Author Topic: .257 Weatherby Recoil? (Read 3848 times)

lgm270 · « **on:** September 20, 2011, 02:19:39 PM »

A friend has the hots for a .257 Wby mag Vanguard for mule deer and antelope hunting, but wonders about the recoil. I have read that the .257 Wby recoil is similar to the .270 Winchester. My friend shoots a 25-06 now. He likes the idea that he can use his inventory of bullets for his new .257 Wby if he goes that way.

Anybody have any experience on this?

pastorp · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:23:07 PM »

Yes, I have owned 3 weatherby rifles in 257weatherby. I would agree that the recoil is about like a 270winchester..

Of course the weight of the gun & the bullet weight will make a slight difference but I don't think enough to tell. If he handles the 25/06 OK he will have no trouble with the 257W.

Regards,

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:32:20 PM »

Agreed, recoil is quite managable. I think the charts put it in the 270, 30-o6 class. One of my 25-06's is pretty light and with the same weight bullet, I can't tell much difference. DP

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2011, 07:36:32 PM »

I'm sure the rifle varies the felt recoil but in my Remington 700 LSS .257 Whby I'd rate the recoil less than any of the several .270 rifles I've owned. To me it is the most pleasant of my deer caliber capable guns.

I had a Weatherby Vanguard in .257 Whby once and it was so heavy it felt like a boat anchor compared to my R700. I do think that thick soft pad Remington used on it might be part of it but unless the rifle is lighter than his .25-06 I kinda doubt he'll tell the difference in recoil between them. There is a little more but not enough to worry about.

Mine has less felt recoil than my 7-08, .270, .280, .30-06 and honestly kicks no more than my LW 243 did.

Brithunter · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2011, 11:02:25 PM »

Rifle fit and the stock design will make a difference in felt recoil

the rest is down to physics.

fatercat · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2011, 12:23:55 AM »

less than my 30-30. if he can't get use to it he needs to take up bow hunting. not being s smart ass. nice elk gun too.

LanceR · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2011, 02:30:56 AM »

In purely technical terms the recoil with similar rifle weights and at normal published velocities will be a more than the .25-06 and just a bit less than a .270 with a 130 grain bullet would have. Using a total rifle weight of 8.5 pounds:

A 120 grain .25-06 at 3000 FPS recoils with something like 13.6 pounds of force.

A 120 grain .257 Wby at 3300 FPS recoils at 16.7 pounds of force.

A .270 with a 130 grain bullet at 3150 recoils with 16.9 pounds of force.

To help scale the recoil, a .30-06 with a 150 grain bullet at 2900 FPS recoils at 18.2 pounds of force and a 180 grain bullet at 2700 FPS is right around 20 pounds of force.

I doubt he'll have any issues with the step up to the Wby.

Hope this helps.

Lance

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2011, 02:53:27 AM »

Ive never really noticed much differnce between mine and my 2506

BBF · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2011, 07:44:24 AM »

Well, gee, same weight rifle same weight bullet but more powder and higher MV must give more recoil .

Three44s · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2011, 06:04:16 AM »

I own three .25-06's ......... some years ago, I fired an Accumark in .257 Wby.

I don't have a recollection of recoil being a big deal with the Wby.

I think your friend will adjust to the .257 Wby just fine. If he tries to shoot flies off paper @ 100 with a thin shirt, poor stock and no recoil pad ......... he MIGHT develop a flinch. But if he goes at it sensibly ........... and gets the rifle working and then hunts with it ........ he'll think it's the neatest thing since sliced bread!

Three 44s

BBF · « **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2011, 06:48:47 AM »

It doesn't take a 257 Wby to put a hurting on you under the above circumstances.

Last week I did most of that, a T-shirt and a hard platic butt plate from a bench with a Husky 1600 shooting full loads 6.5x55 160 gr Hdy's

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #11 on:** September 26, 2011, 02:22:58 AM »

come on guys my hunting partners two grandaughters one 11 and one 12 both shoot light savage 2506s and dont complain one bit about recoil. A 257 weatherby may crack loud but it sure doesnt have painful recoil.

lgm270 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 26, 2011, 12:36:28 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on September 26, 2011, 02:22:58 AM

come on guys my hunting partners two grandaughters one 11 and one 12 both shoot light savage 2506s and dont complain one bit about recoil. A 257 weatherby may crack loud but it sure doesnt have painful recoil.

