Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 340 and 257 Weatherby: What rifle would you buy?

Mark V? Vanguard? Other? Which model(s)?

Each of these calibers have peaked my interest as of late and I am debating picking both calibers up in the future if funds become available. I figured I’d seek advice and feedback here.

They would be used for hunting mostly, the occasional varmint / target (not saying they would be used often for this, but being honest they would make an appearance in the groundhog fields and steel target fields at some point), and as a group of us continue to discuss future hunts - will likely be used in the mountains out west and up north (some day, Alaska, some day).

I’ll be completely honest and say I do not “need” either; however, I enjoy handloading, experimenting with new cartridges, and enjoy variety. While I’m not actively looking for a new hunting rifle, I can say the local LGSs seem to have a fair amount of WBYs in stock. If a deal presents itself, I’d gladly jump if life allowed it.

Reasons behind these two specific cartridges:
- A recent conversation with some folks got me discussing the 8mm Rem Mag likely being my favorite cartridge - they countered with, “have you tried a 340WBY?”
- For some reason, I have 257WBY brass. I also don’t own a quarter bore.

So what say y’all? Which rifle and models would ya suggest? (Not looking for a compare between the two, but rather, what platform The Fire suggests for each caliber.)

I like both .338 bores and .25 bores so I say get them both.
No flies on either one. I have a MarkV in 300 wby and had a 338 Vanguard deluxe in 338 win mag. That 338 was the softest shooting 338 I have ever fired. I have a model 70 338 now and my brother just got rid of his 340 for a 338 lapua, he already said he was going to regret getting rid of his 340
When I was looking at buying a 300 I had called the WBY custom shop and the guy on the phone said to buy a Vanguard. I wanted a 26” barrel so went the other way. Now I believe 26” is avail on Vanguard models also.
I have never owned a 257 Weatherby but keep thinking about one,
I have (3) 257 Rbts , (1) 257 imp and a 25/06 and on the light side a 25/35. So a 257Wby would round out the .25 bores nicely.

Cartridges are extreme ends of the spectrum. Split it down the middle and get a 300 wby.

I think the OP is asking what rifles to buy, not what chambering. He wants the 340 and 257

Got both chamberings in the safe, 257 is a mk 5 ulw, 340 is the fibermark. Not much a guy couldn’t do with those 2.

buy a Mark 5 , my decision on cartridge would be 257 Weatherby mag. that is the cartridge i use now , i would not buy a 340 Weatherby mag. instead Weatherby makes a 338 Lapua in a mark 5 would be the better choice.

I have a .257 WBY and have shot a .340. You will notice a large increase in recoil (but I am sure you know that.) If recoil is not a bother (When I was younger, I didn't feel the .340 was that bad, but shoulder surgeries and age now limit how much I am willing to take) the .340 seems well liked by those who use it for elk and other large critters. It is unnecessary for smaller critters, but I have used my .338 Win Mag on antelope when I was elk hunting and an antelope showed up.

The .257 WBY was a long waited for acquisition. 100g bullets at 3600 fps are pretty flat shooting and light recoiling. At least I think so. I can't say how well it works on animals since the only deer I shot with it was hit where the neck meets the skull and lights out, but it was a ranged 300 yards. It was actually a miss since I wasn't aiming there, but got away with it luckily. I have used a .257 Roberts off and on over the years and some of the quickest kills I have seen were with it.

As for shooting varmints both are more than I would use, but I would not talk you out of it. After all it is yours and the more we shoot the better we get with it. Can only pay dividend when hunting deer/elk/whatever is you quarry.

Assuming no brake, you'll shoot and enjoy shooting the 257 a lot more than the 340.

W/100gn bullets my 257Wby recoils very similar to my 270Win shooting 140's.

I've never owned the .257 Wby but have a .340, but not in a MK V. It was a re-chambered .338 Win Mag in a Browning A-Bolt SS (LH) with a 26" barrel. I made handloads for it using .375 H&H fireformed Rem brass (better than Weatherby's .340 brass). I've handloaded dozens of rifles from the .22 Hornet to the mighty .458 WinMag, and have to say the 340 was one of the best for creating v. good handloads, and easy to shoot. My bull moose load was the 250gr Nosler Partition at 3000 fps. That worked very well from a maximum (compressed) load of RL-22, WLRM primers and those Remington fireformed .375 H&H brass. I never threw out one of those cases after ten years of use! And the only .340 factory load of a 250gr (Hornady) was donated by my son who collected it from a friend with a .340. It made ~ 2850 fps from the 26" barrel. Apart from the gunsmithing ($75), I bought a .375 H&H clip for the A-Bolt that worked perfectly for the .340. So any .338 WM can be re-chambered to a .340 if the action is long enough, and most are.

