Gentlemen

I'm contimplating the purchase of a rifle to fill the void between my 22-250 and 7mm-08. I've always had a mild interest in the .257 Weatherby. I've always been a strong fan of the Remington 700, especially the laminate stocks as they make less noise walking through brush.

Question is this: Remington or Weatherby? Synthetic stock or laminate stock?

Any strong opinions?

Thanks in advance.

Don

DS,
I'll leave the strong opinions to others. I'll make a couple of observations though.

First, I currently own/have owned three Weatherby rifles,(all synthetic stocked) and shoot a 257 Weatherby in the Mark V Accumark. I won't go into all the rifle specs, as you can go to weatherby site yourself. I also own and shoot numerous other major manufactures rifles. I wanted a 257 weatherby and got one. I wanted a 240 weatherby and got one. I also purchased the SuperVarmintMaster in 308. I've enjoyed them all.

I will say, I would want the 257 roy with a min of 26" barrell. With the weatherby synthetic stock and 26" barrel it tends to the heavy side and is not what I would call a "walking" or "stalking " rifle.

Using a 100 gr bullet you can get and honest 3650 fps out of a 257 roy with a 26" barrel.
If you shoot anything under a 100 yds at that velocity you get a considerable amount of bloodshot meat. A consideration if you are a meat hunter.
Weatherby ammo tends to be pricey. Do you reload?
Due to the double radius shoulder, you'll be using Weatherby brass. I think retail for 257 wby brass is around $30 for 20.

Should you desire a lighter trigger pull than comes from the factory, most likely you'll have to have a "smith" do that unless you purchase an aftermarket trigger.

A couple more thoughts,

I believe Remington had a run of 257 weatherbys a year or so ago.

A 25-06 chambered in a synthetic stocked remington would be cheaper to acquire and feed.

A 257 roberts or an AI version thereof could be done on a short action, 22" barrel and create a compact, light stalking rifle.

Now the foregoing may seem negative. Not so to my mind, just some things you might consider. I will say my 257 roy kills like the proverbial "hammer of Thor". Speed and lazer-like trajectory are its middle name.



Good luck on whatever you decide.

GWB

I have a Weatherby Mk V Stainless Synthetic in 257WBY and it is just about perfect in every way. Not as big or heavy as my AccuMark so I think it would be fine as a walking, stalking rifle.
Deadly, exquisitely accurate and fun to shoot - great combination. I'd go with a Weatherby synthetic and never look back. Good for everything in this continent save the big bears IMHO.

I've owned a custom Mauser in 257 Weatherby and today very much wish I hadn't sold it many yrs ago. It had double set triggers, Douglas 26" barrel, Redfield 16x scope and real nice wood. I bought it for only $500 and got an offer I "couldn't refuse".

While I can't speak to the laminate/synthetic stock, I can vouch for the cartridge. What GWB says is correct on the barrel length..the 26" barrel is what I'd want in order to get the full benefit out of the ballistics possible with that cartridge..the factory ammo is extremely expensive..and you should go for side rib shots if at all possible because it can tear up some meat otherwise. I also agree it's not a walking around rifle.

When I had mine that cartridge was advertised as the most powerful .25 caliber. That was a lot of the appeal plus the Weatherby mystique, which is a factor for some of us. I followed that thru later by getting a German Weatherby Mark V in 30-06. It replaced a Weatherby Vanguard which shot just as well, but simply wasn't a Mark V.

I'd go for it; you'll enjoy owning it. It'll depend on what you have in the budget for this, but if I could afford it I'd shop for an actual Weatherby, preferably an older German made, in the 257.

Incidentally, a hunter friend made an interesting comment about its report..said it kind of "builds" in comparison to a 30-06. I know what he meant, but it's a bit hard to describe..

Well, this is just an opinion, but that is what you asked for right?

I would find a Remington 700 with the laminated black stock and the 26 inch barrel. My dad has one and we chronographed it today, I was simply amazed.

My dad's loads are hot, I will give you that, but we chronographed 115 grain Barnes TSX bullets at 3450 and 100 grain Barnes TSX bullets at 3750. Both loads used lots of IMR 7828 but showed NO sign of high pressures.

In August I watched my dad kill an antelope with that rifle shooting 80 grain Tipped TSX bullets at a lasered 586 yards. That buck never even twitched, dead on arrival! What a sight to see. An 80 year old hunter busting a good goat at that range and the animal just folding up at the shot. (His loads for the 80 grain Barnes are not all that hot, they only chronographed about a 100 feet faster than the 100 grain bullets.)

I guess it is a personal thing, but I own two rifles chambered for Weatherby cartridges, both of them were made by Remington.

I load 257 Weatherby for a friend. He has one of the laminated stainless Remington 700 rifles. It shoots very well. Never shot one off the Mark V action.

Yessiree. I too have had several 257wbys and love them all! The Mark V Ulta Lightweight has been my favorite. It weighs under 8 lbs with the scope and a 26" bbl, shoots tsx, b-tips and sierras sub moa, mild recoil, and the triggers I've gotten from Weatherby especially as of late have been very useable.

A good friend has a MkV Deluxe in .257 Roy and he'll be buried with it. It is a deer and pig killing machine. Nice rifle too. The 26" barrel can be a bit unwieldy in a deer blind though.

You will have to look long and hard to find anyone who has much bad to say about the .257 Roy.

LWD

Thanks for all the feedback guys! You really got me thinking.

As much as I would like a German Weatherby, I'm looking for something I don't have to worry about. Cost is not the main issue.

I hunt free ranging sika deer on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In the salt marsh habitat, it is not unusual to see a nice stag at 300 to 400 yards.

I am leaning towards the Remington laminate stainless gun which I know of several available. Perhaps top it off with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44 scope which I already own.

Still pondering...

Don

Don, Check your PMs....Biebs

Sounds like a plan to me.

Also that scope would look pretty good on a 7 stw topped with 140gr. accubonds. It will also reach out there too.

GWB

I have a Nipponese Weathermark V in .257 Wby. Bought it at a local gun show for just under $400. It is very accurate (have one load for it that is a genuine 1/2 MOA 5-shot groups load at 100 yards). Never really bothered to try to find another accurate load for it.

I would definitely not consider it a "walking around" rifle. It is not the weight so much as the general large "clunkiness" and unhandy feel (to me) of the stock.

The one thing I can add which may be of use to you is that I have never restricted myself to using Weatherby brass. Shoulders from other belted mag cases easily fire-form to the double radius of the Weatherby cases, so I mainly use W-W brass. MUUCCHHH less expensive and work just as well for me. As they are often a bit thicker, they also seem to often last even longer.

PITA to make though if you start with something huge like .375 H&H brass and don't really like handloading...what with reaming or outside neck turning, shortening, etc.

Still, if handloading is a major part of your shooting hobby fun, making the Wby brass from cheaper stuff can really be an added enjoyment.

The Weatherby Mark V Accumark.

Gents and Ladies

Just purchased a Remington 700 LSS .257 Weatherby. Kind of a life long infactuation with the cartridge.

No big hurry at this point of the season, but will order dies and bullets soon. Any magic loads would be much appriciated.

Thanks again to all for the help. Look forward to meeting some of you in Dallas in January.

Don

Give the 100 TSX a Ride with Ramshot Magnum, you won't be sorry.