the new t/c 30. cal. was on t.v. a while back( guns & ammo i think) and they were sure talking it up. recoil of the 300 savage, shorter case than the 308, ballistics and performance of the 30/06. it is brand new to the market, and i would be leery that it would not be popular enough and eventually fizzle out. it might though become very popular. there is also the 338 federal. i have a friend that has that in a kimber rifle and it shoots great. it is a 308 case necked up to 338. has the recoil just slightly above the 308( but i was shooting 220 gr. bullets). i am personally considering this caliber myself.

also, the factory recommends changing the barrel after 30 thousand rounds. who shoots that in a lifetime with all rifles combined?

.257 Sectional Density (SD) 

100 grain, SD = .216

115 grain, SD = .249

117 grain, SD = .253

120 grain, SD = .260 

.277 Sectional Density (SD) 

130 grain, SD = .242

140 grain, SD = .261

150 grain, SD = .279

85-87 grain bullets in .257 would not be appropriate for deer sized game because they are generally varmint rounds (frangible) and do not penetrate or expand well. 

Above is ballistic comparison of many popular loads in both calivers.  The decimal figure on the left is Ballistic Coefficient, followed by trajectory at 100 yards, then 200 yards, then midrange trajectory then Maximum Point blank Range (MPBR), but that is only between 12 and 30 yards over the .270 130 grain Spitzer bullet.  I would contend that the .257 wby mag is not ballistically superior to the .270, and not a good rifle for a carry/spot and stalk gun.  The .257 does have superior point blank range, but in bullets with comparable sectional densities and purposes (.257 110 gr-.277 130 gr, .257 115-117 gr-.277 140 gr, and .257 120 gr-.277 150 gr) the .270 bullet is generally going to have greater BC (a measure of how well a bullet moves through the air).

Ballistics (though I would contend are greater for the .270) are not the big difference between these two rifles for your purpose.  The .257, being a magnum cartridge will require a 26" barrel and a heavier magnum action to get the exceptional fps that the chart above shows you.  The average gun should weigh about 9-9.5 lbs scoped because of this.  This should give you a recoil between 14-18lbs in a gun of that weight in different bullet weights.  A .270 (because of the more numerous configurations) can be found between 7-8 lbs scoped and give you the identical recoil range.  So, in rifles of equal weight the .270 kicks less.  If you don't reload, then the .270 is less expensive to shoot with a wider range of bullets to service the gun.

The .257 Wby Mag is an outstanding long range big game cartridge.  I just don't think it fits your criteria (easy carry, reasonable to low recoil, ballistic superiority).  Some calibers that I would look at if I were looking for the same gun:

.25-06 - Shooting the same bullets as the .257, with the range of a .270, but a little flatter shooting and only 10-12 ft/lbs of recoil

.260 rem- Shooting bullets of .264 diameter (6.5mm) out of a short action gun (.308 length).  The .260 rem would be a lighter carry gun, with higher SD and BC bullets than a .257 or 270.  Many benchrest match guns are bult on some form of the 6.5 millimeter bullet because of their amazing accuracy and wind bucking ability.  The high SD of 6.5mm bullets gives outstanding penetration, and the availability of bullets ranging from 120 gr to 160 gr means they can be used on all North American game with proper bullet placement.  Recoil is very mild in the .260

6.5x55 SE or 6.5mm Swedish Mauser (same cartridge with different names) - The same argument as above, but the 6.5 x 55 has slightly more case capacity so it handles the heavier bullets better than the .260, but guns would be slightly heavier on average.  Recoil is very mild in the 6.5

6.5 rem mag- Same bullets as the .260 and 6.5x55, but built on a Short Action Magnum Case (way before this became popular).  This fits the .308 length actions but it is shooting this cartridge at Magnum velocities (3000-3200 fps).  It is available in the now discontinued Remington 673 Guide gun, which is nice because they are going for $400-500 bucks right now down off their MSRP of $825.  Big downside is that there are relatively few factory offerings so you need to reload or use Stars and Stripes to send you ammo.  Recoil is less than the .257 wby but more than the 25-06, and the other 6.5s

To comment on the Weatherby (assuming Mark V) vs the Sako (assuming Finnlight):  Both are outstanding rifles capable of exceptional accuracy.  The Weatherby is going to be 2 lbs heavier scoped, so basically you need to decide whether you want a lightweight, handy rifle or a heavier recoil reducing rifle.  The .270 out of the Sako lightweight is going to kick pretty good, more than the .257 out of the weatherby stock.  Weatherby stocks are designed to ease felt recoil also. 

