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WILLIAMDOERSAM
Moderator
USA
1420 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 07 2009 : 12:13:09
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Cal Sibley where are you?
And how about all the 6,5 fans?
First about the .257. Great cartridge when used within it's parameters. Heavy animals at long range are NOT within it's parameters. Bullets are not heavy enough, that's the only negative about it.
As far as the 6,5 is concerned, it's not an Elephant gun, but I have read of their being killed by the Swede.
Facing an Elephant with a Swede would not be my cup of tea.
I currently have three 6,5's. 6,5 Swede, 6,5x68AI and a 260 Rem Encore Pistol. It is reserved for shots of no more than 200 yds. I use mainly 120>140 grain bullets, Partitions are my favorite in all 3 guns.
The 6,5x68 Ackley is just a little bit more potent than the 264 WM. I would not hesitate to shoot a Moose out to 300 yds with either using heavy well constructed bullets.
Americans for the most part are not fans of any cartridge that has MM behind it. This started after returning soldiers from WW2 returned stateside and had been shot at/with, by 6,5's, 7mm and 8mm rifles.
I have read many reports where the 257 is a terrific plains rife for Whitetails, Coues and Pronghorns and is selling like hotcakes in the Southwest.
I'm referring to the 257 Weatherby here. Sorry but I just never bought into the "Weatherby" thought that VELOCITY kills. It takes a bit more than that. Trees are different than animals. You old timers will understand what I'm talking about.
The 264 WM is a great cartridge also, unfortunately it's just not popular or never got fair treatment by American hunters. At it's introduction it suffered from the MM syndrome.
The 264 is a lot like the 35 Whelen, a cult rifle. Those that have them love 'em. Everybody else looks at them and winds their ass and scratches their watch wondering what all the fuss is about.
If ya ain't got one, 264 or a Whelen, you'll never know.
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HAPPY TRAILS
MINOT (MINDROT) NORTH DAKOTA. THE WAY AMERICA USED TO BE.
NRA LIFE MEMBER-1965
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IHMSA
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IT'S OK.....I STARTED UP MY MEDS AGAIN...THEY SHOULD TAKE EFFECT IN ABOUT A WEEK. (STACI-2006)
Vietnam Vet 64-66-68-70
USAF 8 DEC 58- 1 JAN 85 |
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jjgomez
New Member
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2009 : 15:46:57
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| well after looking at the reloading books i am a fan already .i have started to work on a 98 mauser action an its going to be a 6.5x55. hope to be done soon. james |
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ethmoid1999
Advanced Member
USA
1968 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2009 : 18:27:55
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| Is the bolt face right? I have not checked. |
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brandtl
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2009 : 18:53:51
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I am a huge fan of the .264, and have used it my whole life, and my father has had his since 1973. Neither of us use another rifle for big game hunting. I have used mine with no issues at all to kill several antelope, mule deer, and elk, and 1 moose. And God only knows how many critters my dad has shot with his. Lots of people and all gun writers will tell you that they they don't have the power for large game, but don't believe that.
For big game (antelope - moose), I use (MAX LOAD, Don't call me if you hurt yourself) 140 gr. NP's, 63 gr IMR 7828 and CCI #250. Accuracy is better than I can shoot, and my chrony shows these loads at around 3150 fps out of a 24" barrel. I would agree that a 26" barrel is better though.
I don't know too much about the 257Wby, but everyone that I've ever known that has had one really likes it as well.
Like everything, it depends on what you want to do with your rifle. There's never one perfect fit. |
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hmo176
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2009 : 19:56:04
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| I've had 3 264's over the past 30 years first one was a Winchester XTR that I wish I still had a Remington 700 Classic that I gave to my son and I now shoot a Remington SF II with a 26" barrel. All three were very accurate and the latest meaning the SF II will consistantly shoot 5 shot 1/2" groups. I shoot a 120gr. Barnes TSX and 129gr Hornaday SST. I own several rifles from 220 Swift to 300 Weatherby and the 264 is by far my favorite. |
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twud
Advanced Member
USA
1385 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2009 : 10:38:59
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I've been shooting a Mark V in 257 since 1984, it's my primary go to rifle. Just had the barrel replaced last summer with a Krieger, it shoots 1 hole groups now with 100 gr. Nosler Partitions. I'm still working with my original 100 cases.
I've killed game from Idaho to Africa and have yet to loose a single critter. It's been death on deer out to 400 yards.
I have found that you need a well constructed bullet to handle the
velocity. Soft points don't cut it under 100 yards. Recoil is mild and the gun fits me well. Only wish I could seat to just off the lands and still be able to use the magazine.
As for hydrokenetic shock, I am a firm believer having seen that little pill turn lungs to mush too many times.
I have always wanted a pre-64 Model 70 Westerner in 264 Win Mag. The ones I've come across have either been way too expensive or the bores have been rough. My dad has a 264 in a Model 700. I've seen him roll mule deer and antelope at 300 yards. |
NRA Life Member
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Perferator
Average Member
USA
144 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2009 : 12:29:35
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I love my .257wby, it's my rifle of choice for shooting over fields. It's terribly deadly on deer. Longest shot so far in the last 2 seasons of shooting this rifle has been 400yds. I practice out to 425yds and it behaves nicely. Great rifle. Takes some guesswork out of ranging and especially if you hunt distances you aren't familiar with or in lacking a range finder.
