Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 257 Weatherby Build

I am having my 1st one built. It will be used for deer from 50 to 100 yards in Maine and in Georgia from 100 to 300 yards.

What would you recommend for barrel twist, bullet weight and type? My go to deer rifle has always been a 25-06 with 117 federal blue box. All the deer shot have dropped in their tracks.

What will I be gaining with the 257?

Can I get velocity over 3400,3500?

My opinion. You probably will not gain anything except higher cost for ammo and much rdeuced barrel life. The 25-06 is very effective at the ranges you are looking at. Acutually a 257 Roberts or 250 savage will work very well also. But it is your choice. My $00.02.

For the distances you cite, and if they're already dropping in their tracks, your gains will primarily be recoil, blast, and cost.

There are several actions I'd build it on.....one is the older M700 Remington, another the Howa (Vanguard) and as much as I like the push feed Winchesters, I'd opt to not use that as I've had feeding issues with them. Sako is another fine action for the job....and while one of the Weatherbys I built was on an Interarms Mauser action, I'd not use a CRF action although the Interarms action worked just fine.

Barrel twist would be the standard 1-10 and bullet to be 100 to 120 grains.....pick the one that you like.....I'd be using Barnes but it's your decision.

I've owned two rifles in .257 Weatherby, three rifles in .25-06, and three in .257 Roberts and frankly couldn't find much difference in any of them. I have sold both the Weatherbys and still use the .257 Roberts if that helps any. On paper the Weatherby looks to be the greatest thing since sliced bread but in the field, that gain in velocity gets lost somewhere or at least isn't highly noticeable.

Same for the .264 Win Mag......it's not really much more (if anything) over my 270 Winchester.

To your question "What will I be gaining?".....answer....very little over the .25-06

Agreed with the others. For 300 yard max and deer, I would not step up to any magnum personally. If you do end up with the .257 mag, I'd look at the 100 TTSX or equivalent.

I have a 257 WBY (Weatherby Ultra light) ,25-06 and a couple of 257 Roberts. The WBY is my go to rifle for Antelope and I use the 110gr Accubond in all three rifles. At the distances you mention I'm in agreement with the others that there isn't much to gain in the WBY. If you don't re load the WBY ammo is expensive. I saw a box of 115gr NBT at over $100/box at the local sporting goods store. How many chances do you really get at 300 yards? Thats nothing the 26-06 can't handel.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade but if you want a custom rifle (and who doesn't) I would look towards something different. For the expense the three calibers aren't that far apart.

For the application you are suggesting, a 257 Weatherby is definitively not the best option. If you like the 25s, try an 06, or Roberts or even a Savage and as far as actions, I'd stay away from 700s.

I's have to agree with all the other posts, but the best reason to own any rifle is because you like it. Like trumps all other considerations.
And to answer your question, a standard 1-10" twist is just fine for the 257 Weatherby.

If you're going to build though you may as well twist a bit tighter to open certain options.

A .257 Wby, with a 100gr bullet ( either Partition or TTSX) will be more then sufficient to drop deer at the ranges you listed. Sighted in properly you could hold on hair and pull the trigger and not need to worry about much. 1-10 twist will be fine and might as well make it light enough to carry as a .257 does not kick much. I think I would avoid Ballistic tips just because of your relatively short ranges and the destruction that they bring. JMHO.

All of the above.

OP- you didn't mention barrel length but your velocity question should be easily achieved using the above two bullets.

Standard freebore? Factory ammo?

Mine is a PF M70 with a 26” Shilen 10 twist. I’ve shot caribou and whitetail deer as well as coyotes with it. I like the 85gr Ballistic Tip and the various 100gr bullets. You can easily get a 100 grain bullet to 3700fps. I don’t think the 257 is necessary at the ranges you cite but necessity has nothing to do with custom rifles IMO. You’ll find that it kills like lightning, not unlike your 25/06.

I haven’t seen any really bad meat damage even shooting shoulders with the 85 Nosler though I’m sure it’s possible with the speed available. The doe I shot this past fall did have the most internal damage I’ve ever seen in scores of big game animals I’ve seen die, strangely the shoulder the bullet broke when it exited was fine aside from a 3/4” hole through it. Everything in the ribcage was soup though.

I want one too even though I just did a 25-06 and know that in my hands I won't gain much as I rarely shoot past 400 with 300 being more typical. Twist rates: my 25-06 is 1 in 9 and I would do the same for a Weatherby. In the 06 and smaller 25s some 110 and heavier bullets will not shoot as well as the lighter ones with a 1 in 10 twist. The velocity might make up the difference but it might not especially with 115 and up VLDs and custom heavy weights. But many only use the 100 grainers and 1 - 10 is fine for these.

Although I know it is not true I feel like a 24 inch barreled Weatherby is a loud 25-06 so I would go 25-28 inches especially if in a single shot for the longer barrel. I could see having a light weight 25-06 and a medium weight Weatherby as a good combo depending on how much stand hunting versus walking your doing.

I used to own a .25-06, currently own a Wby. Mk.V in .257 Wby, as well as a .257 Roberts. If your maximum range for deer is 300 yards, you will gain nothing by using the Wby. I own mine because I live here in the western US, where opportunities for long range shots at antelope, deer, and elk are common. It's the reason I sold the .25-06- IMO, the Wby does a better job for me. I shoot Barnes TTSX 100 gr. bullets in mine, driven at 3700 fps, and they hold together at all distances. With that bullet, I have taken whitetails, mulies, pronghorns, and elk, several of these at ranges well over 300 yards.

If you have plans for doing hunts down the road for pronghorns or mulies, there is probably no better round than the .257 Wby. If you intend for all of your hunting to be in Maine or Georgia, a .257 Roberts would be a sensible choice, if you are just looking for a different .257 caliber rifle.

If you want one just because you are a rifle loony then by all means go forth. I did one on a Remington action sent to PacNor for a #2 conture SS Super Match barrel and it is a laser beam and I love it. BUT I have also owned a couple 25-06's and for what your need is that is your huckleberry. MUCH cheaper to shoot, less recoil, less noise, and MUCH longer barrel life. My 25-06 shoots 100 gr. TSX at 3316 with 25 grains of powder less than my 257 wby at 3700. Big difference. YMMV

My one uncle had a .257 wby with a 28" gain twist barrel that was a velocity over achiever, With less then full bore loads it was plenty fast and very accurate. His was a short throated camber that was a demon on the Ghog population with 85 gr BTs

I have the ultimate .257 Weatherby, actually have 2 but I'd tell you not to do it for you're applications . 25-06 will do what you need in spades with out the expense of the Roy

Well, you're using a .25-06 to do what can be neatly done with a .223 already....:). I think you're nuts to go with the Roy....do what I do, go with a .25-06 AI for more loading fun, less increase in performance and...??? Then again, I've kinda thought my next rifle might be a .257 WBY. Live it up.

If you want it, build it.

As a reference, my 7 Wby will do 3650 with 120’s, 3400 with 140’s, 3200 with 160’s.

I don’t own a 257 Wby.

Nice rig! I have yet to see a 257 Wby that would NOT shoot like that.