257 Weatherby Mag to small for Bear

[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.