257 weatherby or 30-06

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icon308win

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im going to trade rifles im getting a rem 700 cdl-sf I had a prior oneI live in NC mostly allI will ever do is shoot andmaybe a coyote.I doubt will ever get to hunt elk. Would you go 257 weatherby or 30-06
 
go with the 3006, hands down.

It is far cheaper to shoot, more than effective for elk.

If he rifle is cheaper to shoot, you will likely shoot it much more.

257Weatherby is a great caliber, but it is expensive to shoot. if you buy this caliber, be sure to ONLY use premium bullet styles, such as Accubonds,Partitions,Barnes X, etc for hunting.

Good luck with your choice.
 
I like the 30-06 better, but if you handload it wouldn't really matter much. If you like the 257 it will certainly work
 
There are much better designed rifles than the entry level old 700's.

Also the 257 Weatherby is an odd old cartridge that never caught on.

The 30-06 is the standard of the world. Can't go wrong with it.

However if you have chucks to hunt there in the summer I need to know what other guns you have.

Those two rounds are not the only ones.

Remingtonbolt.jpg
 
I LOVE the .257 Weatherby for long-range target shooting. It has no real advantage for anything practical. If your pockets are deep, it could be a lot of fun and take care of coyotes or deer easily. If they're not deep, or you're naturally frugal, it really makes little sense to go that route. The .30-06 is wonderfully diverse, cheap, and is negligible in "accuracy" at the practical distances that most are capable of shooting.
 
My brother and me were just discussing these two cartridges/calibers. We both have .30-06 as our first choice. The 06 is so versatile. If you are only going to have one center fire rifle the 06 is a sound choice.

In my reloading books I look up the cartridges.

.257 has loads for 110 grain bullets from 2800 to 3300 fps, with bullets having a ballistic coefficient (BC) of .39

the .30-06 has loads for 110 grain bullets from 2900 to 3400 fps, with BC of .25 and .29

Since I have actually wrote the code for the ballistics calculator in Gun Log, let me illustrate the significance of the BC.

.257 Weather Mag
300 Yard Zero, MV 3000 fps
400 yards, -11.3 inches, Velocity 2091
500 yards, -30.5 inches, Velocity 1891

.30-06
300 Yard Zero, MV 3000 fps
400 yards, -14.9 inches, Velocity 1664
500 yards, -42.5 inches, Velocity 1411

Notice how the BC really effects the values the further the bullet travels.
Now, don't take it that the 06 at 500 yards is something under powered, it is just in this example that a 110 grain bullet in .308 caliber is not "shaped as good" as the .257.

The BC on the 120 grain .257 is the same as the 110 grain, so the values above wouldn't change, only the energy (which I didn't calculate).

Now take the .30-06 and let's pick a bullet that has a good BC. Hmm, the 150 grain A-MAX has a BC of .435. It doesn't show a load up to 3000 fps, but one for 2950.

Let's look at that:
300 Yard Zero, MV 2950 fps
400 yards, -11.1 inches, Velocity 2089
500 yards, -29.9 inches, Velocity 1953

Let's put those side by side:

Code: 
.257 Weather Mag                           .30-06
300 Yard Zero, MV 3000 fps             300 Yard Zero, MV 2950 fps
400 yards, -11.3 inches, V 2091       400 yards, -11.1 inches, V 2089
500 yards, -30.5 inches, V 1891       500 yards, -29.9 inches, V 1953

This shows that the lowly .30-06 is an amazing cartridge. It isn't the hollywood starlet of cartridges, it is the leading man. ;-)

I have a .30-06. I would like to have a .257 Weatherby Magnum just because it is what it is.
 
I've loaded the '06 with 00 Buck as a squirrel load, with 5 grains of pistol powder. 80-grain bullets for near 4,000 ft/sec zappers for jackrabbits. The standard varmint bullet is a 110-grain at around 3,400 ft/sec (factory). For deer, either a 150- or 165-grain, although I prefer the 150. Elk? I'd likely go with a 180.