My cost for the Browning A-Bolt re-chambered, + the new clip, was about $1200. Of course, that was many moons ago! But to buy a MK V, plus factory ammo will cost a small fortune today!

PS: When I shot the bull moose, recoil wasn't even an afterthought! I shot it as well as a .223 Rem.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

Nothing against the Vanguard except it has a shorter magazine box. Some of my hand loads would not fit in my buddy’s VG. You won’t get a .300 or .340 Wby that is even a smidge over SAAMI length to fit the magazine. Not an issue with the Mark V. Similar issue with 6.5-300 Wby Vanguard.

Buy once, cry once. Get the Mark V.

Mark V in 257 Wby. You will use it more and see some of the most impressive kills you have ever seen.

GreggH

Exactly.

I own a 340 in a MkV Fibermark and love the rifle but I’d personally not consider it a varmint or target rifle as your criteria suggested.

I’d say the 257 would be my choice of the two given the details of your post but outside of your post - I’d choose my MkV in 300 Wby also in a Fibermark. Imo, the 300 Wby is arguably one of the worlds most legendary all around versatile rifles - I own one and seldom reach for the 340 anymore. It’s just too much of a good thing.

My .02

I get your desire/interest in a Wby rifle and cartridge. Of the two you mention, the 257 Wby is by far used much more in the field than the 340 Wby. If it were me I’d pass on both and get a finely made 338 Win Mag and a 6.5 PRC and never look back as these two chambers lack at nothing when used in similar situations on game.

The 340 is a very good cartridge; not one you need, or use to just fool around with normally. With this level of cartridge, the stock is very important to mitigate recoil and opinions will vary on that. I have no experience in Wby rifles. It is every bit the equal of the Lapua, and (factory 340’s may be loaded a little hotter) and I think so close to the 338 RUM that they are indistinguishable in the field

Used one for twenty years for elk and other game. Most won’t shoot it enough to master it. And if they do, they get over it. 😊

.257...in a Vanguard of your choice. I wouldn't cross the street for a free Mark V

I got this exact sickness a couple years ago and just had to have a 340. I found a Wyoming Accumark and struggle to reach for any other gun when it comes time to head into the mountains.

Hot all the bees and all in mkv... different formats for each caliber

I’m a Weatherby fanboy. I still have a 300 and 340. I’ve used the 340 on Antelope and deer, dozens of elk, and moose. I personally find it more pleasant to shoot than an identically stocked 300 (recoil is more of a push than a crack). Both are superbly accurate with certain factory ammo. Both rifles were Mark 5 weathermarks.

The 257 never tempted me….while flat shooting, it was never going to replace a 300 or 7mmSTW as my western deer/speed goat rifle of choice. I’m fond of bigger diameter bullets. Clearly not needed, but unequivocally my choice.

I nearly purchased a 270wby. However, my experience with a Tikka in 270wsm makes that unlikely. The 270wsm is a deer killing machine with 140 accubonds.

I’ve played around with a couple Vanguards and was impressed. However, if I were to take the Weatherby plunge, I’d pursue the Mark 5.

I must confess I’ve had mixed results reloading. Using the same bullets, I’ve been able to match velocity or accuracy but not both at the same time. For perspective, my loads would shoot 1” to 11/2” groups,, but not 1/2” like the high quality factory ammo. It may be nothing more than my inability to match the factory crimps. I’m certain a more accomplished handloader could do better.

i have a MK V accumark in 257 weatherby that i love, mostly for eastern whitetails, i also hunt elk with a MK V UL in 300 weatherby, she kicks like a government mule but very light and more than enough gun for elk. Both my MKV are very nice and accurate rilfes

I've got Left Hand Mark V Deluxe models in 240, 257, 300, 378, and 460, with a 338-378 on order. At one time, I also had a 7mm and 340 as well. There is some really nice wood on many of the Jap Weatherbys, not so much on the German ones.
Personally, I'm not a fan of plastic stocked rifles or plastic framed pistols, but clearly I'm not with the majority on this one.

Tony