Hi, I am looking for some advice or comment on hunting Dall sheep. Up until now, I have hunted most everything with a .300 magnum. I have booked a Dall sheep hunt in NWT (my first sheep) in 2004. My .300 is very heavy, say 12lbs dressed and I know the sheep hunt will require lots of walking, climbing, carrying of this rifle. I have been looking at a .257 Weatherby that will probably weigh around 8 lbs dressed. My question is, the weatherby shoots 87, 100, 115, 117 and 120 grain bullets in factory ammo. Is that enough for Dall sheep? I know first of all, it's enough for a Tyrannosaurous Rex if the shot placement is perfect, but I mean in general terms, is it enough gun. Thanks from a Sheep and Mountain hunting novice.

No sheep experience here but I've used the 257 Wby on NE whitetails with amazing results!

I've never hunted sheep, but I can't imagine that a properly constructed 120 grain bullet wouldn't be appropriate. My wife killed a gemsbok with her .257 Roberts using 120 grainers and they're a lot tougher than anything on this continent short of the big bears. I say go for it if that's the rifle you like.

RustyF -- I shoot a .257 Wby and love it. It has killed many Deer for me and my grandson. It likes 115 or 120 grain Nosler Partitions, with 70 grains RL-22 and a 215 Fed 215M primer. Chronys from 3450 to 3550 fps. My grandson hit a 180 pound whitetail in the briskett, the 115 grain Nosler Partition traveled the length of the body lodging at the back of a ham in the hide, perfectly mushroomed. Go for it, and good shooting.

RustyF: Yes, your .257 Weatherby would be perfectly adequate for Dall sheep. I'd almost go so far as to say it's too much. Most sheep kills I've been in on were within about 100-150 yds. or so. I might be a bit concerned about excessive damage to the cape on the far side with a very high speed bullet. Personally, if bears weren't a concern, in the .25 cal. range, I'd use a .257 Rob. or my .257 Imp. Understand, I don't own & have never fired a .257 Wea. Don't know if this helps or not. Bear in Fairbanks

RustyF
I'm booked for 2005 in the NWT with Stan Stevens.
Who are you booked with?
I'll be using my win mod 70 pre 64 270 cal topped with a leupold M6.Shooting 130 grain Hornadys.Your 257 weatherby should kill like the hammer of Thor.I don't know about you but I can't wait.
Jeff

Used my 257 WBY last year to take my Elk. It is so accurate, I have a rough time selecting anything else.

I would think the fast 25 mag would be plenty for sheep. If you were packing a 257 Wby with a 120 gr. Nosler, any sheep, goat, caribou, or deer within 400 yards is in big trouble. I'd even say black bears, elk, and moose are realistic, with a 100 gr. XLC or 115 gr. X bullet.

I've shot my share of Elk with a 25-06 using 120g Partition. Never lost an animal and only once needed a second shot. The weatherby should do fine on the sheep.

RustyF,

The .257Wea. will do just fine. The biggest ram taken in our camp this past season was taken with a .257Roberts.

Joe

.257 Weatherby for sheep?....

Oh yes!

I also sure as hell wouldn't carry around a 12 pound rifle sheep hunting.

Daryl

How about a custom XP-100, or Striker? Ever think of that? I took a 330 yd. elk, and bighorn last year in the Colo. Sangre de Cristos with one in 6.5-284. 1 shot at 300 yds. with the Burris 3-12X LER and Ballistic Plex reticle. With that reticle i knew EXACTLY where the bullet was impacting. The 129 SST worked perfectly thru the lungs producing a quarter size exit wound on both animals. Of course the specialty handguns will not allow for offhand shooting very well.

Relax, and go practice! ......The .257 and 100 grainers will do fine, I've used one on several occasions in the MacKenzies. Barry

Thanks to all of you for your comments and help. Confidence is the first step and getting help from those that has experience makes it better.
Hey Jeff, I am the same way, I can't wait. I better start exercising though. Ha!

RustyF,

The key is premium bullets and shot placement. The 257 WM is a fantastic round used within it's limits. Choose the heaviest Gr. Premium bullet that your gun shoots well and try to get a broadside shot.
Good Hunting

Sounds like a perfect choice.

