257 Weatherby or 264 Win Mag next rifle build

[Bearman375]

Been back and forth on this one, I just finished a build on a 35 Whelen for mid range (super accurate 225 grain Accubonds @2800 fps) and last year a 300 Win Mag build for long range and elk/bears out there. Was looking to complement what I have on hand and was playing with a 25-06 and a 243 but found them lacking past 400-500 yards. Was looking towards a 257 bee with a twist to allow 130 grain bullets or a 264 Win Mag. Not interested in a wildcat, nor the flavor of the month 6.5 PRC or Weatherby version, a 140 @ 3000 is average and only matches what the old 6.5-06 does, not interested. A friend is shooting 140's out of his 264 @ 3300 with great success and I do like that. Cant help but think what the Weatherby would do with 130's @ maybe 3200+ fps? Thoughts?

Man, I got one 257 Wby, just got it not sighted in yet, but, I have 3 264 win mags.....the 140 accubonds are killer in this gun, must use 26" tube too..it's a killer!!

 

[Philward]

awesome round to bad weatherby never figured it out

Never figured what out?

 

[340Wby-4-everything]

264 with 1-8, 26" and never look back. Only thing I like about a 6.5 needmore is that it did the same thing for me the 338 lapua did and that was give me loads of bullet choices for my favorites 264winmag and 340wby

 

[Buano]

My vote is for the .257 Weatherby based primarily on what you have already. While the .257Wby & .264 Win are both GREAT cartridges, the .264 would be competing with your .300 Win while the .257 will fill a slightly different notch.

 

[Canhunter35]

I like the sound of the 257, but I'd be leery of building a custom rifle around 1 bullet. With the 264 you've got near endless choices of good, high bc hunting bullets.

I'd do a 264 with a 28" carbon barrel, throated for 156's, you can still use 147 eld or 140 Berger with it if you want. 8 twist is plenty unless you plan to hunt sea level.

IMHO, the 257 is best used as a hyper velocity laser with 100 grain bullets at 3700+, hold fur out to 400+.

After building a 7mm around the 180eldm and being unable to get it to shoot it while it slings other bullets with exceptional accuracy, I agree unfortunately. I do think they're offering a great product though

 

[Truc]

264 Win Mag for the win, brass is an issue with both but, you can make the 264 brass from 7 RM just by running it in the die.

I had a similar issue with the 264 and 6.5 RM I went with the 6.5 Rem Mag only for better life on the barrel. It's about the same as the 6.5 PRC. I really like it, but brass is tough to come by.

 

[Possum Cop]

Blackjack is making bullets, barrels, and brass for their .25 Creedmoor. It looks pretty impressive on the ballistic charts. The G7 BC is .330 with the 131 grain bullet at 2940 FPS.
Been kicking around the idea of building a .25 Caliber myself.

I also looked at the .284 Winchester.

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

Did you know Howard Wolfe? He was my gunsmith for many years.

Hmmm, not offhand. Should I?? Where at?

And to add to the 257 bullet discussion, theres also the 110 Bulldozer mono bullet, its 7 twist with 590 bc. I havent seen it yet but when I get my next 25 caliber I'm all over it! Between those, the 121 and 128 hammers and Blackjacks I wouldn't consider a 7 twist overly specialized at all. Unless you chambered it specifically maybe??
I know Blackjack has a reamer for the .257 specd with minimal freebore designed for long pointy bullets.

 

[FEENIX]

Been back and forth on this one, I just finished a build on a 35 Whelen for mid range (super accurate 225 grain Accubonds @2800 fps) and last year a 300 Win Mag build for long range and elk/bears out there. Was looking to complement what I have on hand and was playing with a 25-06 and a 243 but found them lacking past 400-500 yards. Was looking towards a 257 bee with a twist to allow 130 grain bullets or a 264 Win Mag. Not interested in a wildcat, nor the flavor of the month 6.5 PRC or Weatherby version, a 140 @ 3000 is average and only matches what the old 6.5-06 does, not interested. A friend is shooting 140's out of his 264 @ 3300 with great success and I do like that. Cant help but think what the Weatherby would do with 130's @ maybe 3200+ fps? Thoughts?

Between the two on your list, "my" personal choice is the .264 WM. Just finished head-spacing my budget build and if time allows mount scope this weekend. It has an X-caliber 26" 5R 1:7" specifically built to propel the 156 Berger or 160 Matrix.

Good luck!

 

[bigtuna431]

I've been shooting a 264wm for 40 years with Rem Corelock 140's, and haven't got a clue what the speed is and don't really care. It does the job. One shot..one kill. 4-500 yds is about my max shoting distance with very little hold over. Most are on the cross hairs 50-300yds, sighted in a 2" high at 200yds. FN/Hart /26"/Canjar.. My 2¢

 

[Reloader 7828]

Been back and forth on this one, I just finished a build on a 35 Whelen for mid range (super accurate 225 grain Accubonds @2800 fps) and last year a 300 Win Mag build for long range and elk/bears out there. Was looking to complement what I have on hand and was playing with a 25-06 and a 243 but found them lacking past 400-500 yards. Was looking towards a 257 bee with a twist to allow 130 grain bullets or a 264 Win Mag. Not interested in a wildcat, nor the flavor of the month 6.5 PRC or Weatherby version, a 140 @ 3000 is average and only matches what the old 6.5-06 does, not interested. A friend is shooting 140's out of his 264 @ 3300 with great success and I do like that. Cant help but think what the Weatherby would do with 130's @ maybe 3200+ fps? Thoughts?

I have multiple 264 WM. Shoot 95 grain for varmints and 143 for deer. Deadly accurate and precise if hand loaded. I'd suggest a 26 in barrel for all belted magnums. Great bullet choices out there as well

 

[65WSM]

I am familiar with both the .264 Win Mag and the .257 Weatherby. If you have to have a belted magnum, for reasons unknown to me, I would pick the .257 Weatherby. It has a longer neck for partial neck sizing and more magazine room for the spitzers. Longer necks are also heat sinks to protect the throat of the barrel. R-Bros (builds 3-5 hundred custom rifles a year) for his own deer hunting builds 24 inch barreled 6.5 WSM and with Reloader 26, gets 3300 fps with 140 Bergers. With a 6.5 WSM the bullets are more likely to seated to shoulder instead of deep into the body of the case. The 6.5 SAUM and the 6.5 PRC are also great deer cartridges that will fit into magazines. Long range (500 yards) at my club range, I can group better with handloads built on modern beltless cases than I ever achieved with the .264 Win Mag. From a 26 inch barrel (or even a 28), I can get as much or more velocity from less powder (9 grains less) than I can from the .264 Win Mag. That means less recoil and muzzle blast. Nitrocarburize the barrel and shoot coated bullets. No naked bullets!

 

[Model12boy]

For cool factor, a 257 wby twisted for 131 ace. Most guys use 345 g7 bc and this will have accuracy node above 3300fps, no cartridge/bullet combo will out shoot it evevation that has less than 100gr capacity. For practicality sake, the 264 is less overbore, bullets up to 160gr, it makes better sense, has a large bullet selection. And it's pretty classic old school, and still deserves respect. If win/rem would just build em with 8 twist barrels.

I have the Ruger Hawkeye 264 win mag 24inch barrel.. Ruger twisted it right 1:8... If you see anyone looking for a NIB Ruger Hawkeye 264 I have a extra one for sale

 

[Jerrywoo]

The problem I've had with the 264 is barrel life..it is an excellent round but when you start working up handloads you are going to have to find a happy medium between factory and super high velocity.. otherwise you will be replacing barrels.. absolutely a fine round though