06 or even .257 Roberts velocities then why not just buy a .25-06 or .257 Roberts which will be more efficient anyway.

Just as race cars are overpowered and inefficient for most uses the Weatherby cartidges were designed to be overbore and ineffecient for lovers of speed.

[pepaw]

I have deer hunted with all three (Roberts, -06, and the Weatherby).
Just get the 25-06 and let it cool between shots.


pepaw

[Sabre]

Geez, I'd take a 223 over a 257 Weatherby for deer any day ending in "y". I shot next to a guy with a 257 Weatherby on the range one day and let me tell ya that SOB was loud ! Real loud ! Horrendously, obnoxiously LOUD !:eek: I have roughly 50% hearing loss in both ears and most centerfire rifles don't bother me in the least but that dang Weatherby had me pluggin' my ears and runnin' for cover. Wouldn't take one as a gift.

[Hi Ball]

94......Yes, the .257-Weatherby is a real skyrocket and shooting bullets out that barrel over 3,200fps will take a toll down the road. If your looking for a caliber that will go for well over 5000 rounds without burning out the barrel, YOU best check out the 257-Roberts, 25-06 instead.

The 1/4 Bore Weatherby will drive an 85 grain bullet to over 3800fps! Now that is pretty quick for this country boy. It also will throw a 100 grain bullet down range to the tune of 3600fps. Not to shabby by any means.

I have two of those 25-06's and I keep most of my handloads down below 3200fps, even with the 75 grain bullets. I shoot 100 grain for coyotes at 2900 to 3000fps. MAX would be 3300fps!

I have hunted a lot of whitetail with the 1/4 bore and use the Nosler Partition in 120 grain bullet weight, going once again around the 2900fps. MAX being 3150fps in my gun.

Now that .257-Weatherby is a real quick 1/4 bore by at least 300fps faster in velocity but you do have a price to pay and that is replacing barrels twice as quick as a 25-06. The .257-Weatherby also uses at least 30 to 35% more powder to get those velocities over the 25-06 or 257-Roberts.

[Hi Ball]

94......Yes, the .257-Weatherby is a real skyrocket and shooting bullets out that barrel over 3,200fps will take a toll down the road on your rifle barrel. Now if your looking for a caliber, that will go for well over 5000 rounds without burning out the barrel, YOU best check out the 257-Roberts, 25-06 instead.

The 1/4 Bore .257- Weatherby will drive an 85 grain bullet to over 3800fps! Now that is pretty quick for this country boy. It also will throw a 100 grain bullet down range to the tune of 3600fps. It sure is not going to get to the target late by any means.

I have two of those 25-06's and I keep most of my handloads down below 3100fps, even with the 75 grain bullets. I shoot 100 grain for coyotes at 2900 to 3000fps. MAX would be 3300fps!

I have hunted a lot of whitetail with the 1/4 bore (25-06) and use the Nosler Partition in 120 grain bullet weight, going once again around the 2900fps. MAX being 3150fps in my gun.

Now that .257-Weatherby is a real HOT TATER on the plate!!! A 1/4 bore that speeds down range by at least 300fps faster in velocity verses other 1/4 bore calibers. However, you will have a price to pay and that is replacing barrels twice as quick as a 25-06.

I venture to say, if shooting the "257 Wby" at max velocities all the time, You will be looking at around 1,500 rounds give or take 250 before replacing the barrel. The .257-Weatherby also uses at least 30 to 35% more powder than it's little brothers (25-06 & 257-Robers) in order to reach it's max velocities. :eek:

[sharpshooter94]

Just wondering, how much does it cost to re-barrel an average rifle in .257 Weatherby?

[Herne]

Probably about as much as rebarelling anything else since the process is exactly the same. Align and cut a chamber, outer taper, crown and screw in. Do you have to get it proof tested?

Fired one once - well shot a deer with one to be precise - lot of noise and nuisance for no gain. Killed it of course, but no better or worse than the 270 or 6.5. Which would I rather shoot a deer - or wildebeeste - with out to 350. Why a 270. Less recoil, easier to shoot, better for the second target, better bullet performance, lighter rifle, more controllable rifle. Not for me.


I wish you joy and great pleasure of it!

[Just a Hunter]

If you want the 257wby go ahead and purchase it.

Few people these days will ever shoot there rifles enough to wear there rifling out.

Your far more likly to damage your rifling by improper cleaning techniques than by shooting it out.

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

If you are not going to shoot anything bigger than a whitetail, then you probably won't need anything more powerful than a 25-06 in .257. The only reason to have a 257 Wby is because "you want one", which in my mind is a good enough reason.

Alan

[dave-t.]

That is reason enough.

I had a buddy go flat crazy over a 6.5-06, telling the virtues of the .264 over the 25-06 and the .270. It's a wash in reality, but he had his fun and took pride in ownership of it, and there is something to be said for that.