OK any of you guys have any first hand experience with a 257Wby in a 24" barrel. I got a buddy with a 25-06 that has got the hots for a 257Wby. He wants to just run a reamer in and go. I told him that I "didn't think" he would gain enough velocity to worry about it. Just burn more powder.

Anyone got any facts to help?? Either way would be great. Hey I've been wrong before. Heck it might not even clean up the chmaber withoug being set back. I need to look at the dimensions.

It probably isn't going to be just a "ream and go". There is also the modification to the bolt face and maybe the feed rails...best to buy a REAL .257 Weatherby with a 26" barrel and really see what .25s can do...

Bob

Bob makes some good points here. Also, Weatherby rifles have a longer freebore then non Weatherby's. As I understand it, they do this because of the high pressures obtained by Weatherby loads... For those who don't want to spend Mark V dollars you can get the Vanguard models in .257... The differences are in the actions in that the Vanguards are a 2 lug bolt compared to the Mark Vs 9 lug design and a 24 inch barrel... I'm sure they've changed some other aspects to lessen the price but that's the basics on them....

Ken....

He knows the bolt face would need to be opened. It is a MKX and I've found that they will feed both 06 & mag cases without work. I also know that he would never fire factory.

I have also suggested just going with the Vanguard (howa) and 26". But he hates the stock on the Vanguard and loves his. So my last arguement was sell the barrel and install a 26"or27" on his action and stock.

Sure glad I'm never that hard to reason with.

I've owned 257 Weatherbys (26") and 25-06 in 24" barrels and a few 257 Roberts with barrels from 22"-24" and from my personal experience the real differences of these cartridges is on paper. Shooting them in the field really don't make one shine all over the others.

I far prefer to hunt pronghorns with the 257 Roberts as it's a handier handling featherweight M-70.

Your friend probably will just have to learn the hard way and get one himself.

I'd sell the 25.06 if money is an issue and build a 257 wby from scratch. That way he's have a good barrel from the get-go and probably a better chance at excellent groups. If not he could always do this:

quote:

I'd sell the 25.06 if money is an issue and build a 257 wby from scratch.

Believe me having the money is not an issue. Getting him to spend it might be another issue.

Big issue with the Wbys is he hates the stock. I think he is starting to believe some of the data the various load programs are giving him about the small gain given by using a 24" over his 25-06 24". If he does anything now I expect he will rebarrel. With any luck there will be another bright and shinny object that will get him focused on something else.

Thanks for all the imput.

Lofter-nice looking rifle.

thankyou.....It's a Mark X in 257 WBY with the dreadedly slow 24" tube....but I like very much.

I know a guy who had a 257 weatherby, he wore the barrel out in 200shots! he had it from new, a MK5 accumark. he sent the barrel back and they replaced it for him. I guess its fair to assume he liked a good hot load...

quote:

I guess its fair to assume he liked a good hot load...

And he liked to shoot his barrel blazing hot!

I have the Vanguard SS in 257 and a 24 inch barrel. You lose 20-30 fps, per inch of barrel loss. I also have a 25-06AI. The 257 wby in 24 inch still outruns the 25-06AI, but only by about 50 fps. I suspect it will outrun a standard 25-06 by 100 fps. Both of my rifles have a 24 inch barrel. Both loads are chrony'd, using 100 grain TSX bullets. I like both, go figure.........

Does this much barrel lenght >______________________< really make that big a difference in the grand scheme of things?

quote:

Originally posted by Tex21:
Does this much barrel lenght >______________________< really make that big a difference in the grand scheme of things?

about 100FPS. i always got told 1" = 50fps.

although that would vary with different factors

TUsing a chrongraph, most will realize you loose about 20-30 fps, per inch of barrel.

LOOSE? depends on calibure, load etc..

Yeah. Personally, I just like long barrels, like the old WWI infantry rifles. If I ever replace the 24" barrel on my Vanguard, it'll be with a 28-30" one. I understand the inherent problems with barrel harmonics increase with length, it's less handy to carry in a vehicle, etc., but I just like 'em long.

Used to be someone on the old Shooters board with a .300 Weatherby Vanguard he'd rebarreled to 28". He did have substantially increased muzzle velocities, IIRC about 200 FPS more than with the 24" barrel. I expect the loads I use with tightly compressed charges of very slow burning surplus ball powders intended for .50 BMG and 20mm loads (similar to H870) would show more difference than most. The powder hasn't entirely burned by bullet exit, and the gas pressure at the muzzle is quite high.