I have long been intrigued by these two numbers, but put off by the assumption of short barrel life. With some of our much cooler-burning powders these days, is that concern something that can be consigned to the past?
Re-17 with its Bofors additive that pushes the peak temperature further up the barrel comes to mind.

I have 2 .257 Weatherby's. One is a vanguard and the other is a mauser with a truvelo barrel.

Between the two, I have put well over 1200 rounds through them. The accuracy is still around 1/2" at 100m. I cull +- 100 animals each season with it on the farm. All I have done is clean the barrel after 50 or so rounds and then once a year give them a thorough cleaning.

The 110gr Accubond factory load is my go to choice for all big game hunting. Largest animal I have taken with it is a kudu. The 257 Weatherby is an awesome round!

Thanks MD. I'd say you are getting your money's worth!

I have a custom 257 wby on a Sako action and a custom 240 wby on a R700 action. Both are stainless 26” barrels.
I’m guessing 500-600 rounds through each. Both are well under 1” guns. I don’t shoot them when the barrel gets too hot to hold on to.

I shot the barrel out of a 257 Wea. and replaced with a Wiseman stainless pipe.
The original 26" barrel was a sub minute gun.
The Wiseman is bit heavier is practically target rifle accuracy. One hole to clover leaf groups.
Remarkable what a good barrel and trigger will do for accuracy.
I push 115 Nosler partitions pretty fast.

EZ

Use either of them as hunting guns rather than prairie dog guns and you'll have no problems.

Abuse of the barrel is what ruins barrels, the calibers you mention last a good long while if you just let them cool between shots or if you just mostly hunt with them..I had a 257 WBY for perhaps 10 years ( a 98 Mauser ) I shot about 2000 rounds in it and traded it to a buddy of mine, who has put another 1000 thru it, it starting to show some erosion in the throat and the groups have opened up to 1-1/2 to 2 inches, He is a hunter and bothers him not, why not? his plan is the turn the threads and rechamber at some point, not something I would consider, but I bet it will work just fine for another 3000 rounds.

I witnessed a swat cop I knew fire 400 to 500 rounds, maybe more as fast as he could in a 300 wby, fireforming cases loaded max..He burned out the barrel and burned the forend wood some, and towards the end he was splitting cases to beat hell, he just kept on firing...He wasn't the brightest kid on the block growing up and still isn't...He won't listen to anyone..

Wow, Ray. That swat cop is allowed access to a badge and firearms?

I have a 257 Wby in a Mark V but have never owned a .240 or even shot one. Yes it gets hot fast especially in the thin Weatherby barrel of my deluxe but that's only a problem at the range. You are pushing a lot of gas through a small hole after all. Out hunting it's only a couple shots at most anyway so no issues there. Get one, they're fun!

Here's an article on the .257 in case you haven't seen it.
https://www.shootingtimes.com/...magnum_031706/100524

Yes sir, mine lasted many years but I only shot it to work up some loads, sighted it in on occasion and hunted with it..If used as such it will last a lifetime or two...shooting too many rounds too fast not letting it cool takes our the throat like a cutting torch effect..Common since is all that's required...Id go with the 257 Wby, its just an awesome killer even on elk it smacks them down on the spot..

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Use either of them as hunting guns rather than prairie dog guns and you'll have no problems.

As with most hunting guns.

Sight them in check zero every year.

Shot a few critters luck if they get a couple hundred rounds through them in a life time.

Been shooting the 257 since the 80s, even bought my first one at the old Weatherby store. I am anal with ensuring I do not overheat the barrels. so three shots max then let completely cool. Had to replace the barrel at about 1700 rounds. It's my favorite deer sized caliber. Not one has ever taken a step. But yes, both calibers are hard on barrels...

I hunt on a ranch in Colorado,the owners and guides and a neighbor shoot the 240 257 for elk, and they do a job on the elk, never seen one take a step and Ive seen one guy shoot 5 or 6, all with the same instant kill with 100 gr. bullets, but meat dameage is tremendous..bloodshot shoulders, ribs etc. is a bit much. changing to a heavier bullet doesn't change much as to meat waste.

Regarding barrel life, I am sure that letting the barrel cool when doing range work extends throat life. Also wondering if any of the new powders that are a good match for the .257 have burn retardants in them like Re 17, which incorporates a Bofors additive that allows it to reach peak temperature further up the barrel, beyond the throat. Re 17 is at its best in smaller cases such as the Creedmoors.
As to wasted meat, would going to a monometal bullet like a Barness TTSX reduce the damage?

The more I use RL-17 the better I like it. and bet it would be great in the 257 Wby..I also am liking CFE223 in a number of calibers..Problem is finding load data in the books, but they are fairly new and what should change soon..

I really like cfe-223 also.

the MR line of powders have also kind of got my attention, and if they ever show data for MR-2,000 in the mid size cases with realistic pressure data it could be a big hit.

the MR-3,000 powder should be good in the bigger cases too.

I carried my 257 WM to the tree-stand yesterday for the first time. Owned it for several years but have never used it. Been shooting factory loads only to obtain brass and it is very accurate with the Norma 100 gr. spitzer. But I got to thinking. When I get this factory stuff shot up what I will reload it with. I will never take it out after bigger game than a whitetail. I have plenty of other rifles that I feel more comfortable with for that. So its whitetail and antelope MAYBE somewhere down the line throw it in on smaller plains game in Africa. There is a part of me that would really like to try the 100 grain Nosler BT or maybe the Partition. But then I could compromise and shoot the 110 Grain Accubond. Or do I play it safe and just load the 120 gr. Partition. But I can push a 140 gr. 7mm that fast. Would kinda like to take advantage of that +/- 3500 FPS potential. Will the 100 gr. BT give enough penetration on deer? It offers interesting options. Almost a dilemma.
Thanks

I’ve shot one mule deer one white tail and several antelope with 100 grain ballistic tips in my 257 weatherby. Actually I do not recall if the bullet exited, but I think some did. They were one shot dead right there kills.

The only .240 I’ve owned was a .240 H&H on an Interarms Mark X action. Handloading was a bit of a challenge, but it shot MOA.

Md: sure, tease us with the sheer class of the 240 H&H!

Always nice to fall into a classic.

Ran across this 2011 article by Layne Simpson. Some good stuff in it. I have always trusted Layne among the gunwriters.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/...magnum_031706/100524

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Ran across this 2011 article by Layne Simpson. Some good stuff in it. I have always trusted Layne among the gunwriters.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/...magnum_031706/100524

I remember that article. It is 2011 and he says 30/378 was number 1 seller in front of the 300 then 257. I wonder today if the 300 Wby is back at number 1 and 257 number 2.