270 wsm v weatherby 257 mag

[1hunter]

I'm about to purchase a Remington 700 cdl sf in either 270 wsm or Weatherby 257 mag for "bean-field" duty for deer season. This rifle will be used primarily by my 15 year son (6'2" 180 pds) for upcoming gun season. We have narrowed down the calibers to 270 wsm or 257 mag. We've done a lot of research already about the differences, but wanted to know from anyone in this forum if they have experience with either caliber. I'm planning to start reloading after Christmas so I would like to know anyone's thoughts about reloading either caliber. We already have several other rifles in various calibers but we want to try another caliber. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Hunter 257W]

No doubt the 257 Weatherby is best....but then I COULD be a bit biased. I have that exact rifle in 257 Weatherby for my primary field deer gun. I got it in 2010.

Honestly between those two chamberings it would be hard to detect a difference in performance. The Weatherby has been around a long time compared to the Winchester WSM line of cartridges. That could be a factor favoring the 257 Weatherby regarding long term availability of brass. There have been a ton of new cartridges introduced in the past 10 or so years. Many of them will fade away. Of course you could buy 500 cases when you get the rifle and not worry about long term availability with any chambering you choose. I have loaded for the 257WSM and did love the way those short fat cases sit on the loading bench almost defying you to accidentally knock one over.

The 257 will have a tad less recoil but probably not detectable. My current load is a Barnes 100 grain TTSX @ 3590fps. Sighted about 2" high at 100yds it is still a bit high at 300yds. This load groups a bit under .6" at 100yds with 3 shot groups. Great confidence builder when looking out over huge open fields.

I glassbedded the rifle and adjusted the trigger before firing the rifle so don't know how it performed unaltered. Probably about the same.

 

[Deer Assassin]

i have loaded for each

270 wsm 130 gn bullet close to 3200 fps

and
257 roy 110 accubond over retumbo 3517 fps and i slowed it down from 3600

 

[Deer Assassin]

IMO

257 roy

 

[Rubberduck270]

If you only plan to use it for a "beanfield" gun and are fine with shooting light bullets out of it the 257 Weatherby is a fine choice. If you want something that's a little more versatile, the 270 WSM is the winner.

Now in case you don't believe me, here's my proof (data is from a Nosler load manual):

270 WSM with 100 gr. pill = 3762 fps (Dammit thats fast)
257 Weatherby with 100 gr. pill = 3575 fps.

270 WSM with 130 gr. pill = 3295 fps.
257 Weatherby with 120 gr. pill = 3285 fps. (heaviest bullet Nosler lists in the manual)

270 WSM with 140 gr. pills = 3100 fps.

You'll have a wider selection of projectiles with the 270 WSM and more weights to play with as well. Recoil will be a little higher too. And until you can reload you have to deal with Weatherby ammo prices. The 270 WSM is 2" shorter as well.

 

[Kimberman]

I have never played with a 257 Weatherby, but I have played a lot with a 270 WSM and a 264 Win Mag. My handload with the WSM is a 130 gr Hornady Interbond moving along at 3360 FPS. I have not really got a chance to stretch its legs, but I have taken a bunch of game with it, and it's been an absolute death ray, not 1 animal has taken another step after the hit. The same can be said for the 264 Win Mag. My handload for that runs a 130 grain swift Sirocco at 3250 ft./s. Those are my two long-range rigs and either one would do nicely as a beanfield gun. The advantage of the 270 WSM is the fact that the gun is lighter and shorter and easier to carry than the longer barrelled heavier magnums. Another advantage to the 270 WSM is that it can shoot heavier bullets than the 257 Weatherby can, making it more versitile for larger stuff if the need ever came up.

 

[Kimberman]

The Weatherby has been around a long time compared to the Winchester WSM line of cartridges. That could be a factor favoring the 257 Weatherby regarding long term availability of brass. There have been a ton of new cartridges introduced in the past 10 or so years. Many of them will fade away.

