I am thinking about having my 358 Norma Magnum re-barreled to a smaller magnum caliber for antelope hunting. Does anyone have any suggestions? The current setup is a Number 3 shilen barrel in an Elkridge thumbhole laminate stock. The rig is too heavy for toting around in the mountains so I thought I would convert it over to an antelope rifle since weight is not an issue there. And no I am not going to sell it and buy something else this rifle stays in the family. tom

Not that it would be practical, but I've always wondered about a 6mm on the 350 Rem Mag case. But for ease of brass prep would pick a 257 Weatherby or 264 Win Mag.

Pointer, the 257 is at the top of my list, but I wanted some sort of feedback from people that have used it or know someone that has used it. I had not thought about the 264. How does it compare to the 257? tom

I've used both and much prefer the 257Wby...............

PG:

While I have not used the 257 Roy at all, the 25-06 has been fantastic on antelope for me. Given your mag bolt face, and your intended targets, I dunno how you could do better than the Roy. No need or advantage for a 264.

Jimf

Stick, Do you still use the 257Wby? Or have you replaced it with something else? I am open to doing a wildcat instead since I reload. tom

.257STW.

George <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

George, not fair don't just throw that out and run lol. Tell me more. tom

I've found nothing to replace the 257Wby with,so it remains a favorite.

Though I've built stuff that uses more powder and kicks harder,nothing has trumped Roy's 25...................

Big Stick, thanks for the feedback. The 257 is the way I am leaning. tom

It'll go from a 100yd zero to 1000yds with 19.5MOA up on the turret,with a Hunting bullet.

Same bullet 2" high at 100yds,yields a 300yd zero and is 6.6" low at 400yds and is 17.5" low at 500yds. It reaches 500yds with over 2550fps of remaining velocity and just makes an impression upon stuff in general.

That's a lotta juice for somethin' that don't recoil....................

I've played with a .257 Roy. Beside very flat trajectory, for those "misestimated 300 yd. shots," they kick less than the popular 7 mm Mags and hit very hard at the shorter ranges if you have shoot an elk with it.

In my book, the best Pronghorn rifle is one that has what the shooter needs to hit something over 200 yds. Your plan for the rifle has much of this. E

SOLD, guess I will do the 257 ROY lol. This will be a really heavy rifle when it is done well over 10 LBS. thanks for the feedback gents. tom

I think a 257Wby is best in a lightish weight all arounder.

That,like everything,is subjective................

Get it rebarreled and chambered to .257 STW. Gotta be one of the best antelope rounds there is. Main thing to watch is make sure you use a premium bullet. Anything other than the best may disintegrate upon firing.

I've got the reamer and a spare 25 caliber barrel....1 in 10 twist, from Shilen, still in the box... (trolling for bass here.... LOL)

Ditto the STW. It's a screamer and with 100gr TSX's it knocks stuff flat.

The last 2 rifles I built were with those speedgoats in mind. I built a 338 RUM necked to 7mm, a 264 Win Mag, and am now in the process of another 7mm/300 Win Mag. The last one is the stuff. 3500fps w/140 Ballistic Tips, knock um flat????? The RUM necked to 7mm pushes the 140`s to 3600+ a couple loads that dinged the brass were over 3700fps. 3" high at 100 12" low at 500.

pumpgun,
I've taken at least a dozen antelope with my .257 Wby. I really can't imagine a better caliber for prairie goats. This is one case where I actually prefer smaller-grain bullets, as goats are just not big animals, nor are they hard to kill if hit properly. Probably the best performer for me has been the 117 gr. Sierra BT. Noslers work fine as well.

I love the 25's and 100 gr bullets for the use you mention. And I have a heavy, hot shooting 25-06 for just that use. I'd do a 257 Weatherby on your action and be a happy camper.

I have used a .257 Roy for years now and my dad has as well and I really dont think there is a better mag for goats out there cept maybe the .257STW if you can handle or want more kick to her. Stick with a good 100 Gr bullet and like Stick says, it can flat reach out there and down those gots in their tracks. Does a wicked job on Deer and Elk too, Yes i said Elk........let the bashing begin <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Wow!!............Were those boomers for alien antelope??

