Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Weatherby Rifles

Recently decided to follow the American principle of freedom of speech, so quit "ignoring" the 7-8 people that had been on my list for a while. It was a mistake, since their free speeches turned out to be, as always, what Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth: "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Back to the ignore button!

As I get older, I like the ignore button more and more.

Kitch,

If you're still reading, check out the 6mm BR. Very efficient and will handle multiple, long shot strings without worry. Barrel should last 3-4 thousand rounds, or more.

If you just want a 257 Weatherby, go for it. It's a fun round and a real terror in the field, but like others have mentioned, it's not a round you want shoot multiple shots with from the bench. Also, to get the most out of it, go with heavier bullets. Preferably the 115 BST or Berger VLD. Lots of people swear by the 100 TTSX, but as Boxer illustrated, it's a ping pong ball and limits the bad azzness of the round. The 115 BST/VLD really let's you get the most out of the 257.

As for Weatherby Mark V rifles, I've always had great luck with mine. Accurate(MOA or better)right out of the box. Quality and reliability have been excellent as well, but then again I don't subject them to the extreme conditions as some here do. YMMV.

...and proper break-in

A few years ago there was a gunsmith in Idaho who claimed that any barrel would be ruined if not broken in "correctly" from the start. Of course, he knew the correct procedure, and charged a "reasonable" fee to do the job--if, of course, you paid shipping both ways, plus the cost of ammo.

Like Bob, I like having to replace only a few barrels a year because of having not-so-few rifles.

...the key, as one of our more astute contributors stated, was being able to identify " harmonic oscillations " ......

I still like my 30-378 accumark..,its one of those UBER magnums..I think.

As Do Nothing Day Dreaming Dumbfhukkery goes...I'd have to rate Imaginary Pretend Ignore,right at the top of the [bleep] list...in regards to sheer hilarity.

Right proper Dichotomy,that THE dumbest of the dumbfhukks,is always the first to poke their heads in the sand. Then the poor poor Stupid [bleep] wonder aloud,as to why they are soooooooo [bleep] Stupid.

It's just oh sooooooooo good...then couple it with a lengthy reasons of why not to shoot!

[bleep] AWESOME!

Kitch: I have three 257 Weatherbys and the 2K round count sounds about right. Mine went about 2400 before barrel replacement and I was meticulous about three shot groups then cooling. Without question, at least in my experience, the most lethal killer of deer I've ever experienced. I can tell you that not one deer has ever taken a step when shot with either the 100gr Hornady or the TTSX at ranges from 25 to over 350. It's a great cartridge, but you must be judicious with barrel care. jorge

I have looked at a Savage 12 LRPV in that caliber. I'm not sure I like the stock-prefer wood really but, I won't discount it. I suppose other than the 6PPC it's right up there in accuracy and with the larger barrel not the heat up problems.

Make no mistake, the 257 Weatherby is a fine cartridge and about the only one I'd pick. Factory ammo is most expensive, I've found out.

Still waiting on my deal to materialize, but none of the real discussion has made me want one any less...

Factory loads are not cheap, and the empty brass seems to go pretty fast in the Classified section.

Darn it, still want one!

Kitch,

You may be aware already, but Weatherby offers a budget minded box of ammo for around $40.00 a box,which is less than or equal to a box of Virgin Brass. It utilizes Weatherby brass and a 100 gr Norma Spitzer bullet. Shoot it up at the range and then use the empties for reloads. Getting about 7-8 firings per casing, a box of reloads costs me appx $20.00.

The first place I looked at for ammo was Midway and Bud's. Both had the 115 gr Nosler BT for around $75-80. I nearly dropped my teeth. That's for 20 rounds. Nosler's are good, use them in the .270 Winchester but, they're not that good.

Shooters pro shop has blems with 110 accubonds for 41$ I think

I've read a lot of high accolades about Weatherby's Vanguard S2, I think they call it. I saw a Deluxe model in 270 Winchester(favorite caliber) and the price was most inviting at $875. The two stage trigger for me might take a little getting use to, however but; they seem to be pretty accurate.

Any rifle I live long enough to shoot the barrel out of will bring a massive grin... how are you gonna lose?

It's like the time I was drift fishing [light tackle] in the Chesapeake bay with some pals. Hooked onto a 25 pound stingray --- there were acres and acres of them around --- and did he make my drag sing! After about 100 yards of line my buddy reached over to tighten my drag. "Un-uh", I said, "leave it". "He'll take all you got or burn the reel!" he said. "Then she's had a good life, leave it alone!" says I.

I had never had a fish run me dry before, and the prospect was wonderful...

Eventually boated the stingray, and it was fun ... still fish with the reel today.

Shoot the rifle and feel lucky.

Kitch,

Here you go, "in stock" at Midway for $37.99...

257 Weatherby Mag 100 gr Spitzer

I've utilized them in my 257 and they average just under an inch. They've also been a little faster velocity wise than Weatherby advertises.


The Vanguard's are great guns and a terrific value for the money. Also very accurate. It would be a good way to slip into a 257 for minimal $$.

Just worked a load up with my 257 fibermark.

110 Accubond at 3530 FPS.
215M caps
69 gr RL22
under 1/2" at 100 yards.

That's one good way to stock up on good brass as well. I also noticed they have Nosler ammo with the 110 gr AccuBond...a bit higher but a great bullet.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/88...ubond-spitzer-box-of-20?cm_vc=OBv1880779

Apparently RL22 and RL25 is the powder to use with this caliber. Right now, my mind's in a caliber war between the 257 and my ol' standby 270. don't you just h ate decisions?

Any powder with a burn-rate from the 4350's to Ramshot Magnum is worth a try, whether H4831, RL-22, RL-25, H1000 or 7828. I've had my best luck with 100-grain bullets using Magnum in two .257 Weatherby's.

The reason Magnum doesn't appear as much as other powders when questions like this come up is because most handloaders stick to powders with easily available load data. Then they try a couple and stick to the one that works best in their rifle. But Ramshot will provide some guidelines if you ask them.

Even old IMR4350 often works well, as it should, since it's what Roy Weatherby used to develop the cartridge, since at the time it was the slowest burning powder available. As a matter of fact various Nosler manuals have listed as the most accurate powder with some bullets. Their newest #7 manual lists as among the fastest with 100-grain bullets, and as the most accurate with 110 AccuBonds.

If you hunt in widely varying temperatures you might also consider one of the more temp-resistant powders on the list.