257 weatherby Mag or....

[wildlifedesigner]

I am looking to buy my first rifle. I want a caliber that is capeable of taking big game at long ranges. The 257mag got my attension because its a flat shooter and has just about as much power as the 30-06. ###I would like to use this rifle on deer, hogs, possilby bear.I have a few questions though, any help would be appreciated. #1 will this gun have enough to drop larger deer, bear, boar. say roughly 400 yards, #2 will this caliber blow right on thru game or use up all of its power on the target?, #3 is this a forgiving cartridge; does wind, rain, ect have a bad effect on the bullets flight,#4 will the 26 inch barrel get in the way I plan on doing some hiking,#5 should I reconsider and purchase something that can take some larger heavier bullets, 30-06, 7mm, 270. any other info will also be appreciated, Oh and I do reload. thanks in advance, ###Bryan

[Speckmisser]

I don't know much about the 257 mag, so I can't say much about most of your questions. ###But I'll address a couple of things.

First of all, are you sure you want a "weird" caliber? ###What happens when you're out of ammo way out in small-town USA? ###You can pick up a box of -06 ammo almost anywhere. ###Almost the same for 270, or even 7mm. ###It may not sound like an issue, but it's something I'd consider. ###I have, once, been without ammo for my .243 (left it on the kitchen counter). ###I drove back through two towns looking for ammo and couldn't find it. ###Finally put the .243 away and hunted with my 30-30. ###Glad I had a backup.

The other thing is just to address the idea of shooting 400 yards. ###I know that those shots present themselves, and I know there are folks, probably even on this board, who feel confident that they can really make that kind of shot. ###But I'm here to say that 400 yards is a REALLY long shot. ###At that range, you could practically run a hundred yards closer and not be noticed by the game. ###Why take the long shot if you can close range? ###

And no matter what you're shooting, the factors working against a clean kill are immense. ###Then you have a hell of a tracking job, if you can even find where the game was standing when you shot. ###I'm not saying never take a long shot, because there are people and guns that can do it, but for criminy sake... think real hard about the reality of what you're suggesting. ###If you MUST shoot that far, I'd recommend something that's gonna make a BIG hole... 300 mag, or 338.

Anyway, there's my two-cents' worth. ###You get what you pay for.

[wildlifedesigner]

Thanks Speckmisser for the reply, The reason I ask about the long range is so I know if I wound game, I want a gun that is capeable of dropping it at any range I see it. I have not thought about the fact, that if I do forget my bullets, what I would do, I will take that in consideration.

[BigDog]

I have to second Speckmisser's comments. I hunted for years with a 30-40 Krag. I never had the brain- lock that ###he did in forgeting the ammo. However, just from buying ammo I knew that it was not a commonly carried round.
I also would put in my own cautions about 400 yd. shots. I respect and cherish the animals that I harvest and I do everything in my power to make sure that I make a clean killing shot. To me, losing a wounded deer is sacrilege and taking shots at that range is just asking for it. I have been hunting deer in Ca. for 14 years. Taking at least one deer 12 of those years. Last year is the first time I ever took a 200 yd shot. It was a heart shot and that was good but if I had any doubt of a good kill, I would not have taken that shot.

[shooter44]

I have to agree with Speckmisser too. ###I don't think most of us have any business shooting out to 400 yards. ###First there are not many places you can practice shots that far. ###Second, at that range even a super fast cartridge like a Wby 257 is dropping fast. ###Do you use a laser range finder? ###I hope so, because you had better know exactly how far away that "400 yards" is. ###A shot that's dead on at 400 yds can be a wounded animal at 390 yds and a clean miss at 415 yds.

As for ammo, do you reload? ###Because Weatherby ammo is pretty expensive. ### No problem if you do reload, but if you are going to practice enough to make those long shots you're talking about it's gonna get pretty expensive if you don't.

Lastly, while I'm sure there are a lot of hogs and bears that have been taken with various 257s I think most guides for those animals recommend using something a little bigger, generally 270 and up. ###But with tough bullets and good shot placement I'm sure they will get the job done.

If someone was to ask me to recommend a caliber for their first rifle (and I know you didn't, but I'll give you one anyway) I would suggest a .308. ###First it's big enough for any game animals you mentioned. ###Second you can easily get surplus ammo for about $5.00 a box. ###That will allow you to target practice a lot more. ###when you get so that you can hit an 8" circle at least 90% of the time at 300 yards, then start thinking about a faster cartridge. ###In reality most of your shots in CA will probably not be over 200 yards anyway. ###Well that's my free advise, for what it's worth.


(Edited by shooter44 at 12:16 pm on July 8, 2001)

[Fubar]

wildlifedesigner ###You never said why you liked that gun as opposed to a more common cal like a 270. Does someone you know have one for sale? If not you would probably do some lookin just to find one. Most common cal like 270m or 30-06 are everywhere. If you are not gettin a REALLY great buy on it and you dont reload I would get something else. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ###Fubar

[Gun Docc]

#1 ###does the 257 Weatherby mag have enough power to drop deer , bear and hogs ?

you bet it does as i have used one for several years and really like it as it is one of the flatter shooting rounds i have used and i have shot plenty other calibers 30-06, 270 , 7 mag , 25-06 just to name a few.
i have taken game at longer ranges such as 400 yards but this does take another level of skill plus having good optics and a steady rest to shoot from to do so.

#2 blow right on thru game and not use it's energy ?

not likely as i have taken all of the mentioned game with my 257 mag and all of them fell in their tracks with a well placed bullet. (handloaded Nosler Partitions)

#3 is this caliber forgiving ?

most definately as it is very forgiving ###and mild to shoot with less recoil than even the 270 or the 30-06 calibers. i have never had the weather other than wind affect most any caliber while hunting as the wind will affect all calibers, it is best to keep all your shots closer in while it is windy out .

#4 ###the 26 inch barrel ?

some may not like the longer barrel but i really like mine as it fits my needs better especially with my 3x12x56 Swarovski scope on it, makes the gun look better with such a big scope on it...hehehe
the longer barrel really helps out with getting more velocity from your loads using magnum powders as propellant which is the case.
if you plan to hike in to places it may get a little cumbersome though as it is a little harder to handle in tight places but most of my hunting is from a tree stand while using a steady rest to make my shots and i find the longer barrel a benefit with the higher velocity's (speed kills)

#5 capability to use heavier bullets ?

this is where it is definately a plus to use premium bullets for the 257 mag as a lesser bullet will explode to violently upon impact instead of staying together like a bullet should.
i use nothing but Nosler Partition bullets and have never had a failure due to them.

the biggest drawback to the 257 Weatherby Mag is the cost of ammo plus you don't just find it on every corner . this is why i handload mine as it can be loaded just as good as the factory stuff for a whole lot less money.

another big plus for me anyways is that the gun is made in the good ole U.S.A.

this caliber is not for everyone but it does meet many needs in a good caliber.
I kinda like being a little different than most folk, as there are not a whole lot of folks using this round where i hunt and it suits my needs nicely to fill my tags each year .