My old Weatherby Mark V, with its 26" barrel, was reliably a sub-MOA shooter. 0.8 at 500 yards. Three-shot groups of 0.4 to 0.5 MOA at 100 yards.
 
Code:
.257 Weather Mag .30-06
300 Yard Zero, MV 3000 fps 300 Yard Zero, MV 2950 fps
400 yards, -11.3 inches, V 2091 400 yards, -11.1 inches, V 2089
500 yards, -30.5 inches, V 1891 500 yards, -29.9 inches, V 1953
Click to expand...

only problem with that comparison is that it takes handloading to get a 06 to 3000 and the 257 is idleing at 3000 fps. Add 300 fps to the 257 then compare them. that said i own both and like them both but if i could only have one rifle to hunt everything with it would be an o6.
 
Get the 257 Weatherby if you reload. It is truly a coyote to elk rifle.

Out here in the Wyoming the 257 Weatherby is a popular round.

Of course you could get a 25/06 and save some money on brass...

No offense to the O.P., but after 106 years with 06 is pretty much a known idem.

Why do people always ask, should I get rifle X or a 30/06 ?

If you want rifle X buy it, if you find you don't like it sell and get a 30-06

There will always be a 30/06 for sell at Walmart.

Both the 30/06 and the 257 Weatherby are fine cartridge.

They are just two different approaches to how to put energy on a target.
 
Last edited:
If I had to have one - the .30-'06. I regret to this day, selling my .257 Weatherby Mark V however. Wonderful cartridge and a joy to shoot. Very expensive even if you reload. If you don't reaload, it's crazy to shoot the .257 if you own a .30-'06. I cannot believe how much they soak you for a box of .257 cartridges!

Reloading the .257 is a bit more intense than loading for the .30-'06 as well, in that it's a belted magnum. Not that it's harder, but you need to think it through.

I love the .257 but simply won't pay that much to shoot a rifle.
 
My brother and me were just discussing these two cartridges/calibers. We both have .30-06 as our first choice. The 06 is so versatile. If you are only going to have one center fire rifle the 06 is a sound choice.

In my reloading books I look up the cartridges.

.257 has loads for 110 grain bullets from 2800 to 3300 fps, with bullets having a ballistic coefficient (BC) of .39

the .30-06 has loads for 110 grain bullets from 2900 to 3400 fps, with BC of .25 and .29

Since I have actually wrote the code for the ballistics calculator in Gun Log, let me illustrate the significance of the BC.

.257 Weather Mag
300 Yard Zero, MV 3000 fps
400 yards, -11.3 inches, Velocity 2091
500 yards, -30.5 inches, Velocity 1891

.30-06
300 Yard Zero, MV 3000 fps
400 yards, -14.9 inches, Velocity 1664
500 yards, -42.5 inches, Velocity 1411

Notice how the BC really effects the values the further the bullet travels.
Now, don't take it that the 06 at 500 yards is something under powered, it is just in this example that a 110 grain bullet in .308 caliber is not "shaped as good" as the .257.

The BC on the 120 grain .257 is the same as the 110 grain, so the values above wouldn't change, only the energy (which I didn't calculate).

Now take the .30-06 and let's pick a bullet that has a good BC. Hmm, the 150 grain A-MAX has a BC of .435. It doesn't show a load up to 3000 fps, but one for 2950.

Let's look at that:
300 Yard Zero, MV 2950 fps
400 yards, -11.1 inches, Velocity 2089
500 yards, -29.9 inches, Velocity 1953

Let's put those side by side:


Code:
.257 Weather Mag .30-06
300 Yard Zero, MV 3000 fps 300 Yard Zero, MV 2950 fps
400 yards, -11.3 inches, V 2091 400 yards, -11.1 inches, V 2089
500 yards, -30.5 inches, V 1891 500 yards, -29.9 inches, V 1953This shows that the lowly .30-06 is an amazing cartridge. It isn't the hollywood starlet of cartridges, it is the leading man. ;-)

I have a .30-06. I would like to have a .257 Weatherby Magnum just because it is what it is.
Click to expand...
How can the 06 have a 100 fps advantage with the same bullet weight when its usable case capacity is roughly 8 grains less? those must be some hot 06 loads. Or some mild 257 loads or both
 
for my situation I am a low volume shooter so the cost of ammo doesn't bother me much as long as I have a couple boxes on the shelf. I like the new factory loadings for 257 from Barnes. Real flat shooting and won't fragment due to speed up close. I have shot deer with 257 at long and close range. Great for long range shots, but for up close if you are going to take a body shot you better have the right bullet.
 