Like was mentioned earlier, if you haven't tried the .257wby you wont understand |
I love to shoot. Shoot, I could shoot all day. Shoot the breeze, shoot the bull, heck shoot the cat. |
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woods
Advanced Member
USA
1249 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2009 : 22:13:57
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Well, normally I would let this overbore love-fest go uninterrupted  but since I have had a 264 win mag I feel like I have some input and maybe an alternative.
The 264 win mag I had was a pre-64 Model 70 "Westerner" 26" barrel that everyone is all hot to get. The gun had an inordinate amount of head clearance (.0295") which would ocassionally cause a burn through on the shoulder
and was always a concern regarding thinning at the web and incipient head separation.
There is an old adage regarding the 264 win mag: "What is the slowest powder you are reloading the 264 with? ______ Well, that's not slow enough!" which meant that no matter what powder you put in the blank, it was not slow enough. Many used to use the old W870 but it is no longer available and now other slow powders are used in search of a slow enough powder. Slow powder burn out barrels faster
so that is why the 264 got the reputation for a barrel burner. I suspect the 257 Wtby will be the same since it is overbore also.
Now what do you get for all that extra slow burning powder? In the Nosler manual they list 74 gr H870 to get 3088 fps. I realize this is probably underloaded since the manuals are mostly conservative.
For comparison, in my 6.5 rem mag I get 3093 fps with a 140 gr SGK and 60 gr RL25 and unlimited loadings on the cases. Now my accuracy load is 3098 fps with a 130 gr Scirrocco over 57 gr RL22. Why, because the cartridge is not overbore and is more efficient. I suspect the 6.5-06 or 6.5x284 would give similar results.
The 264 I had would begin to pop primers whenever I approached 3250 fps with the 140 gr boolits or got over 3300 fps with the 125 gr Partition. For me it was a very temperamental finicky case to load, but I might be the exception. I would suspect that downloading would have made things better, but I expected to get 3300 fps with the 140 gr bullets or 3400 fps with the 130's.
So my recommendation would be to get a 6.5-06 or 6.5x284 if you have an 06 boltface or the 6.5 rem mag if you have a win mag boltface. And in the 257 category the 257 Roberts or 257 Roberts Improved would move an appropriate bullet between 3000 and 3100 fps without all the extra powder, muzzle blast and barrel burning.
For me, it was a relief when I found someone who really wanted that pre-64 enough to pay what it was valued at.
But that is just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions. |
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Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians.
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Edited by - woods on Oct 23 2009 09:07:39 |
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tmax264
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - Oct 26 2009 : 20:22:22
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| I carry a Ruger in 264. Shoots well, flat and doesn't kick the bejesus out of me like my 300 weatherby. Also weights about half of the 300. Have been shooting 140gr XLC's but since I can't get them anymore will be working up a load for 130gr TSX's. |
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brian 0714
Junior Member
43 Posts |
Posted - Oct 26 2009 : 20:54:18
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I have a old jarrett remington in 264 with 26" barrel.I have to agree
with woods,it can be tempremental.I havent used it in awhile,but with the SD of some of the bullets they penetrate like you cant believe.Buy the one you are most comfortable with,both are fine calibers within their limitations.Roy Weatherby took a cape buffalo,with a single round from the 257,and it went down like it was dynamited.That is extreme,but it is one of the flattest shooting rounds out.They are both long range rounds and do their best work
at a distance,shoot something up close,and well it aint pretty.
Bullet selection is paramount depending on what youre shooting at and more importantly,how far.They are both rifles that really need
good optics.Buy what fits you. |
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twud
Advanced Member
USA
1385 Posts |
Posted - Oct 27 2009 : 15:34:34
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| As many of you know I'm a dyed-in-the-wool 257 Wby fan. It's great to know that when your afield you have the velocity to eliminate the need for hold over out to 250 yards. I must agree things can get messy at close range, like 30 feet. You've got to use controlled expansion bullets Swift A-Frames, Nosler Partitions or most any of the solid copper bullets(which I have yet to try). |
NRA Life Member
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jjgomez
New Member
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - Oct 31 2009 : 22:00:56
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| hello all ,well the gun shop finally got the 257 weatherby in.an now i am glad i waited for it guess i was just getting nervious it was gettin close to deer season.i am in the process of testing 100gr an 110gr will post result when i am done. BUT I STILL AM GETTIN THE 264 WN for my next gun, maybe i will get one next year. thanks for all of your replies,but i still would like to here some more about the 264 thanks again james |
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twud
Advanced Member
USA
1385 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 08:55:08
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JJ,
Mine has always liked a hot load. I shoot 100 grain bullets at 3,450 fps. I use 66.5 grains of IMR 4350. If you use lightly constructed bullets, such as Nosler BT's, you will be disappointed. I have a matching MKV in 300 Wby and I can't say it does a better job on deer sized game.
Mark |
NRA Life Member
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brian 0714
Junior Member
43 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 10:49:20
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That is what its all about buddy,enjoy it and have fun .When you buy one you'll want another and another,and the next thing you know,you
have safes full of stuff that the wife nags about,why do you need all of those?It is definately an addiction.Try some heavier bullets too,with that much juice behind it,a heavy projectile can do some nice work. |
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jjgomez
New Member
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 01:50:36
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| going to try to go to the range monday to test 100gr sie gk an 110 accubonds with rl 22.mark if this dosnt work i will try imr 4350 as you posted. brain i am going to have all the fun i can with the 257wm before my 14yr old takes it over.as for the wife she does not have the combo for the safeshe trys to take inventory once in a while.she under stands sometime have a good week everyone james |
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Topic |
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.264 win mag does anybody use it
