257 Weatherby Mag to small for Bear

[Bearhunter]

I want your opinions, is the 257 weatherby to small for black bear and elk sized game.  Im looking at a used gun, but I think it would probably be only ethical to use on game up the deer.  Whats your opinions and experiences?

[mossback91]

I know high country kills elk with it.

[actionshooter]

If I had one I  wouldn't hesitate to use it on bears are even an elk.  If I were buying a rifle for elk and bear, I would buy a different caliber.

[huntnphool]

its plenty of gun, your placement is going to be more crucial than the caliber. I watched my bro drop a 330 class bull with one shot from a 7mm. You might think this is completley different but he dropped it from 290 yards with a 140 grain nosler. The 257 has similar loads and will do the job you need it too.

[MountainWalk]

in my H.o  , the 257 roy, or bob,, make fine medium game rifles, but for elk or bigger black bear,, they leave a lot to be desired.  yeah yeah everyone has heard about 22lr's killing elephants ,, 223's as deer rifles and all that,, but its hardly ideal.. lotta folks say "placement placement placement"..but alot of the times, still hunting especially for elk,, sometimes you have mere split seconds to take a shot or its nothing. situations like this do not allow for pinpoint accuracy. sometimes you have to take raking shots.. the 257's will not range foward from a rear quartering shot.  honestly, if i had a hunter show up at our hunting camp in montana, i would refuse to let him use it. would have to lend him my rifle. i know alotta folks will wanna string me up for this. but these flat landers from back east dont have to go root out bulls outta the deep dark holes... but then again, thats just me.

[Red Dawg]

I dont know that is getting past my comfort level. I wont say that it should not be done but I am thinking that it to close for comfort on elk at least. It is a great caliber though.

[billythekidrock]

If I had one I  wouldn't hesitate to use it on bears are even an elk. 

But you are a proficient shooter and experienced hunter. That makes a huge difference.

If I were buying a rifle for elk and bear, I would buy a different caliber.

I agree. 30-06 will work just fine.

[billythekidrock]

situations like this do not allow for pinpoint accuracy. sometimes you have to take raking shots..

Sometimes, like listed above, you don't take the shot.

[mossback91]

Just not any room for error. AT ALL. With a bigger gun you can get by with a little bit of error and still have them hit the ground. Cause we all know things just go wrong soemtimes.

[MountainWalk]

bill the kid rock.... your still hunting thru some dog hair,, you see tine,, upon closer inspection its a say 320 bull...in its bed..instantly it gets up , shakes, and in one second will be gone... you wont take the shot?  not the least bit tempted?

i love good pinpoint accuracy, but in the real world,, sometimes it doesnt happen..say you spent a good deal of money on a new mex tag or something.. or a canada stones sheep hunt..on the last day you are given a chance, but a small chance.. what do you do?

its easy to paint things black and white, especially with something like this,
 
do you shoot running game?....some say i will only shoot game that i have 150pecent confidance in hitting......if that is the case,, we shouldnt be bird hunting..they move. fast.


when we hunt, we never know what we will run into, and it seems only proper to use rifles that are fully capable of doing the task at hand. people who want to use super small loadings for game thats very large, regardless of all their kills, clean or otherwise, know that really, there are better tools for the job..

back to the above scenario.. say its me,, i hear elk bones and joints popping, see the bull, and even if he's about to book,, i raise the old 338 win mag, and confidently put a 250 grainer into em. big is not always better,, but it sure helps alot. gives better margin for error..you may go home with an empty tag, but i wont.    please direct all comments to the nearest brick wall..............j/k

[Intruder]

I tend to agree w/ the gerneral sentiments already posted.  The 257 Wea Mag will certainly kill bears and elk but it is not ideal.  These animals have some of the biggest bones of all N. Amer game and to consitantly kill them you really need to shoot a weapon that will give you good penetration and bone breaking ability from multiple angles... especially when you're talking range.  If bear and elk are your primary hunting quarry than a different cal is probably justified.   

[actionshooter]

 I didn't make myself very clear. If I were buying a gun for elk and bear, it wouldn't be a .257. If its all I had and couldn't buy something (I would find a way) else, I would use the .257 VERY carefully. It could be done but not recomended.
 

 But, thanks for calling me proficient billy   

[DHB]

The 257Roy is one that sparks controversy.
It kills beyond it's size but bullets are the key.
Also depends if your hunting mature bulls or cows/spike bulls.
I would agree that although I really like the chambering it is NOT what I would use unless it's all I had. I would use 115gr partitions or 100gr TTSX's.