If you decide on the lightweight, I would look at a lower recoil caliber than 270.  All of those listed above are available in the Finnlight (except for the 6.5 remmie mag).

 You can accomplish your long distance needs with any of these rounds, a knowledge of their balistics, and a scope with fingertip adjustments.

El General, thank you for the great information. There was so much here I had to re-read it twice to absorb it all. Thank you again.

Hunt Hard. Fish Smart. Explore Texas.

Let us know what you choose.

Buy whatever caliber you want and put a muzzle brake on it. My 7mm rem ultra mag w/muzzlebrake kicks less than a 243 win. Muzzle blast and noise increase greatly, but recoil is almost nonexistent. Just a thought.

Jason,

I have a custom 257 WM and a 270.  They are both great guns.  The 257 is ,in my opinion, the best long rang varmit cartridge (other than the wlidcat 6mm-06) and great for Antelope sized game.  This would include Hill Country Whitetails.  I think it falls a little short for the larger game animals.  The 257 kicks harder than my 270 and this is also a concern for you.  Another thing you might consider is the Axiom U/L or V/S stock made by Knoxx Industries.  It reduces felt recoil about 70% without the use of Muzzle Brakes.  This allows the sensitive shooter to shoot large calibers and still be able to enjoy the rifle.  You can search for Axiom U/L or Axiom V/S on the internet.  These stocks are supposed to be the most accurate stock on the market due to the fact that they are made for a perticular action and solid alluminum bedding blocks are made into the stock and the barrel is totaly floated.  I have one on order and am going to put it on a 257 WM barreled action.  The 257 WM actually kicks harder than my 300 Win Mag but I handload and it is running pretty hot.  After the gun has been built I will let you know how well the mule kicks or you can come out and shoot it.  Give me a call.

Jason, what did you ever decide on this rifle set-up? please share with us.

Hello Jason,

I was surfing the web and found this site as well as your thread. I would like to make a comment about the .257 Weatherby Magnum.

I have been shooting various rifles for many years and the .257 WBY is one of my favorites for Pronghorn and Whitetail Deer. I always take the .257 WBY for Pronghorn due to the possible long range shots I have personally encountered. Now, long range for me is 300 to 350 yards and I trust myself to this distance because I have practiced shooting these ranges. With a Bi-Pod rest or solid stand rest, I know I can make a clean kill shot. If I am not steady before shooting an animal, I just do not shoot. The animal deserves this respect. The whitetail I hunted for many years were in Llano County where the body size ranged from 135 lbs. to 150 lbs. on the hoof. Although, I have taken (3) 200 + lb. deer in Mississippi with this cartridge and all died within 10 yards and one never left his tracks. . I do not handload ammo, so I am talking factory ammo now. I once shot the Weatherby 87 grn. factory load for pronghorn, but found out it will fragment into pieces very shallow into the body cavity even at the 357 yard shot I took. I changed to the Weatherby 100 grn. Hornady factory load and my friend, this is high velocity death to this size game animal. As far as recoil, I find no difference between the .257 WBY. and a .270 Win.

I have a MK-V Stainless .257 and a Rem. ADL 700 in .270 Win. and the Weatherby recoil is very tame in my opinion. If you cannot decide on either of these cartridges, then take time to look into a .25-06 Remington in whatever rifle you like. This is also a low recoil long range rifle for medium size game animals. My son has the one I shot for a while before I bought the Weatherby. He has taken many nice bucks with this rifle since he was 12 years old and never complained of the recoil. Or do as I did and save enough money to buy one of each and enjoy having them and hunting with each one. 

Good Luck and Good Hunting!

Jay

I've also had the fragmenting problem with smaller 0.257" bullets in a 25-06, which is somewhat slower than the .257 WM.  A 100 grain bullet fragmented on a deer's shoulder at 100 yards a number of years ago which litterally vaporized everything within the body cavity (and led to a very unpleasant clean-up).  Went to a 117-120 grain and had no problems whatsover from that point forward.  Perhaps bullet construction can help that like a Nosler partition or Barnes X-bullet or the like. 

