The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Small Calibers 257 WeatherbyGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Hello I am thinking about getting a 257 Weatherby. I have heard that this cartridge is hard on barrels. What kind of barrel life can be expected with medium to hot hand loads? Mark | ||
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I got my first .257 Weatherby in 1967 and have reloaded for it from the beginning. I load for accuracy not velocity, and I have just over 2,000 rounds thru mine. Yes there is some throat erosion but it still groups under MOA. Until the accuracy falls off the current barrel stays. Lawdog  | |||
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I've been told as little as 600 and more than Gary has though his. I'm sure it all depends on how you use it. I would think that letting the barrel cool down between shots will extend the life a lot. I've never likes Weatherby rifles, but like the concept behind the cartridges. I recently had a Ruger 77 MKII .300winmag that couldn't put 3 bullets in a bucket at 100yds. I had it re-barreled in a .257WBY. I've always' wanted a .257WBY and a ruger that actually shoots. I got both with this one! I've only taken it out once, but it looks promising. Most went just a little over or under 1" @100yds (3 shot groups)with factory ammo. I think once the barrel gets a little more seasoned and I get to tweak the hand loads, it could be a serious rifle. The barrel looks a lot like the WBY Mark5 ultra light weight contour. It weighs 7.2LB empty, no scope. Not much to look at, but it works for me  Terry  -------------------------------------------- Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? | |||
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TC1, That is a unique looking rifle. What brand of barrel did you use, what length, what twist and who did the work on the swapout? Thanks. DB | |||
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If you don't shoot it when it's hot you can get several thousand rounds from it....the key is to not shoot it hot. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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The rifle is absolutely nothing special. The barrel is a stainless E.R. Shaw 26" with a 1-10" twist. It was threaded, chamber, crowned, fluted and installed for the whopping sum a $353.00! (return shipping included  ) It shoots great and cleans up easy. My 1st Shaw and I'm happy with it. Terry -------------------------------------------- Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? | |||
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Thanks, TC1. Again, she's a unique one. DB | |||
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My own Mark V in 257wby never shot that great from the factory anyways(around MOA) and accuracy began to fall off even more at about 1000 rounds.I rebarreled it with a premium barrel with much less freebore and it became an honest sub 1/2 MOA rifle.After 500 rounds I sold it so I can't say how long the new barrel would last.I really liked the 257wby cartridge but neither of my Mark V s were as accurate as my factory 700s. | |||
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Hey, Lawdog and I got our .257 Weatherbys in the same year, and mine is still performing just like his. Just do not try rapid fire, and reload for accuracy. LLS  | |||
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My 257 WBY I let cool between shots and I hope to get at least 3000 rounds thru it. | |||
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I have hunted with mine for several years and it is a fun rifle to shoot. Low recoil and shoots flat. I took it to africa in 2004 and used it to kill over 30 animals...most smaller like impalla and pigs however I did kill a nice Wildebeast and a Zebra....worked fine. What I don't like about the gun is that it is very loud both for me and other around me. Bullet selection is also critical. I have had good luck with the X bullets, bad luck with the BT. Shot Partitions and had mixed results...close range it blew an impalla to bits...long range it worked great. X bullets worked great all the time. Large animals would go 50 to 100 yards in africa before being found dead. A small exit hole with the x made tracking difficult...not much of a blood trail...however one shot kills were the norm. Have not shot mime enough to determine if barrel life will be an issue. Have fun! ****************************************************************** R. Lee Ermey: "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle." ****************************************************************** We're going to be "gifted" with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don't, Which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a President, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we'll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke!!!!! 'What the hell could possibly go wrong?' | |||
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I am patiently waiting for my rifle to be finished. Rem Mag 700 action, 26" #4 Shilen SS barrel, Jewell trigger, cust. Syn Stock, 6.5x20 LR VX-III, Talley and complete teflon coating for all | |||
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I have over 1000 rounds thrugh mine and it still shoots sub half MOA. I am careful when I shoot it though, never more than three shot groups before letting the barrel completely cool. I never had to have it "tuned" or any of that stuff, shot great out of the box. Great rifles and the only US manufacturer that guarantees AND delivers accuracy. jorge USN (ret) DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE DSC Life Member NRA Life Member | |||
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