I sold my 257's and in it's place use a 270wby. Shoots as flat and with 150's at 3200 or so hits harder.

Dave

[DHB]

Let me add that for normal WA bears I would have no issue using it if the shots were long but once again 100yd bear shots are not the 257's strong suit.

[WDFW-SUX]

25 cal is 25 cal 

I think 270 weatherby is a way better choice.

[MountainWalk]

if it were up to me,, 27 cal would be the legal min. for elk..27's arent my first choice,, but i know they kill elk.

[GoldTip]

It depends on the person and how much control they have over taking a shot or not taking a shot.  I know an old retired guy in Montana who has killed more elk than most on this board with a 243.  I think making a 27 caliber a minimum for elk is ridiculous, some people can not tolerate recoil, women or young kids, and even a 270win is more recoil than they can handle, should they never hunt elk?  Not at all, should they pass shots that I would take with my 300 winny or my 325wsm or even my 30-06, yes they should and so should someone with a 257 roy.  My two nieces, age 12 and 14 both killed elk this year with their 243's while hunting with Grandpa.  Both one shot kills, broadside cows at 100-150yards. 

I think if you handload up some good 120gr Xbullets in that 257, it will make a useable elk rifle, on well placed shots.  If your buying it to be an ELK HUNITING gun, then yes, there are better choices.  If your asking would I shoot an elk with it, yes, but I would pass on some shots.

[billythekidrock]

upon closer inspection its a say 320 bull

First off 320 means nothing to me. I understand 300 is a mark and that it is large, but I have no concept of scoring. Besides once I see bone I no longer look at the headgear.

and in one second will be gone... you wont take the shot?  not the least bit tempted?

Very tempted, but will not take the shot...again. I did that once, clipped a branch and missed.
Some shots just aren't meant to be taken.

[Intruder]

There seems to be some undertone that somehow a bigger cal gives you more margin of error.  A bad shot is a bad shot.  Shoot a big bull in the guts w/ a 375 HH and he'll likely run into the deepest darkest hole you've ever seen.  Drive a .25 cal bullet through his ticker and he'll die as dead as a stone.  The bigger heavier cals simply improve your odds by giving you increased range, angles, penetration, and bone breaking ability.  They in no way make up for a poor choice in shot selection or bad shooting.

[MountainWalk]

all of my elk save one were killed with quartering shots. the point of aim in most cases was the far shoulder, drawing a straight line from behind the last rib to the said far shoulder.. wasnt no gut shot.. there are obviously good shots, shots dependent of armament, and just plain bad shots.. i havent taken an out and out bad shot since i was about 18... the 338 win mag with fail safes or 250's will do this. it out penetrates the 375hh, it has better
sd and bc..and power.

[bobcat]

I'd have no problem using the 257 for bear if it was loaded with a good bullet like a Barnes 120 grain TSX. I think it would do alright on elk, probably not much different than my 270 Win.

[bucklucky]

My 2 cents... The 257 definately has its place but I dont think its best suited for elk, bear maybee depends on the distances youll be shooting. Every since I watched my budy shoot a bull at 70 yards with his 270 150 grain round nose, hit it square in the shoulder and run from about the first bridge up the skookumchuck rd clear behing Jensens into the timber patch which is about a mile from where it was hit , and another guy killed it...I dunno them bones are big. Maybee that elk was just really tough , maybee it would have ran off like that even if it were shot with a 338... I dunno. Buy it and hunt with it if you feel confident and are willing to pass up ok shots to try for a perfect shot. That 257 is a deer slayer if I ever seen one though.

[MountainWalk]

besides, in the steep mountains i hunt in mt, i hardly ever have a classic calender shot broadside oppurtuntity

[MountainWalk]

i do agree that is is prolly one of our better deer class chamberings thats for sure.

[Curly]

I'd have no problem using the 257 for bear if it was loaded with a good bullet like a Barnes 120 grain TSX. I think it would do alright on elk, probably not much different than my 270 Win.

That's right.  The Barnes TSX has made some of the smaller cartridges into decent big game killers.  That 120gr TSX out of a 257 Weatherby should be a penetrating SOB.  You'll have plenty of velocity w/ that cartridge /bullet combo so it should work fine.  (I wouldn't go elk hunting with the 257 and any other bullet though, unless you limit yourself to pefect broadside shots.)

[runningboard]

I wouldn't go elk hunting with the 257 and any other bullet though, unless you limit yourself to pefect broadside shots.

lots of good advice and I hear you all from where you are coming from but I have killed big black bears & elk using a 25-06 with cup & core factory ammo & will continue to do so along with my other pip-squeak 270. I am starting to handload TSX's & partitions for them both but out of curiosity more so than necessity.