BTW, I owned a Sako .25-06 for over 20 years and absolutely loved it...took whitetails from 20 yards to over 250 with no problems.  Recoil was very manageable...in fact in was a real joy to shoot.

I am not a ballistics expert.  However, I have found that the .257 Wby does not perform as well in a high cross wind as other rounds.  This was not me shooting by the way, this was a master class competetion rifle and pistol shooter.  He was firing at a Mule Deer in Montana with a very high cross wind. 

That said, however, if you do not plan to be in that much wind the .257 is a fine round.

The Hunt goes on forever, the season never ends. http://www.hossfly.com 979 777 1725

I am a texas hunter of many years and allways looked for the perfect gun/caliber combo to hunt with in Texas.  I tried .35 remmington, 3006, .338 Win Mag and .300 Win Mag.  Finally I purchased a Blauser R93 in .257 Caliber.  This was the first gun I found which could shoot better than myself.  I began shooting whitetails, exotics and hogs out to 400 Yards with confidence.  With right bullet placement, about 95% of my animals have dropped where I have shot them.  I gained tremendous confidence in the gun and the .257 caliber (115 gr. BT).  I do not notice any recoil on this rifle, but If recoil bothers you, put a KDF muzzle brake (Seguin, TX) on the rifle.  Strong wind will move the bullet and I do not try long shots in strong winds, but then stong winds will move any bullet.   The salesman a McBride's said the barrel life will be shortened because of the high pressures--maybe only 3000 rounds or so--Well I shoot only 30 or less rounds a year so the barrel will last me only a hundred years.

Good hunting!

I used to shoot a .270 remington 760 pump bdl. the recoil was smooth. I could shoot up to 200yds. with ease. farther with confidence. my father owned a .270 wby mag. since "55" I bought the MK V .257 wby mag the same way you've looked. Ballistics charts and articles. This rifle can shoot better and farther than I can. I have a custom built .257 wby mag. The recoil of the weatherby is comparable to the .270 slightly less in most bullet weights. muzzle blast is loud.  the caliber is outstanding. my first white tail with the wby rifle was 500yd. 117grn quartering shot the bullet pass through the animal  with the desired expansion. Ive since put a doz. whitetails on the table. I have no reason to use any other rifle on whitetail, muledeer, antelope. My custom has a mule deer, and anelope on the grip. fitting for this calibre.  recoil is produced by bullet speed and grain. the model of stock and weight of rifle is the large factor on recoil felt. My Brothers .270 700 ADL remington is allmost painful as are other calibers in this model. Yet my remington pump was favorable as is the 7400 models. The weatherby's have non punishing recoil. for recoil look to the stocks, models, and recoil pads. for a superior shot I do like the .257 wby. mag. I'll wear out before the barrel will, and I reload. My son shoots my fathers wby. that is 54yrs old and still gettin venison with a story.

Hey, Jason.  A Texas land owner and hunter here.  I hunt both my own small piece of land in Comal County, and my best friend's ranch in Guadalupe County.  Mostly Whitetail.  I own and use a .257 W'by Ultralightweight (barrel contour #2 modified, meaning that the channel in the stock and the barrel is thinner with stainless steel being sculpted out of it to save weight).  I use a Burris Black Diamond 4-16 X 50 scope that I usually have set at 6 to 8, depending upon the situation.  The combo is super accurate.  That leads to comment #1...use a rifle that you're confident in.  I can't remember when I've missed a shot, which is to say, a box of ammo is equal to 20 deer.

Suggestion #2, definitely, especially if you also go with the ULW, get a muzzle brake...just take a look at the amount of powder in that cartridge.  You don't want to get into a flinch habit.  Loud as all get out, but easy on the shoulder of guys getting old like me.   Suggestion #3...reload for both accuracy and $$$, using your favorite Barnes bullet.

The .257 shoots so flat, that you just put the crosshairs on hair, and squeeze the trigger...also conside a trigger job down to around 3 lbs. or so...lots of W'by triggers are a bit stiff.

