Author Topic: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum  (Read 998 times)

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Offline Graybeard

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Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« on: August 17, 2023, 07:56:57 AM »
https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2018/1/19/behind-the-bullet-257-weatherby-magnum/

by PHILIP MASSARO posted on January 19, 2018



When you hear the word ‘Weatherby,’ speed immediately comes to mind. The signature double-radius shoulder, the belt of brass which hearkens back to its roots in the Holland & Holland cartridges, and huge case capacity are all attributes of the Weatherby series of cartridges. Roy Weatherby began developing the line of cartridges that would bear his surname during the latter part of the World War II, using the .300 H&H Magnum as a basis for his designs.

Weatherby initially shortened the case length to roughly 2.5 inches—allowing them to function perfectly in a standard long-action receiver—for his cartridges below .30 caliber. While the .270 Weatherby Magnum is believed to be the first of the line, the .257 was one of the earlier developments, bettering the ballistics of the .257 Roberts, .250/3000 Savage and then-wildcat .25-06 Remington, by a considerable amount.

The desire to drive a .25 caliber bullet as fast as possible is rather evident throughout cartridge history. The sedate .25-20 Winchester came to light in the mid-1890s, and that bore diameter got a serious facelift in 1915 with the release of the .250/3000 Savage—it was the first commercial cartridge to break the 3,000 fps barrier (albeit with a light-for-caliber 87-grain bullet), and its effectiveness on deer and similar-sized game remains evident to this day. The .257 Roberts—a necked down 7x57mm Mauser case—gave even more case capacity, and corresponding higher velocities. Both are classics, and both are sound designs.

However, the .257 Weatherby Magnum took things to an entirely different place. It will drive even the heaviest .25 caliber bullets—the 117- and 120-grain slugs—to a muzzle velocity of between 3,300 and 3,400 fps, depending on barrel length and manufacturer. This results in a cartridge with a very flat trajectory, and all sorts of kinetic energy for its bore diameter. The belt on the .257 Weatherby serves no purpose whatsoever—it is nothing more than a carryover from the H&H parent case. The double radius shoulder handles all the headspace duties, so that brass belt is for looks alone.

While all that velocity is a benefit for the trajectory, the case capacity of the .257 Weatherby does come with some issues. One, the huge powder charges—often approaching 75 grains of powder—and high velocity will raise hell with the throat of your barrel. The best option to extend barrel life is to do your best to keep that barrel cool—give it some time between shots from the bench. Two, the cartridge is seriously overbore, in fact it’s one of the most overbore on the market. During load development with my buddy’s .257 Weatherby, we could see a bright flame, even under the noon sun, with every shot. A long barrel, say 26 inches or so, will help to get that huge powder column burned within its confines, so you can maximize the capabilities of Roy’s design.

Weatherby ammunition has been, for decades, made by Norma of Sweden, and that’s a good thing. High quality, uniform brass aids in accuracy, and the tolerances that Norma adheres to means very, very few cartridges will fail to function properly—I’ve never had a single misfire from a Norma cartridge. You’ll want a premium bullet for anything larger than a deer, as the high velocities will definitely put a strain on your projectile, especially on the closer shots.

Factory ammunition is available from Weatherby, Nosler, Hornady and Norma, and bullet weights run from 90 grains up to 120 grains, with all sorts of choices for the hunter. The Hornady 90-grain GMX is a sweet monometal affair, fully capable of withstanding the high impact velocities this cartridge can generate. Cruising at 3,550 fps, this should settle the score pretty quickly, and as there’s no jacket or core to separate, penetration will be guaranteed. Hornady also offers the 110-grain ELD-X bullet, which has proven to be ridiculously accurate in many of my rifles (albeit in different calibers), and should be the same in this caliber. Nosler offers the AccuBond, Ballistic Tip and Partition, so you can have a choice of performance suited to the game you’re after. Weatherby lists, among others such as the Nosler projectiles, the Barnes TTSX bullet at 80 and 100 grains; not only are these bullets strong, but the lighter weight will allow for an increase in velocity.