JimF

Thanks for all the feedback gents. What is the difference between the 257 WBY and the 257 STW? tom

These will REACH out and TOUCH something. Much better bullet choices with 7mm. Premium bullets not needed where shots avg 300 like the goat hunts. Ballistic Tips work great. Last goat I shot 385 yds took 2 steps BACKWARDS and tumped over.

My dad had great luck on Texas whitetails with his .257AI and will probably use it for our Wyoming 'lope hunt next year. I plan on using my .257Wby. So I would go with one of those.

just saw a weatherby ultra light on gunbroker with camo and a few boxes of factory ammo go by at $900 with no takers if anyone is interested...
woofer

Is your 25 Shillen barrel on the block? I might be interested?

Redneck, what is the contour of your barrel? tom

Looks like he`s gettin a nibble. Isn`t this what is called the Hot Tamale??

Tom, why not just Ackley your .25-06? That'd be a hell of a pronghorn rig in its own right (of course, the .25-06 is a hell of a rig on its own).

Then you could pull your hair out over what DIFFERENT need you need to fill with Norma <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Well basically an everage of about 300FPS faster with the STW. If your very famuliur with WBY the way to look at the STW is basically a knecked down version of a 300WBY mag versus the normal .257 WBY Mag. I would honestly just go with the .257WBY, alot cheaper to do and mountains more loading info out there.

and will survive in a shorter barrel. on the other hand weatherby brass is mucho more. nothing wrong with the 06'AI. quite close to the weatherby and cheaper yet!
woofer

300 FPS faster for the STW might be a bit optimistic. After working with mine for a couple years now I'd say that 200 at the outside and probably more like 100 to 150 depending on bullet weight.

Realisitcally there's not much difference in the field, but there is something cool about owning a chambering that someone's never heard of.

It will blow you away how fast a 100gr XLC at 3800+ will get to it's target, and how little drop there will be.

I have a 257 STW with an almost 26" barrel. I have had 100 grain bullets over the eyes of my Oehler at over 4000 fps. The best I've ever gotten with a Weatherby is around 3700 FPS. Both of the numbers are at well over maximum in both rifles, but no blown primers, just enlarged primer pockets with 2-3 loadings. I would pick the STW over the Weatherby in a flash. No free-bore, what a word to contend with, it means there is nothing in that area of the chamber. The bullet clears the case before it contacts the rifling, and I might add its probably crooked. One could safely say that is just the opposite of how a chamber is cut in a bench rest rifle, where there is no free-bore at all, most bullets are at or within .010 off the lands. The cases are much cheaper for the STW, and you will have a true 25 caliber laser rifle in your hands.

Dan

You will have to have DFC twist you up one of his wonder barrels that do 4,000 fps to get the full goody out of the Roy. No other barrel will come close. I hear he has a lot of world records and twists up a fine rifle to boot. If you are real good, he might let you look at his class 5 FFL and look at his ATF approved gun safe <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Flinch

Uh,...I KNOW you didn't go there!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You show your ignorance when you misquote someone. Its a class 2 NFA and 07 FFL. Straight form the horses mouth, so to speak.

Dan

I hate it when I don't know who to tap.

257 - Bob
257 - Roy
257 - STW
257 - AI
257 - Ted
257 - Alice
257 - Average Joe

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

357 MAG - Now that I know! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Regards, sse

Close, but the wrong end of the horse! What's a straight form on a horse? Oh and btw, I have a 257 Weatherby that scoots just a little faster than 3700 fps.

Big Sky,
What barrel length do you recomend for the 257 WBY?
tom

pumpgun I'm no expert on the .257 Weatherby it's a new toy for me, but mine definitely has no trouble exceeding 3700 fps. Cheaha was the one that originally had this rifle made and it's pretty specialized so I don't think it will suit your needs. It has a relatively heavy 30" tube on it. It's definitely not for packing through the hills. I have shot Big Stick's .257 Weatherby and he probably has as much or more experience with that caliber as anyone on here. I recommend you listen closely to what he would recommend.

Big Sky, I am looking at building a heavy barreled rifle for antelope. Weight is not an issue. I am thinking a shilen number 3 contour about 26". It will be in an elkridge thumbhole lamiate stock. I am guessing that the rifle you have was meant for beanfield hunting. tom

Well it may of originally been built for bean fields but I bought for the same reason you are building yours, plus for deer that stand out in the middle of stubble fields all cocky like. Here's the specs:
Ruger S/S M-77MKII action-accurized
Douglas Premium Select Match Barrel
in S/S #6 Contour @ 30"-Matte Finish
McMillan A-2 Stock in Desert Camo w/ decelerator pad
Timney trigger
Tubbs Titanium Firing pin & spring assy
All metalwork was done by Big Stick's personal Gunsmith
and is superb in detail and accuracy.

