.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.....