Should you choose to handload the .257 Weatherby, you’re definitely going to want to choose the slowest burning powders, and spark it with a good large rifle magnum primer. RL-25, IMR7828, and other slow burners have all given good results in the .257, though I will note that bullet seating depth can play an important role in finding the best accuracy.

The limits of the .257 Weatherby are essentially up to the shooter. Roy Weatherby used this cartridge to kill a rhinoceros—though I would highly advise against such utter foolishness—but I feel that elk and perhaps moose represent a better top end of game animals, again, when mated with premium bullets. Nonetheless, if you’re a fan of the quarter-bores, the .257 Weatherby Magnum will perform above and beyond what you’d normally expect from this bore diameter.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2023, 09:53:41 AM »
you know me bill. were both big fans of the 257
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2023, 10:01:28 AM »
I reckon it's my all time favorite chambering and while I've never owned one I'd sure love to own its big brother the 7mm Weatherby Magnum.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2023, 11:39:58 AM »
I reckon it's my all time favorite chambering and while I've never owned one I'd sure love to own its big brother the 7mm Weatherby Magnum.
7 rem will do the same with MUCH CHEAPER brass and ammo
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #4 on: August 17, 2023, 12:54:29 PM »
Yes but I don't care. The 7mm Remington just ain't a Weatherby. I love that sexy double radius shoulder. Definitely didn't say I need one, just that I want one. I doubt I'll ever own one.

I have both 7-08 and .280 Remington rifles and they will do for all I've ever hunted or ever will. Still I want a .280 AI and a 7mm Weatherby. I'll likely never own either but it doesn't stop me wanting them.

I'm honestly no longer able to get out and trudge the fields and hills to hunt. The only kind of hunting I could do now is sit in a blind and wait on one to come to me. If I shot one I'd have to have someone to field dress it and get it out. I can't do that either.

Today the thumb on my left hand is hurting so badly from arthritis I couldn't do much of anything, even holding the steering wheel earlier hurt. The fingers are throbbing like a tooth ache as I try to type this.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2023, 05:06:31 PM »
I reckon it's my all time favorite chambering and while I've never owned one I'd sure love to own its big brother the 7mm Weatherby Magnum.
7 rem will do the same with MUCH CHEAPER brass and ammo
  And that's why I owned the Rem., shot a really nice Dall sheep with it in the Brooks Range.

  DM

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2023, 09:23:55 PM »
now your talking. the 280 has always been my favorite round. im also a huge fan of the 06. guarantee you one thing. ill die with at least one or two 280's and 06s in the safe. two of each in there today. it would be a tough choice if today id have to only keep one bolt action gun between my win 70 featherweights in 06 and 280. but id have to probably keep the 280 because its a controlled round feed gun with exceptional wood
Yes but I don't care. The 7mm Remington just ain't a Weatherby. I love that sexy double radius shoulder. Definitely didn't say I need one, just that I want one. I doubt I'll ever own one.

I have both 7-08 and .280 Remington rifles and they will do for all I've ever hunted or ever will. Still I want a .280 AI and a 7mm Weatherby. I'll likely never own either but it doesn't stop me wanting them.

I'm honestly no longer able to get out and trudge the fields and hills to hunt. The only kind of hunting I could do now is sit in a blind and wait on one to come to me. If I shot one I'd have to have someone to field dress it and get it out. I can't do that either.

Today the thumb on my left hand is hurting so badly from arthritis I couldn't do much of anything, even holding the steering wheel earlier hurt. The fingers are throbbing like a tooth ache as I try to type this.
blue lives matter

Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2023, 04:01:24 AM »
  As a hunting gun, I never really cared for the Mark V action, even though, over the years, I tried very hard to like them for hunting.

  Then, I had my first and only rifle fail out in the bush, a Mark V .340...  That sealed the fate for Wby. and me, right there...

