257 Weatherby Bullet Options

[BEEMAN]

If you have the right twist I'd shoot the 131 BJ for deer. Elk and bear I'd wait for the new absolute hammer. Suppose to be in the 120-125 gr weight. The 131 shoots good in my 25-284. Patiently waiting on the new Hammer.

 

[Calvin45]

Many have mentioned the high bc 131 grain bullet from blackjack...it's also highly suspected it won't work unless the op (an Albertan it seems, greetings from Saskatchewan) has purpose built a rifle around that bullet.

to my mind staying true to the intention behind this cartridge entails driving lighter bullets stupid fast for explosive hammer of Thor performance on deer size game and adequate performance on larger game compared to other .25 cals. Even with the 120 grain class bullets a .25 of any kind is not what I think of when I think of bear hunting. So I say, for whatever it's worth, make this rifle and cartridge the best at what they do best. 100 grain class, 3600+ fps range. The Barnes ttsx has been mentioned already as has the partition. I'd vote for the 100 grain swift scirocco for premium and the plain vanilla 100 grain interlock for standard.

 

[Double Dropper]

Hello from Alberta, and yes would be for Mule Deer, Whiteys and the odd black bear, just shooting it in now, one round clean, one round clean LOL. Factory load with 100 grain spitzer. Standard Vanguard with a 1/10 twist so the heavies are no option. Just looking for a high (as reasonable) BC bullet that will hold together under extreme velocities.

 

[AZShooter]

There were six rifles made in 257 Weatherby. A few of us made a lightweight sporters and a couple of heavier versions with #5 fluted 28" barrels. Same reamer and all use SS Lilja 3 groove 1 in 10 barrels. Custom reamer that has approx .100 freebore with a 1 degree 30 min throat angle.

We all use the Berger 115 VLD. If it will shoot in your rifle it is a killer. A few of these rifles have changed hands to other friends. Most rifles use RL-25, one uses H-1000 and one uses RL-33.


To date we have taken:
27 coues wt
4 mule deer
6 elk
2 antelope

Several shots were past 500 yds. The bullet usually exits. I shot one coues at 525 yds just behind shoulder and it went through the offside knuckle/elbow exiting! Many deer drop to the shot.

FYI the 28" barrels with RL-25 yielded over 3600 fps. So you can get fast and high BC with the right combination.

I am on my second barrel as I wore out the 28" barrel at around 1100 rounds. Don't try too many bullet/powder combinations like I did.

A good alternative that I would use on the largest animals would be the 110 accubond.

 

[5gauss]

Got a 257 Bee coming today, love new rifles, never shot this caliber but have been reviewing a ton of loading data and the high velocities of this caliber. Most streamlined bullet appears to be the Berger 115 but I noticed a lot of gents have elected to drive the 100 grain Barnes TTSX to 3600 fps. Other bullets I have are the 110 grain Accubond and 110 grain Hornady Innerbond, real question, mono bullet at high speeds or lower speeds with cup and core? Any failures of the TTSX to penetrate and mushroom? Mostly big whitetails up in Alberta but could be the occasional elk or bear. Best direction to start loading in?

110 Accubond one shot stopper at 300+ for Deer. Very accurate also and low recoil...no brake needed

 

[Philward]

I'm using Barnes 100g TTSX 71g RL22 (tsx previously) and Nosler 110 AB 67.5g H4831. Still have some of a box of the factory 100g to shoot up. The noslers at 3300+fps and the TTSX at 3630 but they are tight extracting so will have to back down on them.

 

[Gater]

Got a 257 Bee coming today, love new rifles, never shot this caliber but have been reviewing a ton of loading data and the high velocities of this caliber. Most streamlined bullet appears to be the Berger 115 but I noticed a lot of gents have elected to drive the 100 grain Barnes TTSX to 3600 fps. Other bullets I have are the 110 grain Accubond and 110 grain Hornady Innerbond, real question, mono bullet at high speeds or lower speeds with cup and core? Any failures of the TTSX to penetrate and mushroom? Mostly big whitetails up in Alberta but could be the occasional elk or bear. Best direction to start loading in?