Has been accurized-lugs lapped,squared,trued,etc...

Hopefully this photo will work.


I'll let Cheaha add any information about the loads and velocities if he cares to. Hope this helps.

Big Sky, very nice. tom

You forgot to give the specs on the tactical bucket, or is it still in Alabama? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You know how Cheaha is, he will give up about anything for a price, except his tactical bucket.

Hey, NOBODY gets my Tactical Bucket!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

With that 30" tube I found accurate loads with 100gr bullets @ 3850fps(Vit.N-560) , 3950fps (IMR-7828) and 3995fps (RL-25).

I had 10 lbs of N-560 and it was the most accurate so I went with that load.

If weight and handling is not an issue, I would go at least 28" on the barrel and 30" is not out of the question. You can always whack it shorter if it doesn't suit you...

Don't rule out a .264 . Use a 26 inch barrel and the 120 gr 6.5 bullet @ 3500fps will hang right in there with any .257 W load .

Recoil is mild and brass will be easier and cheaper than .257 W .

I agree with DFC... I've never cared for the Wby's with that free-bore issue and the price of their brass/shells.
The STW is cheaper than the Wby, all things considered and it's faster. The poster who's getting 4000 fps from
a 100 gr bullet in the STW is really pushing it, and IMHO, there's just no need to go that far.... although I seem
to remember him saying that's out of a 30" tube...

To the poster who asked me about the barrel and reamer, I didn't post correctly in the first place. I meant
to infer that I'd be happy to build one for him since I have those items on hand and ready to go.... I'm sorry
about the screwup....

Ok Redneck now I am confused. I understood you have a 257 stw reamer and a 25 cal shielen barrel is that correct? If so what is the contour and length of the barrrel ? thanks tom

One thing about thumbhole stocks on a hunting rifle. I find it a little awkward for quickly working the safety and getting your thumb back in the hole for the shot. No big deal but having a thumbhole stock it is not something I would want for a serious hunting rifle cool looks aside.

Big Stick may have tried both 257 and 264, but he never tried
the right powders or bullets in the 264. (RL25 or GS 100 bullets with a BC of .490). The 264 will match the 257 in the
light bullet arena and pass it up with it's ability to shoot the
heavier 140 which even elk hate.
I personaly dont like the "Flash Gordon, 1940s look of the Weatherby either.
If I were to go with a wildcat, I would go with the 300 win mag case and long throat (and seat the bullets out to kiss the lands) it for either the 257 or 264.
Something a little different but not unreasonable for loading.

That projectile wasn't even a bad dream,when I was banging around with the 264,nor was the propellant.

What might GS offer in .257" with a similar weight and what's it's BC?(grin)

What's the current skinny on GS delivery and business practices? It seems all at AR were pissed and some had been waiting over a year to receive pre-paid orders,that still haven't arrived. Many unhappy campers,in that regard.

The Weatherby case design,isn't something that I am giddy about. What horns me up,is how it works,more so than the way it looks.

The 257Wby is wicked...............

Boy, who'd a thunk a .264 vs .257 Roy would get a bite from Big Stick?!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Somethings are just predictable; tides, moon, phases, .270 vs 30-06 articles, etc..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I know, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Weren't much of a stretch boys.

I remain a simple creature...............

Pumpgun, I'll have to go and check the barrel label to make sure but I think it's a #4 contour 1 in 10 twist and finished length will be 26". I'm 99% sure of this but I'll look this morning later to make sure and post back if it's different. I've had this particular barrel on hand for a while, waiting for one of my customers in WY. But he's holding off for a while so this barrel's available now.. I used this exact same barrel on my own rifle about 5 years ago and have been very happy with the results. I do remember you said you wanted a 'heavy barrel' for antelope. This is a medium weight sporter barrel. I can get a heavier contour fairly quickly if you need that. If nothing else, why don't you email me. I can respond quicker than I can here..



ruber@airstreamcomm.net