BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

ELK-AHOLIC · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:46 pm Post subject: New Rifle

I'm looking at buying a new rifle this next week and I'm stuck on deciding what caliber to get I'm torn between a 264 Win Mag, 270 Weatherby Mag or a 257 Weatherby Mag. The rifle will be used for Deer, Antelope, sheep, coyotes, maybe a caribou hunt someday also some Elk but I got better rifles for that if I need so I'm looking for a little advice from you guys who have some real world experience with these calibers. I appreciate any info you want to give me on what you think the best choice would be and why.
-Thanks

HeavyC · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject:

Man, I have been eyeing a .257 Weatherby myself so I gotta suggest it!!

exbiologist · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject:

Well, I weighed all those cartridges, plus a handful of STWs(.257, 6.5) and various 7mms before deciding on the .264 Win Mag. Basically, the .257 and .264 have the same case capacity, so does the .270 Wby. Ballistically you get a little advantage with the .264 bullet selection compared to the others. I like that the standard 140 grainers have BCs pushing .500 and have the same SD as a 190 grain .30 cal. You just can't get high SD .257 bullets, and there isn't much to choose from over 150 grains in .270 cal, other than the 160 Partition. The .257 and .264 push the same weight bullets at the same velocity as they are only .007 inches apart in diameter, with virtually the same case. .270 Wby, I believe has a slight velocity edge for same weight bullets.
But I settled on the .264, and would again.

Tndeerhunter · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject:

Congrats on making your choice! I'd only mention that you'd also find 99% of the .264's performance in either the 6.5/.284 or 6.5 Rem mag. and in a S/A needing only a 22" barrel to achieve it. Pet calibers are a personal thing, however, and I'd never question anyone's choice that made them... happy! I hope that rifle is a great addition to your collection!

ELK-AHOLIC · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject:

I originally wanted to buy a Blaser prestige in one of the calibers I listed above, but after thinking about it and reviewing my financial situation I just can't swing it right now, $2800 for a production gun is a little too steep for me right now, I'm looking to spend like $1500-$1900 on a rifle, being left handed makes it hard. I just picked up a super sweet vintage Model 700 Lefty in 8mm Rem Mag I'm now leaning on the Weatherby ultra light in 257 wby or a Winchester Featherweight in 270 wsm both are in my price range I'm always looking for nice lefty's they are hard to come buy most are used and it's difficult to judge the condition of a used weapon on the Internet, anyone have any other suggestions for a good left handed rifle ? The rifles I own now are Sako AV 7mm Mag, Browning BLR 7 Mag, Remington 700 8mm Mag, Thompson Prohunter 300 Win Mag, British 303, and a 444 Marlin so I guess I'm covered for big game rifles but you can never have too many!

JCalhoun · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject:

Savage has a fairly good lefty offering.

ELK-AHOLIC · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

Savage would be cool Ive never owned one before, I held one at Cabelas a few months ago The Weather Warrior I think, I can appreciate the Stainless/composite combo for a rugged hunting rifle but I got 2 other rifles in stainless with plastic stocks right now and I guess that's enough for me to get by with at the moment, I'm a bit of a traditionalist I enjoy bluing and nice wood if I can find it. Sako used to make nice rifles for us lefty's but they no longer do so, I guess it's because they cost a little more to produce or something maybe they never sold enough to justify the production. Weatherby makes some beautiful left handed rifles but the ammo is ridiculously expensive it kinda turns me off to the entire Roy experience.

ELK-AHOLIC · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

I just bought a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight in 257 Wby Mag from Budsgunsop.com should be here in a week or so I think. I'm kinda excited about this rifle!