Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 257 vs 270 Weatherby?

I've this burning desire for a Weatherby cartridge lately. I'm currently tied between these two, with a little thought also given to the 7mm. Mostly a deer rifle, hopefully a plains game rifle in the future (where it'd be accompanied by a 375 H&H). I'd love any input on this decision regarding pros and cons. I load my own, so factory ammo availability isn't an issue.

You could not run fast enough to give me one. 7 mmRM save your self the fluff

No experience with the 270 or 7mm versions, but the 257 is one of those cartridges that has to be used to be believed. The on-paper ballistics are great, but what it does on game is flat out amazing. It's like hitting a deer with a bolt of lightning. I know the BC of 25cal bullets isn't the greatest, but for point and shoot hunting, it's hard to find a flatter shooting, light recoiling cartridge out to 4-500yds.

My other Wby is a 240. Very fun cartridge, just wish mine had a fast twist barrel. Since I already have a couple of 7RMs, I don't know that I'd have any interest in the big 7Wby.

Started out with a 257 Vanguard S2 used it a year and gave it to my younger brother. I am working on a Mark V 270 SS made in the Saco Maine plant, will use that for greenfield use next year with 130 grain reloads. I also use a 7mm Rem mag Sako and I really like both cartridges . I do like 3300+ out of those 130 grain 270's.

I had a 7mm Weatherby for a few years and no longer own it.

I have a .270 Wby, and absolutely love it. I have only killed 2 deer with it (a whitetail and a mulie), but both deer were absolutely flattened. It's my idea of a great longer range deer rifle, which is exactly what I've used mine for, and I hope to use it more in the future.

Although, I've also always wanted a .257, if the Vanguards came with a 26" barrel, I'd have one, too!

I have them all. I like them all---a lot!

But my fave is my ultralightweight 270 Bee

Seeing pics like that pushes me towards the UL. I keep reading that they don't shoot then something like this pops up. I could be swayed to get one, easily.

the 7mm has a better selection of pills,and better coefficient

The problematic ones are the 300 bee in the Ultralightweights

What's a real-world weight on the ULs?

Anything special to watch out for?

Is it that they really don't shoot or people can't shoot them?

My experience has been that the larger the hole in the barrel, the less accurately the ULW's will shoot, because the barrel won't be as stiff.

The worst-shooting ULW I've encountered was a .338-06, which wouldn't put any load into much less than 2 inches for 3-shot groups at 100 yards. The most accurate was a .240 Weatherby, which was super-accurate. But I've never shot one in any caliber smaller than .240.

The ULW's in any Weatherby chambering above .240 are built on the full-size Mark V action, not the small action, and usually weigh 8+ pounds scoped. Due to the weight they're not particularly hard to shoot.

By chance did the 240 have a 24 inch barrel? Wonder if the shorter length helped stiffen it up?

I have always liked the UL in 257 or 270 and think theby would make a great deer and Antelope rifle, if they would shoot well. A 240 in the same setup would be equally as nice.

The 257 I had in the same chassis was also a great shooter.

Anything 30 and over can be problematic

I would suggest started with the .257... its a rock star and it is available in the S2 for under $600. Its a great way to get started shooting Weatherby calibers. I have only owned one Mk V, but about a dozen or so Vanguards. The Vanguards are not as nice, but they sure do shoot and they work great for me.

I would like a .257 but Mark V's are out of my price range currently and the Vanguards only have a 24" barrel. If I'm going to have a .257 Weatherby mag it will have a 26" barrel. The .270 Weatherby doesn't happen for me.

Buy both.

Wouldn't mind having a .257 Wtby. Currently have 3 .270 Wtby.'s (Ruger No. 1, Winchester 70 and a Mark V Accumark)
The Winchester is either gonna get rebarreled to a .257 Wtby or sold.

Sound advice;I did.

That is my usual MO, however the screaming little mini-me expected in the next 5 weeks limits that norm a bit.