I think that the .257 Wby is as good as it gets for a sheep rifle. You do not need a great deal of penetration, but it isn't a bad idea to have a good bullet in case you do tangle with a grizzly.
I would lean toward the 117 - 120 gr weights.

Jerry

Gentlemen

257 wby would do the trick not doubt. I have seen fallow deers who are quite well known for beeing tough, drop in thier tracks with this caliber, certainly you have to hit at the right spot

I would go for either 120 grain nosler partion, 115 grain TB bear claw or 120 grain Swift in case a bear think he has a chance of makeing close friend with you

Don't forget to practice shooting and walking/running before you leave.
/ JOHAN

JeffP,

It's curious that RustyF blew right through your question about his outfitter. He says he's booked, maybe he just missed the question.

For your info, I'll be hunting with Stan in 2004. Now if we could just find someone who was going with him this year we would have it made.

I'm going to use my 300 WSM and 150 gr. ammo, because the Browning is my newest rifle, and the only one I have out of storage. A book by Duncan Gilchrist that I bought (Quest For Dall Rams) surprised me. He did his hunting with a 25.06 Rem. with fine results.

It got me thinking about my Remington ADL 25.06 in storage. (I love to hunt Pronghorn with Sierra's 120 gr. HPBT.) I took a quick look on the net and blew that idea off. My ADL weighs 7 lbs. 12 Oz.; the Browning 6 lbs. 9 Oz.

By the way, I don't recommend the Gilchrist book. Buy "Sheep Hunting in Alaska" (2nd Edition) by Tony Russ. Great Dall Sheep hunting reference.

RustyF and JeffP, I'm also going on my first sheep hunt, this fall in the Wrangells with Terry Overly of Pioneer Outfitters, booked thru Keith Atcheson (great guy by the way); since I'm also trying for a moose, I will take either my 7 RUM or .300 Wby, both weigh about 7.5# with scope. Not from any first hand experience, but seems to me you couldn't do any better for sheep than a .257 Wby. I'll keep you posted on the results of my hunt.

Good luck,
Craig Nolan

Hi Kensco, yes I am booked, with Eric Mikkelson of Northwest Territories. I can provide a number if need be. He also ahas a website.

Kensco
I'll be waiting to hear your report.From what I
have heard we will both have a great hunt.My wife
is hunting for Mt Caribou.I have been told
there are some huge bull caribou in the area...
Are you hunting alone?Backpack hunt?

The area is reported to have a great population
of big dalls.My hunt is 12 days,how long is yours?
I think the hard thing is to pass on 38-39 inch
rams,waiting for a twister.
Well here's to a couple of 40+ inch dalls.

Craig and RustyF hope you both whack a twister too...
Jeff

I'll be hunting alone; possibly have my grown son with me as an observer. It's backpack. Mine is a ten day hunt; Dall only.

On HuntAmerica I got comments from a guy that hunted the area a year or so ago. He said it was game-rich, and you started seeing game as you flew in to base. He also said he had a grizzly visit one night that ran off with his moose hide. May be a little more reality show than I need, but I'm game.

When I'm toast, and can't hunt anymore, I suspect this will be the hunt that I talk about 'til the day I die.

Kensco
I agree.Since I was a little kid reading JOC hunt sheep, this is the hunt I HAVE to do.I have been fortunate in my life to hunt some great wilderness areas.However,if I did not make this hunt, I would regret it terribly.
Like you I'm hunting just sheep,but my wife is
hunting just bou.There are some gaggers there.Here's to good luck.
Jeff

RustyF,

Although I used my .300 Weatherby for my Dall Ram hunt I used my .257 Weatherby for my Rocky Mountain Big Horn. A 120 gr. Nosler Partition got the job done. You want to use your .257? Have no fear it will do just fine. Lawdog

I've heard many reports that Terry Overly is an excellent guide. The quarter bores have an excellent reputation in the mountains. As mentioned, your shots will more than likely be closer than you expect. Now a mtn goat hunt is another story altogether...

what gun are you thinking of getting? or do you have one already? ive been thinking about getting one but havent researched the gun itself yet. any yea's or nea's on certain types? i know there isnt a whole lot of off the shelf guns in that cal. to pick from. jeff