How can the 06 have a 100 fps advantage with the same bullet weight when its usable case capacity is roughly 8 grains less? those must be some hot 06 loads. Or some mild 257 loads or both
Click to expand...

The same way 338-06 can have a velocity advantage over 30-06 with 180 gr bullets. The same pressure acting on a larger bore area = a larger force on the bullet.
 
How can the 06 have a 100 fps advantage with the same bullet weight when its usable case capacity is roughly 8 grains less? those must be some hot 06 loads. Or some mild 257 loads or both
Click to expand...

After the bullet leaves the muzzle the things that matters most is the Ballistic Coefficient of the bullet. Notice I picked a .30-06 bullet with an outstanding BC.
 
"mostly all I will ever do is shoot and maybe a coyote. I doubt will ever get to hunt elk."

icon308win,

Is this your only rifle? Or a trade toy?
Per your post, at this time you are not planning on shooting very much. If that is true, the 257 would be cheap enough to use. If you start using it, plan on reloading for it.

Weatherbys are neat, even when chambered in hard to get/expensive rounds. Neat to have may not equate to usefulness.

For day to day use, I would go with an '06. But then, I would have to check the condition of both before making up my mind. Very difficult to go wrong with a good '06.
 
If you just have to have a 25 caliber the 25-06 is a much better choice. I once owned a 270 Weatherby and didn't like the cartridge at all, and I quickly found out that a standard 270 Winchester was much better. My favorite hunting cartridge is a 30-06 and I would buy a 30-06 without further thought. Shooter
 
Everybody should have a 30-06. Or maybe a 308. They're just so versatile. It should really be a law. Maybe we need a new constitutional amendment.

If you already have a 30-06 or a 308, then maybe consider a 257 Weatherby.
 
If you just have to have a 25 caliber the 25-06 is a much better choice
Click to expand...

Agreed. The factory Weatherby ammo uses proprietary powders to get the screamin' velocities; For the handloader, the weatherby only offers a 100-150 FPS increase over the .25-06. If money is no object, then speed is speed. But the .25-06 is more efficient, a little easier on guns and much cheaper to buy loaded ammo and brass for.

The standard .25-06 is an honest-to-goodness 3,200 FPS cartridge with 117 gr. bullets and IMR powders.
 
Never owned nor shot a 257 Wby, but I would wager anyting the 30-06 is the vastly more versatile rifle. If you like to shoot alot the 30-06 barrel will last many times as long as the highly overbore 257. If you like to shoot very long ranges the .30 cal bullets are capable of vastly higher BC even if they are slower. For the reloader their is a vast wealth of handload data for the 06, probably more then any other cartage, and lets not forget the endless supply of once fired 06 brass for dirt cheap. All in all the 06 has few rivals in terms of all around usefulness, I will put my 308 and 6.5x55 head to head with it but all my highly overbore rounds are a one trick pony in comparison.
 
There's a lot of mis-information here about the .257wbymag.

First of all, it doesn't use "proprietary" powders to get it's velocity. Good old H4350, H4831, and of course RL22 and RL25 get the "goods" from the .257wby.

Secondly, I haven't been able to get the 3,200fps from a 24" bbl .25/06 and a 117gr bullet. I can "barely" get it with the .257wby and a 24" bbl. Expect to get between 200-250fps with the .257 over the .25/06... Sorry, just my experience.....

Not berating the .25/06, it's just I actually DO own a chronograph....
And while we're on that topic, the .25/06 only gets about 50-75fps over the .257Roberts... agian, just my "experience"...