  DM

Offline Graybeard

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2023, 05:33:27 AM »
My .257 Whby is a Remington 700 LSS limited edition. It's not a Weatherby Mark V.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2023, 05:34:44 AM »
most of my wbys arent mark v weatherbys there remingtons and a vanguard. only mark v's i have are a 240 and a 340. id bet ive killled close to a hundred deer with the 240 and have shot LOTS of ammo in it and its never once givem me a lick of trouble. ill say the same about my 340 i probably have only shot a couple hundred rounds out of that one but it too has been flawless. mine arent the fancy shinny kind. the240 is a mark v standard that doesnt even have the tip and the 340 is a euroclassic or whatever the call it. by the way that 240 is one of the most accurate and less finiky gun i ever hav owned. i tell people i could pour sand in a case and top it with a rock and it would shoot 1 inch groups. ive owned 6 vanguards and have yet to find one that wont do moa. im not a fan of wbys space gun looking high gloss mark vs but your the first ive heard that had one fail. many of them have been carried in africa hunting the biggest and most dangerous animals in the world and the only bad mothing comes from wanabe exprts that think they will die if there gun isnt a control round fed gun in case the have to shoot an elephant standing on their head. fuuny my buddy has been on 4 safaris and used only one gun all 4 times and thats a 700 rem in 416 rem. another big proponent of push feed rems and the 416 is john linebaugh and he knows more about guns then all of us here put together. he loved the 416 rem and the 416 wby.
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2023, 02:05:38 PM »
  Bill, my 240 Wby. is also a 700 Rem., P O Ackley put together for me and I've shot quite a few deer with it, white tails and blk. tails.



  DM

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #11 on: August 19, 2023, 10:01:32 PM »
very cool gun
  Bill, my 240 Wby. is also a 700 Rem., P O Ackley put together for me and I've shot quite a few deer with it, white tails and blk. tails.



  DM
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #12 on: August 19, 2023, 10:05:09 PM »
mine is a stainless fluted 700 cdl.  i have an lss like tours in 7stw and used to have another in 300 win mag. 
My .257 Whby is a Remington 700 LSS limited edition. It's not a Weatherby Mark V.
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Offline Lone Star

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2023, 11:06:30 AM »
Thanks Bill for posting that article!  I have saved a lot of them over the past 35 years but somehow missed that one.   I currently have two .257s, one an Accumark, the other a Ruger No. 1 rebarreled by Jarrett ~30 years ago.  The Ruger is the most accurate, likely due to the custom barrel without the Weatherby freebore.  I won’t say its average group size, you won’t believe me.  I shoot the Accumark the most, it’s not a lightweight but not bad for the hunting I did in Alaska and Texas. 

My favorite load is the discontinued Hornady 120 HP over a max charge of IMR7228.  Sub-moa for three shots and superb performance on medium game from 75 to 350+ yards.   That bullet was designed for high velocity use and holds up well, but couldn’t compete with all the newfangled bonded tipped boattailed offerings so was dropped.  I was able to pick up 500 right after that, a lifetime supply for me.



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Offline Graybeard

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #14 on: August 20, 2023, 12:00:14 PM »
I have loads developed for mine with the Barnes 115 TSX, Nosler 120 PT and Nosler 115 BT that all have shot multiple half inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards. I have a load for the Nosler 110 AB that seems always to stay under an inch even if only barely so. The other 3 never stray beyond an inch.

Well those loads used to do that in my hands. These days honestly I'm not sure I'm up to a half inch group even if the gun was capable of the .2's. My hands shake badly these days.

My Remington 700s in .223 used to turn in groups in the .2s and .3s regularly and those were all 5 shot groups. There is no way under the sun I could duplicate those kinda groups at my age and health.

But my .257 Whby is the most accurate hunting rifle  I guess I've ever owned. It goes to my favorite grandson in my will.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Behind the Bullet: .257 Weatherby Magnum
« Reply #15 on: August 20, 2023, 10:04:38 PM »
i pretty much only use 115bts in mine. i like it so much that i got talked out of it a few years back and bought another one just like it a year later
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