True the Weatherby has been around a lot longer, but to insinuate that the 270 WSM is going to fade away is a bit naive. The 270 WSM is currently chambered in most factory rifles brands, and has been for over 10 years now. The 257 Weatherby has always been chambered for Weatherby rifles, and some other companies have made limited runs of that round over the years, but it has not been a hot seller by any means. In fact the opposite of what you are saying seems to be true. Factory ammo for a 257 Weatherby(and brass) is not as common at your local sporting goods store as 270 WSM is. And there is a price difference between the 2, with the WSM being a little cheaper, with a lot more factory options. Of course if you handload, it's all a moot point.

 

[Deer Assassin]

Andy

the 270 wsm is more versatile than the 257roy but why not 7 wsm even more versatile than 270 wsm

factory ammo will be cheaper and eaiser to find with the 270 wsm vs 257 roy and andy does make a great point the rifle will be lighter and shorter as well

i change my vote for the 7 wsm

 

[Kimberman]

You know I despise all things .284.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I admit to having trouble viewing the world from the eyes of a non-reloader. Yes, if you have to buy Weatherby factory ammo, you will have to mortgage your house and 1st born to do so. I bought 200 cases when I got my rifle and do have a FFL so I got them wholesale from the same source as the rifle so even the shipping hardly increased due to the 200 cases.

Yes, the 270WSM is chambered in a lot of rifles so it likely will be a stable seller for years. Still, I stand by my statement that some of the current cartridges are bound to fade away. There can be only so many that offer identical performance. But who knows which ones will stay and which will go? Nobody. Some real good ones have died off over the years for no apparent reason. You are right that the 257W is not going to be available easily in a store but I assume anybody who is thinking in terms of spending $1,000 or more for a rifle expressly for hunting bean fields is not the type to wait until a week before season to buy ammo. If that assumption is not true, then the 270WSM would certainly be the better choice based on easy ammo availability alone. But for the long haul, the 257W was Roy's baby and I don't see Weatherby ever discontinuing ammo or brass so a reloader should never experience brass problems.

Yes, the 270WSM is more versatile (capable of launching heavier bullets) but only if you realistically expect to hunt something larger than deer in which case a heavier bullet might have an advantage. With all the advances in bullet construction I'm not sure a .277 bullet has much advantage over a .257 anymore though. Besides, most people will never hunt any animal larger than deer regardless of what they'd like to do.

Bottom line is that you'd have to shoot several truck loads of deer to even begin to tell a difference beteen these two cartidges in my opinion. Buy two 700 cdl's and let the rifles tell you which is best.

 

[Deer Assassin]

You know I despise all things .284.

i still like you andy :d

 

[Model70Man]

Definitely 270 Wizzum. It's a more versatile cartridge and the rifles are much lighter and shorter. A 110 grain Accubomb would be like shooting a lazer beam.

 

[DaveB]

Go with the Weatherby and start reloading.

 

[280longshot]

Andy

the 270 wsm is more versatile than the 257roy but why not 7 wsm even more versatile than 270 wsm

factory ammo will be cheaper and eaiser to find with the 270 wsm vs 257 roy and andy does make a great point the rifle will be lighter and shorter as well

i change my vote for the 7 wsm

I love the comparison of the 2 listed, those 2 calibers I don't have..
With that said I would have to agree with DA.
I would love to have the 7 wsm

 

[Killing time]

Weatherby. And thats all i have to say bout that....

 

[1hunter]

Thanks to all who responded. Seems like both calibers are well liked. Deer Assassin and Hunter257w, you've sparked my interest in the 257roy for sure. Now just to convince the wife how important it is to have both calibers in the same rifle! Any advice on that subject would be appreciated. I just ordered the Rem. 700 cdl sf in the .270wsm simply because I found a new one for $799.00. Just lucky that I found it for that price. Everyone else wanted $979.00 plus for the same rifle or they did not have it available. So now I've got to figure out how to get the .257roy home as well. I've already got a 7wsm in a Ruger and it shots well. But you just can't have enough in the safe is my motto. Hunter257w let me know what kind of set up you have for your cdl sf and if you had any problems with it. Some folks say (on the web) that their cdl sf shots great while some others weren't happy with their cdl sf at all. Of course you can't believe everything you read... Thanks again for the opinions and keep shooting straight.

