Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Weatherby Rifles

What do you think? Do these rifles have a short barrel life due to their higher velocity? I would think so. I've read barrel life in the 257 would be something on the order of 2K rounds. It would be shot out in 2-3 years if I shot it like the rest of the rifles I had at that rate. I really had thought about a Mark V in 257 Weatherby but got to thinking about how hot that baby would get this summer shooting four five shot strings from the bench. It would be an excellent and probably accurate caliber but using logic instead of eye lust I don't know if I'll follow through with the one I'm looking at.

A friend of mine has a Vanguard in 257 magnum. Given how hot the barrel gets from a three shot string (summer shooting), I wouldn't select that cartridge for a high round count pursuit.

Just don't shoot it so much - just use it to kill stuff.

Yep, that's what they are good at.

My 257 has ~400 rounds through it and this post year I had to use jb bore paste in it to resurrect it.... azshooter here said it was badly fouled (probably me not cleaning properly) bit also said the cracks were quite extensive.

My Weatherby MkV Fibermark, .257 Wby, has been in my possession since around 1984. Other than load development and sighting in, it gets used for hunting only.
If I really want to burn rounds thru a rifle, my .223 M4 gets the nod.

At the rate of a few rounds per year, the Wby. will outlast my great-grandkids!

Barrels are made to be shot out, and cutting down on shooting to keep a barrel around is just silly.

If a guy wants to run a barrel burner, he just has to live with the consequences. If having to rebarrel every couple years is not agreeable, buy a 308 and be merry.

If you have a need for the capabilities of the .257 Weatherby, why not shoot it?

I agree with PG, shoot until it's time to replace, and enjoy the caliber. Protecting the barrel is done by proper care, not by sitting in the closet. You don't park a truck to save on oil changes...

I'm in the same .257 lust, and waiting on the deal to be made.

Had several .257 Wea. on 700's.. I made them for long range coyote shooting.. It is a great caliber in the .25's. Mine did show wear after 1200's, but it still shot great.. At times I think I should barrel up another, but haven't done it yet.. I agree with Prairie Goat, buy it shoot it.. If it isn't your cup of tea, then you will have a good action for a rebarrel job..

I've been shooting a lot lately. With a 257 Wby. I'd probably be rebarreling every three months or so. That's why I'm merry with my 308 stable.

If you are fortunate enough to shoot enough to wear a barrel out, you have been fortunate enough to shoot enough to wear a barrel out.

Mart

My MkV is a 30-06.

I know its milquetoast, but it kills stuff and I can shoot it a bunch.

Oh yes. Shooting as much as you are, a round like the 308 is almost a requirement. Not only from a barrel life standpoint, but from a purely economical one as well.

I should shoot my 223 a lot more, but for some reason I just don't find it as satisfying as a 308. The component costs for the 223 are certainly a lot less.

Firstly,boolits matter farrrrrrr more than headstamps. Secondly,"Logic" would NEVER lead one to a 9-lugged MK V...if only for starters. If you just gotta do a [bleep] Weatherby,go VG and thank me later. Hint.

Now if only for conversation and because I may have yerked a 257Wby trigger or two and mebbe even shot out a barrel or 5 in the chambering.(grin) The 257Wby in the Pre-LRF Ping Pong Ball BC Days was a rather nice way to fly. Why?!? Simply because it hauled major ass and if you GOTTA fling Ping Pong Balls(because that is all there is),then you need to hedge a bet by putting some sizzle on 'em. It was a far better chambering 20yrs ago,when boolits was closer to "equal" and handy/dandy LRF's didn't exist.

Fast forward to Today. No other diameter is as maligned boolit wise,as the Quarter Bores. Like it,lump it,bitch,moan,whine or complain...dat's a sad fact.

For conversation a 257Wby launching a 100 TTSX at 3750fps and wearing a 250 zero,drops 2.4MOA at 400 with 2.8MOA of 10mph full value wind.

600yds -6.8MOA ele,4.6MOA wind,2100fps of retained velocity and 981 pounds of "energy".

800yds is -12.8MOA ele,6.8 wind,1676fps and 623#.

1000yds is -21.3MOA ele,9.6MOA wind,1326fps and 309#.

1200yds is -33.2MOA ele,12.8MOA wind,1089fps and 263#.




Now if only to look at schit differently and in a more forgiving manner,replete with inherent mechanical advantage(s).

A lowly Rem 700 243Win will scoot a Hornie 105 HPBT to 3000fps. Hint. Wearin' a 250 zero,drops 3.4MOA at 400 with 2.3MOA of full value wind. (Note: it has the wind drift advantage inside the 100yd line and retains it to as far as you care to hurt the 257Wby's feelin's.)

600yds -9.1MOA ele,3.8MOA wind,2009fps(it's cut the 750fps velocity advantage to 90fps) and 941 pounds of "energy"(40# less than the 257Wby).

800yds is -16MOA ele,5.4MOA wind,1728fps and 700#(50fps advantage and 75#+ over the Weatherby...which will get uglier).

1000yds is -24.7MOA ele,7.3MOA wind,1479fps and 510#.

1200yds is -35.5MOA ele,9.4MOA wind,1271fps and 376#.

Just sayin'.

Hint.(grin)

I have always owned a Wby since I first started shooting. Never wore out a barrel, ever.

I currently have every caliber made by then with the exception of the 338-378 bee --- never liked it much.

Get one and enjoy the heck out of it!

I think of the .257wby strictly as a hunting rifle, not a dual purpose hunt/target rig. Get it shooting right, figure out the dope for your load, and then only bench-shoot it if you are confirming your zero or checking accuracy every now and again. Done that way, it should last a person a long time. As others just said, there are better chamberings out there for those that want a lot of trigger time. The 223 and 308 are always good routes.

Yes, and a fine one it is.

I had the good pleasure of meeting Roy Weatherby at the 1974 NRA Convention in Atlanta and lusted over his rifle display but Weatherby rifles back then were expensive as was the ammo. The ammo still is. I don't recall the Vanguard back then but do the Mark V.

I have other rifles I shoot 2-3 times a month to include mostly a M70 270 and Sako .222. I can't say how much, after load development, I'd shoot the .257 but I'd say at least 20 rounds a month if not more. The 270 has a Featherweight barrel and even with it's modest velocity with a 130 gr bullet, in comparison to the .257, the barrel gets hot after five shot group. I can imagine how hot the Weatherby barrel would get. Although both are hunting rifles still you want to develop loads for them and don't want to wait fifteen minutes between five shot strings, especially when it's 45 degrees outside.

Having read some of the comments I've nearly talked myself out of this rifle. I'm primarily a paper puncher with hunting days mostly gone. You get older, retire, have money to spend and harken to the days of rifles and pistols you wanted in your 20's and 30's but didn't have the coins for a Python or Weatherby back then bu,t now you do. I think this is where I am, looking at Weatherby rifles.

My first .257 Bee lasted 12 years with just over 1000 rounds through it.