I have a Mark V in .300 WBY that I am considering rebarreling to .257 WBY. Can it be done? Yes. However, I am concerned about the bolt length. The mag box will have to be changed but what about the bolt travel? The .257 is a shorter case than the .300 so will this create issues? If I do this, I will change the mag box and put it in a new stock. The idea intrigues me as I have two other .300 WBY's so rebarreling this one to .257 would fill another niche. Is this project worthwhile or me trying to create a silk purse out of a sow's ear and do something that is more trouble than it is worth? What are your thoughts?

John

If you have 3 300 WBY Mags...I say to convert one to the 257 WBY is worth the effort...

I guess what I am trying to ask, is this project easily doable or am I setting myself up with issues by not using the exct bolt made for a .257?

John, I am not sure it's going to be the kind of "trouble" you think it is...

Why will the mag box have to be changed(curious??)??

Also..I don't think the bolt travel will have to be either..

The only thing you need to change is the barrel.

Everything else will work perfectly as is.

Agreed. All you need is a rebarrel.

Yep. About as easy of a change as there is, and very worthwhile.

The 257 and 300WBY's are not only two of the most useful Weatherby rounds, they are two of the most useful, if not THE most useful one two punch of cartridges there is, period.

You guys are great. I will fill you in as I investigate more.

Quit investigating and BUILD it! you will find yourself reaching for the 25 more and the big 30 less and less. When my 257WBY won't git 'er done, I go all the way up to a fast 33 or my 416 Rigby.

My action was sent off today and I will report back in 3 months or so with an update.

I presume is is being sent off to become a 257Lazerbeam?

Good deal, do report back!

The 257Wby is very over bore.

Damn right!

Not with todays modern powders. Might have been the case when the term was coined and the condition described by Mr. P.O. Ackley about 45 years ago but with R-22 and similar the 'ol Roy now sings and slings.

They have always firecracked in rapid fashion.

Good deal! Yer gonna LUV it. Many, many here have found Federal 215 primers, 70-72grs of Reloader 22 and Barnes 100gr TTSX's to be a near magical combination. Accurate and deadly beyond stated values. Suggest you start there or if a factory ammo only shooter with Weatherby, Vortex, Federal or BLack hills 100gr Barnes offerings.

Thanks. It will take three months or so but I will follow up once it is complete. I am really excited about this project.

Always is a pretty strong statement. I have had several, shot them lots, how many have you had and shot?

More than that. Always stands and easily.

Hmmmm.... the writing style sounds a LOT like someone who posted here for a while under another name. Lets see.....


JRS3 Never mind the formerly banned nursing home escapee. I am looking forward to hearing more about the rifle project. To whom did you send it for the new barrel? What length are you going with? 10 Twist or something a bit different? Hoping there will still be some deer or similar sized game for you to hunt when it comes back.

Sounds to me like someone who has shot out quite a few 257Wby tubes,though you sound like the consumate though starry-eyed guesser.

Here is one of my 257WBY victims. A heartfelt welcome back, Stick.

Which barrel maker are you going to use?

Cut rifling: Bartlein, Brux, Krieger, Rock
Button rifling: Pac Nor, Hart, Shilen, McGowen, Broughton

Don't forget Wilson and Shaw.

After checking out a buddie's rebarreled Mark V, I sent my Japanese made Mark V back to Weatherby and their custom shop. I was unaware that they would rebarrel rifles but they do. This particular action is pushing 25 years old and has had plenty of use. Since I have two other. 300 WBYs, this one is getting turned into a. 257!

What started out as a simple rebarrel has pretty much turned into a semi build. I am having a 26" Accumark contour, 1:10" twist installed into a Desert camo Accumark stock, and all metal teflon coated black. Since I went with the Accumark barrel, they guarantee the rig to shoot sub-MOA. If anyone wants more particulars, PM me but it was very reasonable with everything I am having them do. I might change the twist to 1:9" but am going to stick with 100-120 grain pills.

Weatherby offers a .257" 9"?

Through the custom shop. I had the twist discussion with them but they persuaded me to stick with the 10".

What barrels are they using?

I cannot say for all the barrels but they told me the Accumark that is going on mine is a Kreiger.

Have never seen a .257" 9" Criterion and I'd be curious to hear feedback in their regard. Thanks.

I think you will be fine with the 10 twist. I saw one this week that shoots 115 Bergers at 3600 and it is certainly enough. Being in FL, you will be working at sea level which is certainly denser air than I have ever shot in so you will have to see what happens. I still can't imagine that it won't shoot about anything you can throw at it.

My 25 Roy builds have all been 10 twist and Roy Weatherby's original barrels in the 40's through early 60's were often a 1 in 12. Roy Weatherby's preffered loading, even for Elk, being the 87gr Hornaday bullet at nearly 4000 fps. My 1 in 10's have all shot the 100gr X, TSX and now TTSX bullets just fine. As I see it, there is no need or more bullet than that one for anything one s going to point a 25 cal barrel at. If I need more than that, I need a LOT more than that like my fast 33's or even 416 Rigby.

While you are waiting for your barrel to arrive, you might consider ordering up some Dyna Coat. Reports here from known high volume shooters indicate that it will really slick up a bore and reduce fouling and wear. Next build I do - most likely a 224TTH - will get Bore Coated right out of the gate, then run with Moly'ed bullets as usual.

Used to be. Not any more, with the variety of slower powders on the market.

It will burn out in around 1000 rounds if you bench shoot regularly and last several lifetimes if you are a hunter. Most people who adopt the .257 Weatherby are hunters.

In your experience,how many other rounds have such short useful lives? Thanks.

In my experience, no cartridges have short barrel life. It is totally dependent on the user and the frequency of shots, particularly over an already hot barrel. But you knew that already.

I could not infer a 22LR's "life" to be commensurate to a 257Wby's. Mainly because I shoot more than a bunch.

Agreed. But..I never said that, nor "inferred it.

Stick, didn't you used to really dote heavily on the .25 Roy? It sounds like you have had a change of heart. I just built another .25-284. Love that round. Flinch

I don't think Boxer is/was Big stick anymore. Big stick used to nearly always add something useful to a conversation, not so this Boxer turd who seems to be content sounding somewhat like Big Stick but just calling good people names and saying "Bless your heart"

Have not seen this person, stick or not, posting in a while, might have been removed/booted.

In the custom shop you can get real cut rifled barrels in anything Krieger makes.

Weatherby custom shop

In 257 they show 1-9" as an option.