.257 Mag Buffs... Help me out?

[MuleDeerCrazy]

So I've been putting a new .257 Weatherby Mag. together all year for my wife and daughters.  Got a load all worked up (110 grain accubonds moving out at 3403fps, w/ 2828 ft/lbs at the muzzle) and topped it off with custom turrets on a Leupold 6.5X20 Long Range scope.  I've heard nothing but what a hammer those .257 mags are on critters, and with a light enough recoil that women/children could comfortably shoot them.

Well, test day came and my youngest daughter shot her first branched buck at 333 yards.  The first shot was a little far back (gut/liver) with no reaction from the buck (didn't know she'd even hit him til we got over to him).  Second shot dead perfect behind the front shoulder right through both lungs, again no reaction from the buck (but I heard that one hit him).  He side-hilled about 30 feet and stopped broadside looking around.  Third shot was a little high and she busted his back, although once we got over there we could see he was alread dead on his feet from the second shot?  Neither cavity shot exited the deer, so he had to absorb all the energy from both shots and it's rocking a pretty good punch (1785 ft/lbs at 300 yds), so not sure why there was no reaction from the buck when she hit him?

Next morning the wife shoots her buck at 200 yards.  The first shot was a little back (liver) and at that shot he did the mule kick, so I could see she hit him (again, not sure where at this point).  He runs about 40 feet and stops again giving her another shot.  Her second shot was just behind the shoulder leg bone, going through both scapulas and blowing 3-4 inch hole through the rib cage/chest cavity and out the other side.  At that shot he turned, walked up the hill a ways and then came stumbling back down til he collapsed.

That load is packing just about as much as my buddies .270 WSM (57 ft/lbs less at 200 yds and 86 ft/lbs at 300 yds) and his flat out flips deer at that range with those kinds of shots.  At 200 yards, both shots passed right through the chest cavity and at 300 neither passede through.  And regardless of pass through or not, aside from the second buck kicking, neither showed any reaction like they had just been hammered with anything.

Maybe my sights were just set way too high on the .257 mag... any synthesis of how it performed from some of you guys more experienced with .257 Weatherby Mags???

Not sure what to think about it now... Thanks for any feedback!

[Nape.257]

From what I have read the 100gr NBT's kill like lightning at 3600fps out of the 257 roy.

I shoot 115gr Berger vld's at 3300fps and have taken two bucks with them.

The first one I spined at 340 yards and then shot him in the neck to finish him, so I dident get any real good bullet data on that one.

There is a link to the second deer I shot with them.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f84/my-little-luck-charm-63749/

[Bob33]

Did I miss the part of your post where the animals lived and got away?

No caliber/bullet can guarantee a dead-right-there every time.

Enjoy the steaks.  You have a great combination!

[buckhorn2]

I use the same load for my 257 wby and the same bullet and it has worked great.

[johnnyaustin44]

My buddy experienced the same type results in Montana this year and I couldnt believe it. same bullets and same reactions. maybe try the 120 grain but I think because the bullets are not really hitting solid bone the bullets are acting like full metal jackets possibly because of the speed and size

[Biggerhammer]

I have used a 110 Accubond in a 25-06 and have crushed the two Mulies I have taken with it. One at around 120 and the other around 370. Don't feel bad, back when the .375 Ultra Magnum came out. I loaded up some 260gr Nosler BT's for it. Packed it up the hill for mule deer, shot a buck with it at 140 yards. He took it like a champ, hit him dead center of the ribs. First round massive damage all the way through. After the first hit, he ran straight away from me. The second shot was on the move and hard quartered away. The bullet entered at the last rib traveling towards the opposite front  shoulder. That put him down but he was trying to get back up.I then walked over to him and was about to give him no 3, when he departed this world. Upon field dressing , I found the base of the second bullet under the hide at the base of the neck.

You never know, there is no set rule to it. Maybe you just got into a couple of tough bucks.

[MuleDeerCrazy]

Yeah it killed both deer, but I was expecting more of a "drop the hammer" effect?  I thought about them just blowing through them given the small projectile and fast speeds, but both the bullets shot through at 200 yds. and neither shot through at 300 yds., so using that logic that poor buck at 300 yds. should have appeared shell-shocked since he had to absorb all that energy, and he didn't even flinch?

Buckhorn2, if you shoot the same load, how did the animals react when you shot them?

Was hoping BearPaw would chime in too, I seem to recall they routinely shoot a .257 Weatherby Mag. and should have lots of observations?

Thanks.

[DoubleJ]

Can't speak to the Mag but, borrowing Woodswalker's .257 Roberts for my son this year, that thing drove tacks.  Never got to put a round in an animal but, from the bench at 150yds, 5 shots of Hornedy +P interlock 117 grain rounds made one hole a bit bigger than a dime.

[high country]

I have had a few 257roys. All pushed a 100tsx around 3600 and everything I ever touched with it was a bang flop. The damage is massive and results are amazing. I have never hit a buck that far back, but I imagine I would have similar results. I pushed a 100tsx through an elk at 450 ranged yards....I see no reason for more bullet based on my experience.

[Hyde]

What action is that built on?  (short or long?)  I want one!  Great pics of your girls!  Congrats to the hunters. 

[high country]

Long action, 540 face.

[MuleDeerCrazy]

Long action I guess... it's a Remington 700 action - I might have one for sale

[257 Wby Mag]

I've used my Ultra Lightweight for 12-14 years, 2-3 states a year, killed lotsa critters with it, but I use junk welfare Hornady's,
seen some amazing reactions from bucks, but I don't gut shoot em, I shoulder shoot em. Might try cheap bullets that are prone to failure? grin...

