Hey Gents,

I am looking at building a new semi-custom rifle. First off, I shoot backwards, Left-handed. So, action choices are a bit limited. Add to that the fact I strongly prefer M70 or M77MII type actions.........

I can get my hand on standard length M70s or Short Mag lenth M70s. This is my thinking so far, small bore wildcat for deer on down, mostly coyotes. I'm leaning toward a cartridge 'not' based on the '06 case, so WSM?

Any input on WSM based small bores? Have they been successfully done? .257 or even 6mm would interest me the most.

Thank you for your input.

i built one.. and you can reat the reamer...

it's about 8-80fps slower than a 257 weatherby... deadly accurate.. but very boring

jeffe

Very boring? Care to expand on that? .257 Wea. velocity doesn't sound boring to me.......

Is it easy ot load for? Do you think smaller calibers on the WSM case might be feasible?

You might have guessed, barrel life is not a real concern for me...............

Thanks for the info, might take you up on that rental....

Well,
let' see..
load dev was chimple
gun shot 1/2 moa
excellent repeatibility
right behind the weatherby


heck, i'll even sell you my "reloading dies".. redding 300wsm with the proper collet installed.

btw, it's WAY easier to make the cases from 270 WSM

I was totally in love with the 257 roberts, didn't think the 25-06 was enough difference to rechamber for, didn't want a weatherby,,...

built the rifle about the same time I started building big bores and DGRs (these are NOT the same thing) and pretty much gave up whitetail deer hunting... would rather hunt hogs.. besides, I like what a 416 does more than a .257 bullet... big WHACK, animal down, (same same, right) .. with minimal meat damage in the 416



so, if you have a springfield 1903a3 action, i have a barrel and dies you can buy, and i'll rent you the reamer, if you like.

barrel is NOT shot out... gun was WAY submoa, but I was entirely bored with it, and would shoot 1 round.. a couple from my 416 or 458 or richard's 577, then remember I brought it, shoot another...

that action, btw, went on to become my 416 AR on the springfield.

jeffe

Jeffe,

So, if you're not getting pounded you're bored, eh. Well, I'm a recoilafobic so this .257 WSM might be the ticket for me.

As for us doing business, I'm on the other side of a rather complicated border to your north...........

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Much appreciated,

David

David,
Nah, but yeah... the root issue may be that the 257wsm/JLS didn't do anything BETTER at my typical shooting distances at game (under 200 yards WITH a rest.. I just don't like shooting long range) than my 257 roberts did.. and even though this was my first wildcat, it just didn't "do" anything for me. Yep, worked great, brass was fairly easy (and got easier with the 270), shot fast, and accurate...

but, realistically, the 'bob did all that, at 2950fps, with ZIP recoil (i like seeing the fireball in the scope) and my wife gave me that rifle for a birthday present....

so, yeah, you can get right with the weatherby, and it's reamer, dies, barrel, and headspace gages away... but, to be honest, unless it's a deal like this, it wasn't "anybetter" than then webby, and not quite as much fun as my 257roberts

jeffe