 

[Deer Assassin]

i (my son 13yo) has a 7/08 cdl sf 7/08 i sold the wood and put it in a sps plastic stock as it will be hunted hard not a safe queen

it shoots lights out well not as good as my bdl ss 7 saum but close

 

[280longshot]

. Some folks say (on the web) that their cdl sf shots great while some others weren't happy with their cdl sf at all. Of course you can't believe everything you read... Thanks again for the opinions and keep shooting straight. [/quote]

Funny that you mention this! 1 Hunter
I am one who had problems with their CDL SF in a 30-06
My rifle would grp. but 1 month later the grp would be off.
I would site in again and 2 months later the grp would be like 4 in low.
I ended up replacing the stock with a HS Precision and all my problems were solved.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I don't know which is better but I love the 270WSM! Great round!

 

[Deer Assassin]

. Some folks say (on the web) that their cdl sf shots great while some others weren't happy with their cdl sf at all. Of course you can't believe everything you read... Thanks again for the opinions and keep shooting straight.

Funny that you mention this! 1 Hunter
I am one who had problems with their CDL SF in a 30-06
My rifle would grp. but 1 month later the grp would be off.
I would site in again and 2 months later the grp would be like 4 in low.
I ended up replacing the stock with a HS Precision and all my problems were solved.[/quote]

interesting as i never shot mine in the cdl stock

 

[Frank G]

If both were sitting on the table, even if the Weatherby is a little more $$$$$$$$$ go for it. It is one of the best out there.

 

[1hunter]

Well we are going to see how she shots in short order (barring bad weather). Still plotting to get that 257roy though. After that, its 700 mountain in 7mm08 hopefully, just cant find one in laminated stainless

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Weatherby offers a MOA gun complete with a guarantee. The MOA guns are not chambered in any Weatherby rounds. That should tell you all you need to know. The rounded shoulder on those case designs are inherately inaccurate.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

You know I despise all things .284.

i still like you andy :d

. The .284 are one of the highest BC diameters out there.

 

[BirdDog123]

I hear the weatherby is a deer slayer and also a laser beam.

I own and reload for a 270 WSM. If I had to do it again, I would still pick the 270 WSM. The bullets are easy to find, there are plenty to choose from, it MORE than does its job on deer, and stretches out farther than you will care to shoot.

Also... I don't know how difficult it is to find the .257 brass but I know finding 270 WSM isn't TOO bad. I actually got around 200-300 pieces of once fired brass of gunbroker once for little to nothing.. I expected each case and no cracks or anything like that. Let me know if you do reload for the WSM and are looking for brass. Otherwise.. you can just pony up and buy the expensive brass and neck size it as long as possible to squeeze the most reloads out of em.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I agree birddog with you on the 270WSM. Bullets are easy to find. I settled on the 140 grain Nosler Accubonds. My 270WSM is my favorite round and it is more than plenty for deer.

 

[BirdDog123]

yeah those Noslers are some heavy hitters. A buddy gave me a bunch of different bullets once he found out that they wouldn't work in his 6.8 (.277 AR platform).

I hit a doe in the torso with the noslers at 250.. dead drop.. and after gutting/cleaning I could stick 4 fingers through the rib cage.

There may be other rounds out there that perform better ballistically or look sexier on paper.. but this one gets the job done and thats good enough for me!

 

[Kimberman]

You know I despise all things .284.

i still like you andy :d

. The .284 are one of the highest BC diameters out there.

That means nothing until you get past 500 yards, which I dont hunt at that range, so Im good. Im more of a .264,.277,.308, and .358 guy. If you want to geek out on some BC and SD #s, check out the .264 diameter bullets.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I like the .264's and the .277's as well! The .284 magnums aren't as over bored as the .264 magnum but that don't keep me from wanting one, in a Winchester classic.

 

[Kimberman]

I just bought a Kimber Stainless Classic in .243. I bought it to re-barrel to a 260 or 260 AI. The thing I like about the .264 diameter is the useful bullet weight range. 85 gr to 160 gr pretty much covers just about anything you could want to do with a rifle from varmints to elk.