Father in law had a .257 weatherby mag and it was a barrel eater shot flat and fast but hard on barrels

 

[25WSM]

Rl22 loses so much speed when it gets cold out. If you don't tune in the cold your rifle will be out of tune. I stopped using it because of how temp sensitive it is. It's a shame because 257wbys love rl22. I use 7828 in mine now and it's done great. Going to try some rl23 and 26 and see how it does.
Shep

 

[meatyrem]

The highest bc in 25 that will shoot from a 10 is randy's 110. These Bibb bullets have a . 520 which is real good for a 25. They shoot and kill great. For sure the cup and cores come apart real explosive like but if you keep your shots in the ribs for the lung explosion you don't lose meat. Customers have great luck with accubonds and of course partitions always work but have a low bc. Hey Nosler, put a plastic tip in some partitions and up the bc. More long range hunters would use them if you got the bc close to the accubonds.
Shep

I've always thought that a partition with a tip and a boat tail with a bonded front section would be the ultimate projectile. Almost like an accubond partition. Also the A-frame with a tip and boattail would be killer
Just some thoughts. Like where your thinking is.

 

[25WSM]

257wby is absolutely not a barrel eater. Unless your idea is 1000 rounds of life is a barrel eater. That long neck and the shoulder shape make sure the gas isn't torching the throat. I've owned over a dozen Bees and built way more than that and I have never had one die with less than a 1000 and a few got close to 1500. That's the same life I get from my 6.5 Creed, 6BRs, 6ppcs and 6slr compatition barrels. Those barrels still have a little life left but can't compete. Just don't shoot long strings and let it cool. It's been my favorite hunting round for more than 30 yrs. This is the first year I won't be using one because I'm going with a 6.5saum. But there will always be some 257wbys in my rack.
Shep

 

[Bearman375]

Got a 257 Bee coming today, love new rifles, never shot this caliber but have been reviewing a ton of loading data and the high velocities of this caliber. Most streamlined bullet appears to be the Berger 115 but I noticed a lot of gents have elected to drive the 100 grain Barnes TTSX to 3600 fps. Other bullets I have are the 110 grain Accubond and 110 grain Hornady Innerbond, real question, mono bullet at high speeds or lower speeds with cup and core? Any failures of the TTSX to penetrate and mushroom? Mostly big whitetails up in Alberta but could be the occasional elk or bear. Best direction to start loading in?

Just got one last year, a weathermark 26" tube. From what I hear 100 TTSX is the way to go, 71 or 72 grain R-22 very accurate and fast 3700 plus... no kills yet but I will try all winter here in Montana the 110 accubonds are good too!

 

[25WSM]

Just putting the plastic tip on a partition would be a large bc increase. They have always shot great but man that low bc just kills it for me. Nosler could easily do the tip on them. I bet they could sell as many as they could pump out. I got a few boxes of 257 wby with 120 partitions for less than 20 bucks a box a few yrs ago on clearance. I got them for the brass but man did they shoot great. And 3450 from my 26 in Lawton barrel. Killed a bunch of deer with those factory loads.
Shep

 

[Draftmule]

DD -
Good for you loading a dated caliber. I enjoy trying a bunch of different bullets in .277 Wby and although own dozen various calibers have zero heartburn with the belt. Sweet thing with that vintage 25 is common powders you may have like RL - 19 , H - 1000 or V N 165 are great for initial load development. After breaking in barrel with what ever you can get your hands on consider a Hammer.

 

[emp1953]

Got a 257 Bee coming today, love new rifles, never shot this caliber but have been reviewing a ton of loading data and the high velocities of this caliber. Most streamlined bullet appears to be the Berger 115 but I noticed a lot of gents have elected to drive the 100 grain Barnes TTSX to 3600 fps. Other bullets I have are the 110 grain Accubond and 110 grain Hornady Innerbond, real question, mono bullet at high speeds or lower speeds with cup and core? Any failures of the TTSX to penetrate and mushroom? Mostly big whitetails up in Alberta but could be the occasional elk or bear. Best direction to start loading in?

Don't get hung up on the "most streamlined looking bullet" Pay attention to the BC (Ballistic Coefficient) number for the given bullet.
Then decide on what game you are shooting and at what max range.
Do some googling on how much retained energy a bullet needs to have at your max range to perform well on your game animal. Like most experts agree that 1000 ft/lbs is needed for deer sized game.
Look at the bullet manufacturers recommendations as far a minimum and maximum velocities
Look at some of the ballistics tables on line and see what the retained energy at your max range is for a given load, producing a velocity that the table suggests.
Get a list of prices.
Get a feel for how available those bullets will be.

Put all these factors into an Excel Spreadsheet across the top.
Put all your bullets in a column on the left.
as you get answers to all the factors involved, put an X in the cell.

The bullet with the most X's wins.