[MuleDeerCrazy]

Well, we don't try to gut shoot them either, but sometimes the lung shots drift a little?  I'm pretty sure, based on what I saw, that shoulder shooting them would lay the smackdown on them.  Also based on what I saw if you shoulder shoot them you'd only have to pack out about 5 pounds of shoulder meat (total for both) , although if the canyon is deep enough and steep enough that might be a good thing... though we try not to waste any more meat than we have too.

[257 Wby Mag]

Ya, hard boolits in soft places usually have that effect on em. Yep, ain't much to bone out after shoulder shots, I hate seein critters go anywhere
but down after tghe shot. Try some 115 BT's, softer, and better BC. Win/Win for buck huntin.....

[Biggerhammer]

I've used my Ultra Lightweight for 12-14 years, 2-3 states a year, killed lotsa critters with it, but I use junk welfare Hornady's,
seen some amazing reactions from bucks, but I don't gut shoot em, I shoulder shoot em. Might try cheap bullets that are prone to failure? grin...

Asked every buck I have shot with a " Welfare Hornady" when I walked up to it, if the bullet had failed? None of them had a thing to say, speachless. 

[bearpaw]

I have had a few 257roys. All pushed a 100tsx around 3600 and everything I ever touched with it was a bang flop. The damage is massive and results are amazing. I have never hit a buck that far back, but I imagine I would have similar results. I pushed a 100tsx through an elk at 450 ranged yards....I see no reason for more bullet based on my experience.

Same load we use.... 

If you shoot Barnes you can shoot a lighter bullet faster and get more penetration because the bullet doesn't lose any weight. My son shot his moose three times, all three went clear through both shoulders. Another hunter shot his moose once through both shoulders. I have seen 8 bear shot with the 257 and all died quick.

[bearpaw]

Forgot to mention, no matter the caliber, deer will often run a distance when liver shot. 

[257 Wby Mag]

I've used my Ultra Lightweight for 12-14 years, 2-3 states a year, killed lotsa critters with it, but I use junk welfare Hornady's,
seen some amazing reactions from bucks, but I don't gut shoot em, I shoulder shoot em. Might try cheap bullets that are prone to failure? grin...

Asked every buck I have shot with a " Welfare Hornady" when I walked up to it, if the bullet had failed? None of them had a thing to say, speachless. 

Laffin... I tried the Swift Siroccos, shot alright. Pard uses the in his model 700 Roy and likes em... I like the Hornady's cause I can buy em with my food stamps....grin

[Bob33]

FWIW: I've killed 58 antelope with four different calibers from 257 Roberts through 300 Magnum.  I've used nine different bullets as listed below.  My conclusions: (1) antelope meat is great! (2) antelope can be hard to hit, but not hard to kill. (3) Sometimes they run 50 yards, sometimes they die right there.  I've had some fall over dead shot with a 257 Roberts, and some run quite a distance shot with a 300 Magnum.

If you shoot enough animals with any bullet, some just aren't going to die on the spot.  I don't necessarily consider that a reflection of the bullet's performance. Lung shot animals can live 5 to 10 seconds.

My favorite combination: 257 Weatherby with 100 grain TSX bullets at around 3580 ft/second.

This is the list of bullets that killed antelope; bullet weights ranged from 100 to 180.  Distances ranged from 32 to 438 yards.

Barnes TSX   15
Barnes TTSX   2
Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertip   19
Hornady Interbond   3
Hornady Interlock   1
Nosler Ballistic Tip   6
Nosler Partition   7
Sierra Pro Hunter   4
Winchester XP3   1
Total   58

[257 Wby Mag]

Boy, you like goat huntin huh Bob? I love huntin em too, sure is fun!

[Bob33]

Boy, you like goat huntin huh Bob? I love huntin em too, sure is fun!

Gee, what gave it away?

Yes, without a doubt. They are my favorite critter to chase and to eat.

[Hyde]

Long action I guess... it's a Remington 700 action - I might have one for sale

I need a lefty...

[high country]

I would say that rl22 at about 72gr deep under a 100 tsx is worth a try.

[ANDERWAGON]

Running 100 gr TTSX's with 73 grns of RL25 near 3600FPS with no issues.

[scudmaster]

Did I miss the part of your post where the animals lived and got away?

No caliber/bullet can guarantee a dead-right-there every time.

Enjoy the steaks.  You have a great combination!

You are right on there Bob!!!

Animals, like people, don't always get the memo about which bullet is the best and how they are supposed to react when hit.  If they drop within a hundred yard of where they are shot, that is a good hit to me.  My

[blmathis12]

I had a 257 wby man i loved that gun price of ammo forced me to sell it! Now i picked up another 270wsm in the winchester extreme sportster and im trying to get myself fall in love with it like i did with that lil quarter bore!

[high country]

I had a 257 wby man i loved that gun price of ammo forced me to sell it! Now i picked up another 270wsm in the winchester extreme sportster and im trying to get myself fall in love with it like i did with that lil quarter bore!

A great way to save money is to load the 257 with plain Jane 7mm rem mag brass. One pass through the sizer die and you are off to the dance. They come out close enough, that in my rifle, I see no measureable difference between fire forming and full formed cases.

[bearpaw]

I had a 257 wby man i loved that gun price of ammo forced me to sell it! Now i picked up another 270wsm in the winchester extreme sportster and im trying to get myself fall in love with it like i did with that lil quarter bore!

A great way to save money is to load the 257 with plain Jane 7mm rem mag brass. One pass through the sizer die and you are off to the dance. They come out close enough, that in my rifle, I see no measureable difference between fire forming and full formed cases.

My dad does this too with the 7mm cases, it does work good. A person needs to be sure and keep them identified as 257 once you reform them and load them...