A Weatherby is a great addition to any collection, and the .257 is my "baby" out of all my rifles.  It won't do everything...that's as much up to you and the ammo you select...but it's a great choice.  It does so much of what I want to do, that I can't remember the last time I shot my 7 MM Rem, or my .30-'06.  A .257 W'by; a good shotgun, and a .17 HMR will do all you need to do in Texas.

Hey,

I have both a .270 win and a .257wby both are great claibers and I would say to you the .257really stands of when it comes to range and balistics. You mention a 6" shooting target with my .257 and 100gr bullets you can destroy a "Tall Boy" beer can from point blank to 360yds by holding dead center with my hand loaded ammo (they are not hot loads just hand loads).

You can't go wrong with either one but like you said if you get a .257 you cant pick up the ammo every where, but every gander mountain,bass pro ect and good gun/sporting stores carry it and you can order it online...so that problem solved 

lets talk barrel life- just clean the barrel every 20-30 rounds like you should any way (get a bore snake its the easiest way), and you barrel will out last you and probably a generation or 2 more.

Recoil for a 270 and 257 is almost identical

And the reason i bring my .257 alot of times is the fact not every one has one because if your deer camp is like mine every jack ass has a .270 and when these people show up with 10rds of ammo and a rifle that hasnt been sighted in since last season guess whos ammo they start wanting to "borrow"

The .257 was roy weatherbys favorite round and he said it best and I believe he was right when he said it "With a .257wby and a .300wby you have every animal on north america Covered!"

I know I have a .257wby,.270win,.300wby and they are all great, you wont be disapointed with a .257 but you will need to have 100gr. o heavier bullets for whitetail and up.

Let me know if you get one and I will buy your shot brass as I reload for mine....which brings up a good point, if you dont reload you can sell the brass from your .257 to help lay for the ammo.

If you have any quetions about the .257wby just let me know 

i just got my vanguard, i will let you know how good it feels.. got it for feral hogs and what not, i got mine simply because i have pretty much every .30 caliber, and wanted something effective, i have never been a fan of a .270 because even at 100 yards i have seen people hit their targets but don't drop dead, on the other hand i have a custom .308 and have had superior results here is a 5 shot group after sight in.

I mounted a Meopta R1 3x12x56 with 4c ill dot on my vanguard hopefully this proves to be all that its hyped up to be. Did you already pick a winner?  

Hi ya'll I new here and happy to be here.

Juanjo

Juan,

Welcome aboard...

Both my son and I have had Vanguards in .308 for several years...very good, dependable rifle.  I think you'll like yours too.

David, Thank you, I appreciate your response... I think you are right, the target that it came with was if not an 1" pretty close.. so i don't think I will be disappointed at all.. can't wait to shoot with it though :) I have read plenty of posts.. and i don't think i have read a bad response from a vanguard.. and for the price.. its a steal. Thanks, Juan

Well, I haven't had time to sight in the rifle, however just a few days ago I purchased a .270 from a Doctor here locally and yesterday i went to the ranch with my Godfather, he didn't take a rifle so I loaned him the .270 and i used my custom .308. Before any hunt with any rifle i am not familiar with i normally take a target and shoot to see if we are in range, to my surprise the .270 was right on.. about 2" high at 100yards. I was in my blind calling predators and a very nice bobcat came out and was the last paces she took, heavy cat, 20 minutes later the loud crack of a .270 was instantly silenced. A 220lbs feral fell to the shock of 150gr fusion bullet, DRT. I have to say that the misconseption that i had all along about this caliber was immediately changed.. that hog dropped in it's tracks. couple of kicks on the ground and nothing else. I highly recommend anybody who doesn't already own one to get one. I am very impressed.. and I am sure you will be too. I delivered the cat to the taxidermist last night i'll post a pic as soon as I get him back.. :)

BTW the .270 was a Sako, woodstock.. :) gotta love them..

I have .257 Weatherby MarkV Custom Grade fit on me by Roy Weatherby in the early 1960's with extended  26" target barrell.  With factory loads it was right on even at near 1,000'.  IT and the .22 Weatherby (Never fired either) are in original box and available for sale.

Jon,

I'm interested in your .257 WBY MKV. Please PM me @ Charles67vw@earthlink.net