I can also shoot a 123 Grain Hornady SST in the Grendel.
I probably should just carry the 12 pound .257 Mag. It is hilly and some elevation mostly hunting from the ground on 1200 acres of hard woods and pasture mix. I will be on the ground and still hunting. I have not hunted this place in 20 years.
The 257 Mag is shooting a 100 grain Barnes TTSX @ 3652 FPS from the muzzle.
100 yards Velocity is 3338 fps with 2475 ft-lbs of Energy 200 yards Velocity is 3047 fps with 2062 ft-lbs of Energy 300 yards Velocity is 2774 fps with 1709 ft-lbs of Energy 400 yards Velocity is 2518 fps with 1408 ft-lbs of Energy 500 yards Velocity is 2276 fps with 1151 ft-lbs of Energy 600 yards Velocity is 2049 fps with 932 ft-lbs of Energy
1200 acres is about 2 square miles. And you're worried about carrying a 12 pound rifle? How much other weight will you be carrying? How close can you get with a truck to get a critter out if you shoot one?
If you're in any kind of shape, even old man shape like I am, I'd not worry much about a 12 pound rifle on a 1200 acre hunt.
Good luck with the Weatherby.
Or ....................bring the Grendel and stalk closer, that's what hunting is about anyway.
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)
If it were me I would bring both guns. That way you have options. I don't know how many days you will be hunting there. If you intend to be slipping through the hardwoods, I would use the 6.5 with the 123 sst's. That will easily get you to 200yds. Should be plenty for shooting on the ground in the woods. If you decide to set up on the edge of a pasture, then use the 257 Bee. and shoot to what ever distance you feel comfortable at.
well if you are under 40, 220 lbs and in great shape to drag a 10 lb rifle around a 2 mile by1 mile property for 6 or 8 hours ,,GO for it , but myself i would take the light one, lots of fire power.
norm
There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle----Robert Alden . If it wern't entertaining, I wouldn't keep coming back.------the BigSky
well if you are under 40, 220 lbs and in great shape to drag a 10 lb rifle around a 2 mile by1 mile property for 6 or 8 hours ,,GO for it , but myself i would take the light one, lots of fire power.
I say contact the manufacture and find out the minimum impact velocity for desired terminal performance.
"Full time night woman? I never could find no tracks on a woman's heart. I packed me a squaw for ten year, Pilgrim. Cheyenne, she were, and the meanest bitch that ever balled for beads."
If your luck is like mine....take the Grendel, and all your shot opportunities will be at 500 yards plus...take the 257, your shot will be at 30 yards. If you think that there's any possibility of a shot past 200 yards, take the Weatherby. The Grendel is certainly a capable deer round, but does have limitations, especially with the load you have listed.
"...and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." Luke 22:36
I'll take the 300 win mag any day of the week over a barely adequate round for the ranges you are talking. You read to much without doing the things to see if you can. If doing that is to hard stay at home and do as your wife tells you to.
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
He just barely got that deer. You can see the shot at 4:45. He blew the wind call and it hit high on the neck (with the head down), quite a ways from the COM. Certainly not within a pie plate.
His wind call should have been 1.25 - 1.5 plus the 3/4 he put on it. So, he had about 1/3 of the wind he should have had.
I guess taking those kind of shots depend on how much value you place on your quarry. If you think they are rats, you'll take it. If you think they are valuable animals, you'll get closer.