Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 257 Weatherby musings...

Not too long ago, I built a 257 Roy on a win 70 action. For one reason or another, I never warmed up to the rifle and eventually sold it to a local fellow to fund another project. Soon after it was gone, I started to think about building another one and I have been reading as much as I can about the cartridge to make sure I want to make another investment in such a round. The main appeal to the cartridge is that it is simply cool and I am a 25 caliber nut too boot. .

My next Roy is going to be a win 70, douglas 26" stainless tube, mcmillan featherweight stock, talley rings and bases with a leupold 4.5x14x50 LR scope.

Funny thing, I was in the local gun shop the other day and I notice a rifle that looked familiar, it was my old 257 Roy. They could not even quote me a price and they had just recieved it on trade but they went on and on about the custom barrel and other features. I imagine that price will be sky high if I know these guys well, time will tell.

The following excerpt is from Chuck Hawks but I thought it did a pretty good analysis of the 257s attributes

Our standard of comparison, a .270 shooting the 130 grain bullet, has a maximum point blank range (MPBR) of 305 yards.

If you check the Rifle Trajectory Table you will find that the typical trajectory of these ultra-long range magnum cartridges allows a scoped rifle to be zeroed to hit about 2.3" high at 100 yards. From a rifle so zeroed the bullet will hit approximately 3" high at 150 yards, 2.6" high at 200 yards, and about 3" low at 320-330 yards. By going to a big magnum cartridge, and suffering the added recoil, muzzle blast, and expense that entails we have only gained an average of about 20 yards (6.6%) in MPBR over the standard .270 Winchester.
The most over-the-top cartridges among these, using the lightest bullets in their caliber suitable for even the smallest big game animals, can gain a few more yards, but at the cost of their versatility for use on larger game. For instance, the .300 Ultra Magnum with a 150 grain bullet at a MV of 3450 fps has a maximum point blank range (MPBR) of 335 yards. The .257 Weatherby Magnum with a 100 grain bullet at a MV of 3600 fps has a MPBR of 337 yards. The .30-378 Weatherby Magnum with a 165 grain bullet has a MPBR of 342 yards. The .300 Weatherby Magnum with a 150 grain bullet at a MV of 3540 fps has a MPBR of 343 yards.

Compared to the .270 Winchester, with its MPBR of 305 yards with the versatile 130 grain bullet, we have gained an extra 30 to 38 yards of MPBR (a 10% to 12.5% increase). In the case of the .300 Magnums, the price for this modest increase in maximum range is about a 60% to 300% increase in recoil (depending on the specific caliber), a similar increase in muzzle blast and the cost of ammunition, and a decrease in general utility! Seen from this perspective, only the .257 Weatherby makes any kind of sense, as at least its recoil is on a par with the .270 Winchester.

Love the 257Wby,it is King.

Can't like 70's,the FW handle or 4.5-14's and would go PacNor 3-groove 1-10"..........................

i have one of the older 24" MKV dLX's that chucks so fond of. w/ the scope in a 30mm tube your talking about.

Nice rifle, Cohiba. I like the knife, too. Who made it? It looks handy.

Sorry Stick, only 70s in my safes. For hunting rifles, I like the FW stock for 70s. I'll put the weight in the barrel and scope. Typically, I don't care for the 4.5x14 with AO, I have one on a 220 swift and it fits well there. However, the 257 Roy is unique and little more magnification can be an asset. I had a 4.5x14x40mm on the last 257 Roy and it fit well. I dont think my typical 6x would be the right call for this one. maybe the 8x56 PH. we'll see!

I bought my dad a .257 Weatherby many years ago. I think it would be hard to beat for a long range deer/antelope rifle. But for our style of close-in hunting, any standard caliber seems to do the trick. Happened to notice the factory fodder at Gander Mountain on Friday was 69.99 per box!

pepaw

Factory ammo is expensive, more so depending on the bullet you choose. I handload so that's not big deal. Anyway, this is not a cartridge that you shoot lots anyway. Same for the 240 WM, I own one and shoot factory fodder but not more than a box per year.