Lloyd. It's great to see you take your grandchildren hunting and shooting and to pass on our great tradition of firearms and sports.

gr8ful · « **Reply #13 on:** September 26, 2011, 12:44:07 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on September 26, 2011, 02:22:58 AM

come on guys my hunting partners two grandaughters one 11 and one 12 both shoot light savage 2506s and dont complain one bit about recoil. A 257 weatherby may crack loud but it sure doesnt have painful recoil.

Painful on the wallet though, them Weatherby Bullets is 'SPENCIVE!!!

nomosendero · « **Reply #14 on:** September 26, 2011, 04:25:40 PM »

Quote from: gr8ful on September 26, 2011, 12:44:07 PM

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on September 26, 2011, 02:22:58 AM
come on guys my hunting partners two grandaughters one 11 and one 12 both shoot light savage 2506s and dont complain one bit about recoil. A 257 weatherby may crack loud but it sure doesnt have painful recoil.

Painful on the wallet though, them Weatherby Bullets is 'SPENCIVE!!!

Looks like the OP says the man is a handloader so the Ammo price is a non-issue.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** September 27, 2011, 02:38:46 AM »

single biggest disadvantage to the 257 in my opinion is cost of the brass. Its at least double what most other rifle brass even 7mag and 300 win mag brass is. the 300 wby isnt bad as remington makes brass but the norma/weatherby brass is way overpriced and if your running the 257 top end loads the brass doesnt last long.

nomosendero · « **Reply #16 on:** September 27, 2011, 06:31:48 PM »

Lloyd, my statement was only in regard to the fact that loading the 257 would be much less money than buying the factory ammo, which I believe "ammo" was in refernce to. Yes the Wea. brass cost more & doesn't last as long as other belted brass & belted brass cost more than '06 head brass, etc., but for the average shooter not a biggie but even for the ave. shooter the wea. factory ammo is pretty rough.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #17 on:** September 28, 2011, 02:02:48 AM »

Agreed. The ammo is outrageously priced. Brass is expensive but it isnt like a guy shoots a 100 rounds a day out of one. Once loads are worked up a 100 rounds of brass will likely last the average guy his livetime and once the brass is bought it not theres not enough differnce between loading it and a 2506 to even talk about. If a guy has to he can make 257 brass by just running 7mm rem mag brass through a 257 sizer. Only downside is its a bit shorter and isnt marked 257 wby. Upside is you will never need to trim it.

Quote from: nomosendero on September 27, 2011, 06:31:48 PM

Lloyd, my statement was only in regard to the fact that loading the 257 would be much less money than buying the factory ammo, which I believe "ammo" was in refernce to. Yes the Wea. brass cost more & doesn't last as long as other belted brass & belted brass cost more than '06 head brass, etc., but for the average shooter not a biggie but even for the ave. shooter the wea. factory ammo is pretty rough.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #18 on:** September 29, 2011, 08:21:35 AM »

Keep in mind, Wby. brass is thinner so it has more capacity... Makeing brass out of 7 mags., and you more than likely will loose some capacity, so you will have to work up new loads for your home made brass!

I've found Wby/Norma brass to be soft, and not near as long lasting as Win./Rem./Fed. brass...

DM

gr8ful · « **Reply #19 on:** September 30, 2011, 09:41:14 AM »

I can't think of a single reason not to buy a new gun if financially able, in any caliber. Recoil with the 257 isn't bad, unless it is a much lighter rifle you won't be able to tell the difference between it and your 25-06. And unless you are out west and really stretching the ranges you won't be able to tell much difference in performance either especially if the 257 has less than a 24" barrel. Factory ammo is more expensive, as is brass, also brass tends to wear out faster with high pressure belted Magnums. But it is the fastest quarter-bore, and anything weatherby is cool, and it is always fun to try new things, so good luck with it!

roper · « **Reply #20 on:** September 30, 2011, 10:53:30 AM »

Most shooters I know that shoot a Wby including myself understand the cost of brass or factory ammo. I much prefer to shoot Wby brass in my rifles and 100rds of brass last me a long time.

I sure cann't understand shooters who buy the Wby and they know from the start factory ammo/brass cost more and they still complain about the cost.

poncaguy · « **Reply #21 on:** November 12, 2011, 02:56:55 PM »

I got a 257 a few weeks ago, didn't even notice the recoil, less than a 270 I would say.............will have to reload for sure