The Hornady Superformance ammo will only get the "claimed" velocities from "occasional" 24" bbl's. Certainly NOT from a 22" bbl....
ie: some 165gr SST "Superformance" ammo I've chrono'd only beat some 165gr Remington Corelokts from my 24" '06 barrel by some 40fps!!! And 100fps less than my top load of RL17 over a Sierra or Nosler 165gr bullet (2,980fps!). Besides, my .375Ruger w/270gr "Superformance" chrono's 100fps SLOWER than factory claimed spec's. (2,740fps vs claimed 2,840fps. Not "bad", but not "claimed"....

Loading the .257wby actually costs me LESS than loading for the .30/06!
I'm using surplus WC-860 powder, Hornady "Blem" 117gr BtSpt's (78gr WC-860 for 3,250fps). The bullets cost me $11/100; the powder 8lbs for $25; and I'm using range "pickup" 7RemMag brass reformed to .257mag. (yeah, the case necks are 0.060" short, makes no difference. However, the cases are "thicker" and have ~3% less case capacity, so charges have to be a little lower....).


Bottom line, if you "Want" a .257wby, get it !!!
If you "want" a .30/06, you'll still do well !

For an excellent "less expensive" .257wby load, get the Norma 100gr PtSpt. It's about $3 a box more expensive than "un-primed" Weatherby brass..... It "chrono's" 3,450fps from my 24" Vanguard and is sub-moa accurate. Last time I checked prices at GanderMountain, the 100gr Hornady bulleted .257wby factory ammo was going for about $38/20. About the same as Walmarts price on a box of Winchester 165gr "Bonded" bullet ammo.... So much for the "Much" greater cost of ammo for the Weatherby.

Either way, you won't shoot much if you use "factory" ammo.....

re: bullet blow-up's. Over stated.... I've shot deer with my .257wby with 100gr Hornady PtSpt's at 3,550fps m/v at ~50yds. Bullets expanded to .50", and weight typically ~65gr in perfect mushroom... At least the few I've recovered. Typically, they exit the deer with a 2-3" exit wound.... and "exploded" deer "innerds"....
However, I HAVE seen 100gr and 115gr BallisticTips "explode" and fail to penetrate, but they do that from the .257Roberts as well....Not to mention 130's from the .270 and 150's from my 7mm08....
So, use the "correct" bullets.....Regardless of which caliber you choose. You really DON'T have to use a $$$ bullet to prevent failures... Just don't use one that is practically guarenteed to produce a "failure"...
 
Back in the olden days before I realized I had a thing for guns, I had a 30-06. It was an old 742 with a steel butt plate. It was my woodchuck gun and it was a PUNISHING so and so to shoot. That thing pounded me so bad that when I finally got rid of it, I swore I'd never have another one of those kicking, fire-breathing monsters. These days I have many dozens of rifles here, including a 300 WSM and a 338 Mag, not even one 30-06 in the group. I do have a 257 Weatherby Mark V though, a pc of work and a pleasure to shoot, woodchucks, coyotes & deer. The fear of the 30-06 is still here but I'm sure I'll eventually have another (with a thick rubber recoil pad on the back.)
 
dont know about factory ammo as i havent used any in 30 years but some real world velocitys out of my guns are with a 117 and the 257 roberts 22in 2850. 2506 26 inch 3150, 257 wby 26 3350. my other 257 is a wby vanguard with a 24 in barrel and its speed with the same load will about match my cdl with a 26. All my 06 rifles are 22 inch and 2850 is about it with a 165 and 3000 is pushing it with a 150. Compare that to 3150 with a 2506 using a 117 that has a much better bc then a 150 .30 cal bullet. It does make the 2506 flatter shooting but ive shot enough game with both to know that the 2506 doesnt hit with the athourity at 300 yards that the 06 does. It also shows though that anyone that will tell you a 257 roberts is within a 100 fps of a 2506 or the 2506 is within a 100 fps of a 257 either doesnt have a chrono or needs to look for a differnt powder.
 
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