[Curly]

but I have killed big black bears & elk using a 25-06 with cup & core factory ammo & will continue to do so

Yeah, I think it all comes down to personal preference and whatever a person is comfortable with.

[257 Wby Mag]

I've killed ALOT of critters with mine, with a 100 Hornady SP on bucks, it can only be described as, "spectacular". Having killed lots of bulls and bears, and seeing lots of others killed,serious Elk and bear calibers begin and end with the 338's, ie; Win Mag,340,Wby, 338 RUM,and so on. With public land hunting being what it is, sometimes a guy has to take less than ideal shots, head on, raking, quartering, etc. I've killed 4 or 5 bear with my 257, it works, but 225's work alot better. IMO

[tlbradford]

Every elk I have ever killed has been with a .25-06 117 gr.  A quartering away shot was my preferred shot.  You don't need much of a bullet when you are going through skin and a little fat before you hit the vitals.  The 117 would be in 2-4 pieces by the time it reached the heart and lungs, and would turn everything to jelly.  I believe that the .25's are the ultimate deer calibers, adequate for elk, and a little light for bear unless you have the right bullet.  Even then, I would limit my distance.  Understanding the anatomy of the animals, what you are going to go through to reach the vitals, and how bullets are going to react when they encounter different materials is extremely important.  You are not limited to broadside shots.  A quartering towards, head on, or straight away level or above you, are about the only ones you shouldn't take.

[Intruder]

serious Elk and bear calibers begin and end with the 338's, ie; Win Mag,340,Wby, 338 RUM,and so on.

We seem to be vacillating between extremes.  Elk being killed w/ .243s and others advocating .338s.  Not pickin on you "257 Wby Mag", but the whole notion that you have to have a .338 to consistently kill elk doesn't seem at all logical to me.  While I don't have any scientific data I would venture to say that there are more elk killed w/  30 cals each year than anything else.  Personally I can't fathom a situation where a .338 would be "necessary".  Is it a good elk caliber... sure.  If ya got one, like it and shoot it well, have at it.  But saying that it begins and ends w/ a .338 is stretching it a bit.  Any weapon that you can accurately shoot a "Great Quality" 150 grn or bigger bullet at or over 2800 ftps at the muzzle is gonna put a whompin on an elk or bear out to at least 250 - 300 yards.

[MountainWalk]

adequate for elk , little light for bear?.. if a black bear is a f-150 4x4, than a big bull elk is like a wells fargo armored truck.   elk are way tougher, with bigger stronger bones. elk are more tenacious to life than most anything on this continent.  i just believe that elk are too valuable to chance anything that would hinder the action of the harvest. you wouldnt use a tack hammer to frame a house. you could do it, but its not as good.
 i know elk can be killed with other things and ive killed elk with my 30-06 with 165fs's, but i noticed that with the 338 vs 30-06, all things being =(good placement, rresonable range),
that the 338 resulted in more one shot kills,,bulls and a cow traveling shorter distances from where shot.. like jack atcheson jr says  the 338   it just numbs them.

[257 Wby Mag]

While alot of elk have been killed with a 22 magnum, does it make it a elk caliber? Methinks not. The elk I've killed and seen killed with a 243 were taken under "optimum" conditions, if there is a such thing? Do you need a 338 to kill elk? Don't recall that quote, but I were a SERIOUS elk or bear hunter, which I am niether, I would pack a 340 Weatherby, stoked with 225 Noslers or Hornady's. That is my opinion, can you kill elk and bear with a 257? Hell yes, Roy Weatherby killed the big 5 with a 257, does that make it a safari gun? I think most PH's would laugh you outta camp if a guy showed up with a 257 to persue the "Big 5".  So yes, bear hunter, a 257 Roy will kill anything that walks, is the perfect elk and bear caliber? No, I THINK a 338 or 340 is much better suited to these critters.Once again, in my opinion...

[tlbradford]

adequate for elk , little light for bear?.. if a black bear is a f-150 4x4, than a big bull elk is like a wells fargo armored truck.   elk are way tougher, with bigger stronger bones. elk are more tenacious to life than most anything on this continent.

The fur and fat on a bear will have more effect on your bullet, then the hair and fat on an elk.  I never recommend shooting through a massive bone like the shoulder.  Even a large bullet can deflect drastically.  We are talking about a fast and light projectile in this scenario.  The fur and fat on a bear will slow down the penetration of this bullet, more so than it would through the hair and skin of an elk.