I drove a 6x42 on a 257Wby happily,as well as 3.5-10x's. Can't like the 4.5-14x on anything,despite being guilty of still having a few. Shot 'em with 6.5-20's and even 4-16x/6-24x Burris. Long tubes wander and rob brightness,as well as eye-relief(especially Burris).

The FW handle's ergos/balance,don't work for me at all,with a 26" tube and larger glass. Far too nose heavy,for my tastes.

Love the chambering....................

Sounds like I have a rifle that is almost a cross between where you guys' tastes lie. 270WSM, M70 blue printed action, H-S olive drab/brown handle, fluted 24" Pac-Nor #5 tube, Leupy 4.5-14AO, Talley rings. Ain't completely rung her out yet, but seen enough to know she's a shooter---2MG

I've built 3 rifles in 257Wby and 'Humper rung the bell on the first pitch.

#4 will dupe his.

700,Ultralight PacNor contour,1-10",26" long,SAAMI chambered. McMillan Mountain Rifle,light filled,1" Decelerator in gelcoat. LW's and prolly 6x42 with M1 ele.

73grs of '22/100X @ 3750fps. Have that trajectory memorized,from 300yd zero and only 17MOA to 1K.

Have shot the combo a smidge...................

I'm likin' the sounds of that combo. Keep tellin' myself I already have too many guns, but somehow it's never seemed to cure the sickness. If it took me as long to get cozy with a rifle as some of thes guys, I'd die and a lotta rifles would get neglected...--2MG

Built mine #3 and fluted #4's.

His do same,but is handier.

Sole hurdle is a 700 KS Mountain Rifle I punched 25-06AI,that pushes 100's to 3600-ish fps,via 24" tube with 4 in the belly. Killed a fair amount with it,via both 6x42 and 3.5-10x 40mm Non-A/O Turret.

Then there's the three 25-284's......................

If I did build a '25, which I've given some thought to, do you recommend the 25-284 over the 257wsm? Here, I go again, still got a 6-06 I haven't even played with yet...--2MG

I did some long range shooting with my 257 Roy and a 25/06. The difference at 500 yds was rather slim. I was shooting 110 gr Noslers at 3,325 fps and 3,650 which were accurate and close to max loads in the two rifles. I think I will stick with the 25/06 all things consisered.
-Doc-

Sold my only 25-06. Use the brass to make 6-06 now. If I ever have another 25, it will be a 25-284 0r 257WSM---2MG

Have had the Bob,Bob Improved,25-06,25-284,25-06AI and 257Wby.

There ain't nuttin' slim about the Roy.................

IMHO,there's some accuracy MOJO going on in the 25-284,which I cain't explain,despite it remaining constant.....................

Helle of Norway. i'v got 3. they are as sharp as the devil himself.
http://www.prodat.no/LoopSites/helle/sit...=nob&path=0,66168,69254,69328

257Bob,
You know Bob,your comparision of the 270 WCF is very compelling,You should think about becomming a 270 WCF salesman.Instead of building another 257, why not build a 270.
You answered your own questions.It costs less to shoot.
Has less muzzle blast.Recoil is equal to or less than.The 270 will more than likely allow a 24 inch barrel.The 257 will need a 26.The 270 will have longer barrel life.You will enjoy shooting it more.And what?All for an extended MPBR of 20 yards?The 270 WCF rules Bob. If I were you, I'd build one.
dave <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

fwiw,
My next project is going to be as follows...

Model 70 Classic Super Grade chambered .300 Win Mag(Early Red Pad)
Blueprinted by Mark Penrod, Safety Timed, Trigger Pinned and set at 18 oz. All tooling marks and mold lines(trigger)stoned and polished out...
Intended a Rock 5R #4 at 25", however, I dunno as I'll live long enough to get the tube. May go Broughton or Pac-Nor...
McMillan Echols Legend Stock bedded in Marine-Tex by Eric at GA Precision.
Stock painted in Black Polane, Bead Blasted SS barrel then engraved, with 400 or so polish and Dulite Blue on the remainder.
Williams 1 piece Bottom Metal
PME Spring Steel Extractor
Talley TnT brought into centerline and opened to 8-40s
Talley Tnt 30mm Low Rings
Leupold VX-III 4.5-14x40 LR Duplex with an M1 elevation turret

Regards, Matt.