Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Twist rate on .257 Weatherby

I’m about to have Melvin build me a NULA in one of my favorites, the .257 Weatherby. I have generally used 100-110 grain bullets in my others, which are all Weatherby factory guns with 1-10” barrels. I have been doing some research on some of the Blackjack 130-131 grain bullets. Per their information, they want a minimum 1-8” twist to stabilize properly. Also per them, it will stabilize the bullets I have been using as well. I just wanted to see real world experience that this is so. Before I decide on twist rate, I want to make sure I choose one that will appropriately stabilize bullets from 100-130 grains. I am a novice level reloader but still use a lot of factory ammo as well. Thanks

Let Melvin Decide! He knows his stuff. My best recommendation.
Just tell him what you are looking for and he will lead you to water.

Also, not sure if Melvins rifles have enough space in the Mag box to get the most out of the Blackjacks without having to stuff them deep into the case. I’d check to see what the mag box length is in the NULA and what the avg loaded length is with Blackjack before you commit to using that bullet.

Another suggestion from experience....

If you spec a 26” barrel it’ll be a #3 contour and your light 257 won’t be so light.

Mel is a great Smith but I would suggest you do your homework and tell him what you want......
Hint....

Do what Daveh said.

See this is the feedback I need guys, I thought I had thought about just about everything but you have made several good points and I'm going to ask him about the box length. I'm thinking it's going to be short though. Melvin has said he prefers a 3 on a .257 Wby but he'd do a 2. So I get what you're saying about weight. He suggested the balance might be off but said for some guys they like the way it feels. I'm lucky enough to be only an hour from his shop so I'll go feel something comparable soon.

I have a Model 20 22" .308 he's done but it's pretty much a NULA standard right down to the green, brown, and black stripe stock (loved that since I was a kid). Melvin has always been noncommittal about calibers and considers them a personal preference. I wanted a .284 but he pretty much talked me out of it being I am a novice reloader. (he told me for all he's built he's never hunted with one) Hell, I think I changed calibers 3 times until I settled BACK on the .308 and am happy with it.

The other caliber I considered is a .270 WSM. About the same recoil, but heavier bullets available should I hunt elk (never have and can't see myself gun hunting them more than 2 or 3 times in my life, though I have some access). I could also go with a 23-24" #2 barrel rather than the 25-26" which would be much handier. I am recoil sensitive, so that is a consideration. This is the upper limit I will go on recoil. I realize that loving ultra light guns and hating kick is an oxymoron, but it is what it is.

Still, I am very partial to the .257 and the 100 grain Interlocks screaming almost 3600 at one antelope or another is just fun.

Can you still get those 100 grain Hornady interlock or do you have a big stash of them

Since you also mentioned the 270wsm and factory ammo you might also consider the 6.5 prc. It seems like it would check a lot of boxes for you.

I might have a few hanging around.....

Dumb as heck that they seem to have dropped them.... And I'm curious what will happen of the Weatherby factory ammo loading with that one, that's where I got started loving that bullet for deer and antelope. Both my .257's love it.

Daggone it, I forgot about that one. I love it's ballistics. The only issue I have is that it's not a proven long term caliber yet. I'd hate to buy it and then see it go the way of it's parent the .300 RCM

The 6.5 PRC isn’t going anywhere but if you hand load it’s moot.....
If you are considering a WSM I would really give you a recommendation of the PRC. Accurate and recoil is very manageable.
If you want fast, shoot the 6.5 100 grain Partition.....

If it is a classic magnum you seek from Mr. Forbes and you don’t want to get hung up on twist rates go for the 264 Win Mag or 270 Wby Mag. Both shoot from 100 grain bullets to 160 grain bullets and far exceed the 257 Wby in projectiles with high BCs using std 1-8 for 264 Win Mag and 1-10 on the 270 Wby. All three burn about the same amount of powder, but the 264 and 270 Wby carry more punch and can do anything the 257 Wby can do and more. Just a thought if a classic magnum is your desire. All need a minimum 26” pipe.

Not sure if Douglas offers a 1-8 .257 caliber barrel but no down side if you are shooting 100 grain and up bullets. The slowest I would go is 1-9 for the typical 115-120 grain bullets. I think the Model 28 mag box is 3.4" if that is not enough then possibly a Wyatts for a M700 could be fitted or the next size up NULA box.

If you go up in action size and a 26" #3 barrel you start loosing the weight advantages of the NULA. Melvin usually adds weight to the butt stock to balance the rifle. A fast twist 270 WM would be nice but for what you described the 257 WM is a good fit. I was going to build a 257 WM for the Black Jack and longest Hammer bullets but the advantages only started to be significant past 600 yards. So that idea is on hold and I will shoot the standard 257 in the meantime.

Wow you all have given me so much to think about. So many great comments, tips, and calibers. Heck I’ve taken a step back and have been poring over ballistics tables.

This will be my last NULA and it’s mainly for western hunting in SD, ND, WY, and MT. I love my 2 257 Wby’s but I am seriously looking now at the 6.5 PRC and 270 Wby as well. I do fear the 270 Wby will be more recoil than I want but I do love it’s paper ballistics. To me the PRC does everything the 270 WSM does except with quite a bit less recoil and with better “theoretical” accuracy and better bullet selection. Basically I had considered it before but sort of forgot about it. I had a 270 WSM in a Browning A Bolt Titanium and frankly it kicked like a freakin mule in that gun. It’s long gone. Interestingly though, I notice no more recoil on my 6 pound finished NULA .308 than with my standard weight Winchester 70. So I think that had more to do with NULA’s excellent stock design and Browning’s not so good.

Use guesstimate for this gun would be
40% antelope
40% deer
20% elk
Maybe an odd bear thrown in?

Shots could be as far as 500. I would be loathe to even shoot that far unless conditions were ideal. I’m willing to admit my limits and that’s absolutely as far as I’m comfortable shooting at game.

If I’m being truly honest it’s now between the 257 Wby and 6.5 PRC. Thoughts?

6.5 PRC
Since you mentioned the 270WBY I’ll add to your dilemma...
I had Mel rebarrel a NULA in 270WBY without explicit directions on contour so it ended up a #3.

Too the point...I have two other 270WBY’s and I already know they are not the best at 1-10 but a 1-8.5 twist shooting the newer heavies would be awesome.
One of mine is a CLR with a Bartlein 2b that I shoot 130TTSX at 3400 and the other is McWhorter that Bugholes 150 Berger’s at 3260.
Lastly, I have owned several 257WBY’s and I much prefer the 270 version as I do not feel like it recoils anymore than the 257 and a 25-06 Ackley (have 2....) is almost as fast and does recoil lighter.

My .02