Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 257 wby VS 280AI

All things being equal such as same model of rifle, barrel length, weight, hand loading ammo, and etc. Only difference is caliber. Which one should I pick as an all around hunting rifle for rabbits to moose?

The only logical answer is the 264 Winchester Magnum

or....




the 270 Winchester!

I think so much of the 270 Winchester, I load my 280AI down to match its ballistics.

The one good thing a guy could say about the 264WM is that it is less overbore than the 257WB.

sometimes I wonder how boring a persons life must be to come up with these questions

+1

To answer the original question, .280 AI. If you are going to include Moose then the bigger bullets trump anything the .257 wby can do. I have 2 .257's and a 7mm saum and a .280. I would not choose the .257 over those for Elk or Moose. Sure it would work but the bigger pills are much better IMO. You can also shoot 120's or now even 110's out of the 7mm's and shoot rabbits.

25's are 25's no matter how fast they go.I don't consider the caliber really suitable for "all round" use,but that's JMHO.

The 280AI has more of what it takes in bullet weight,frontal area,and velocity for the "all-round" category.In that regard it is just like, but no better than,the 270 Winchester,280 Rem,30/06,284 and a slew of others.What any of these cartridges will do, the others will do.

Maybe I asked to question wrong or the wrong question. I am looking for another rifle in a small caliber like a 243 but could be loaded up a little more powerful which would be fun to shoot. I don't have anything smaller than a 7mm-08. Which by the way is fun to shoot. Just looking for something small and shoots flat to have fun with.

or to answer them over and over..But hell, I guess I'm here, so what does that say!?

I think you already found your answer in your original question.

Rather have the 25 in the 284 case myself, and put it in a 1936 Mexican action.

That certainly will take care of the spare cash you have lying around...:)

With moose on the menu?

.280 AI, no contest.

Sounds like you need a 257 Roberts... they are really fun to shoot and reload for. But between the 257wby and 280 AI I would go with the 257wby. I really like mine and using 120gr bullets have taken 3 moose and a 7'black bear,plus with the mild recoil I have (as well as 2 friends) used it to head shoot several coastal blacktails at 25-150 yrds(read accuracy due to low recoil).My one buddy actually could not believe how flat shooting it is when he shot at a buck in the neighborhood of 400 yrds and shot over him but aimed dead on his back and took him with the second shot.

I think a guy could pretty much get it done with either.. I'd rather reload for a 280AI though, than a 257wby.

Yup.Hard to beat in that role.Doesn't everyone have a Roberts?

All things are not equal given the disparity in the weight of slugs available for each. If one wants the bigger critters (moose), get the larger caliber.

A 257 Weatherby is fine flat shooting unit, but personally I'd stop short of using it on elk unless one gets a near perfect presentation. I know many disagree with that.

If one wants good performance out of a 28 caliber, just get a 7mm Rem Mag and be done with it.

My guess is "NO", otherwise they would not be asking what caliber to buy? They would be out shooting the best caliber and having fun.lol

I have decide to just get both - An ultra lite Weatherby in 257 wby mag. The a Kimber in 280AI. You can never have too many. Thanks for the great replies.

Much wisdom there IMHO