The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: TAB on October 03, 2019, 05:09:38 PM
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It's been 8 years since I have been. Season starts the 23. I can't wait. Headed to the range now to check out the zero on my 257 weatherby mag. While yes it is a bit small, it works just fine. A client gave it too me years ago. It was one of the original weatherby, converted from a mouser by the man himself. It's been to Africa twice as the man was a big time Hunter. The taxidermy in his den would put a calbelas store to shame. He passed on awhile back.
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Gosh TAB, I guess I might be foolish, but the thought I got reading your post is that your client's spirit lives on each time that special rifle goes hunting. Be sure to pass it on to another hunter...perhaps yours will join his for those future hunts......
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Who knows, this trip is more about just getting out there. My uncle has said I can store all the meat in his freezer, which means he will take half. Him and of his few friends all have bow tags. I though about taking my guide gun, but I don't have enough rounds thru it to trust myself with a 150-250 yard shot open sights. The weatherby is a 2 moa gun. Which was very good back in the 50s when it was converted. I shot a 5 shot group at 5.25" at 200 yards today. Which is great for this rifle , it's been 6 years since I have shot it. I did have to re zero it.
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So Tab, what kind of a scope is on it? That may contribute to some of the moa you are seeing. Also, those older scope rings (assuming of course and old scope and all) may need to be lapped and centere...might just tighten up your group.
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It has a Swarovski that is at least 20 years old. The moa, is from throat erosion. The 257 weatherby mag is a heavily over driven round. Does not help that it's a 1 and 12 twist and not a 1 in 10 like most modern. 257 are. It means 115 grain max bullet weight 110 are nice
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I gotcha. I have wanted a 257 Weatherby after reading about them in Field and Stream or Outdoor Life when I was a kid. It's a dang sure speedy dude and it retains velocity better than the 264 Winchester. It's significantly faster than the 25-06 and the .243 pales in comparison to either of those.
I see quite a few on Gunbroker. Which interests me, but I think you keyed in an important thing you can't guarantee on Gunbroker...throat erosion. I wonder how many rounds it takes...500-600 to start having an issue? Practically, I doubt 90% of the guns made have had more than 100 rounds or so through them but my luck I'd get one that had several hundred through it.
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Just make sure you get a modern 1 in 10 not the 1 in 12 like the older guns had.
I don't know when it becomes in issue, but I doubt most guns will ever get too that point. Ammo is not cheap. The weatherby brand use to be made just up the street from me at nosler. So I could go there and buy it way cheaper then retail. 1 box of ammo over a hunting season. Does it really matter if it's 25% more then the same box in say 308? I mean if $15 means you can't hunt this year, you really need to not be buying high end ammo. Remington corelokt has killed more deer then any other
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You caused me to do some research. Your 257 Weatherby Mag is a good 200 FPS faster than a 25-06 and 250 FPS faster than the 25 WSSM...forget the 257 Roberts or Savage they aren't even in the game.
For 150 FPS...I don't get real excited but when you stretch that to 200 magic starts to happen...or at least that's what is stuck in my mind. I'm still going to have to do a little ballistics research to see if it matters for where I'll be shooting it. Regardless, you've got me pining for a 257 now and because I'm putting fences in and fixing a roof right now I'm gonna have to wait and suffer. Dang you and your 257 Weatherby Mag....
I used the Nosler page for bullet comparisons. It's really good because you can focus on a bullet diameter and get a drop down on the rounds for that particular diameter: https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/25-winchester-super-short-magnum-wssm/ (https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/25-winchester-super-short-magnum-wssm/)
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I try. The local toy store( aka class 3 dealer) just got a accuracy international axmc in 338 lupua. It was very, very hard not to have it follow me home. I know they are $$$$ and the scope to go with it is the same, but what a rifle.
He knew exactly what he was doing when it handed it too me.
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<snip>He knew exactly what he was doing when it handed it too me.
You betcha'...
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You betcha'...
I don't mind. One of the good things about getting to know your dealer well is they let you fondle handle all the cool stuff. In all honesty it's not a gun I would use, I don't buy safe queens.
Then there is the ~$12k in cost with scope.
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I used to have a relationship with my arms merchant in Tulsa. Not a bad thing...except he passed away.
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That sucks!
I had a friend that was a dealer, his name was Squeak and he called me Toe Doc (there is a story I'll share some time), who died of diabetic complications after a surgery; I lost my gunsmith as he was working on a revolver for me and getting ready to start a conversion on my open gun (.45acp to 9mm major), and my favorite FFL/Eye Doc/very good friend is struggling with age, health, and the sudden loss of his life. Then today I came across the obituary for another friend (SASS shooter and gunsmith).
I need to find younger friends!
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Off to the range today, I want to get some pratice in, standing, kneeling and sitting. Feels so strange only working 40 hours a week
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40 hours a week is strange.
I've been on one or another well location since September 9th 12-14 hours a day.....but you know that drill. I practiced retirement for 4 months and never really slowed down around the house. You'll get the hang of it......or not!
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I'm going nuts. There is only so much you can do in a apartment during the week.
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Take up ham radio. I didn't have time to pack mine. It would have been great.
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I did start back at the gym, that has helped some. Still I am use yo leaving before 6 and getting home between 9 and 10, 7 days a week. That's basicly the last 20 years of my life. Hard habit to break. Hell, I have my alarm set so I remember to take a break.
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Well my season lasted a little more then 30 mins. 894 lbs at the weight station. Did most of the large processing, after 5 hours it's break time. Still at least another day to go. Before it's ready for the freezer.
200 ish yard shot, ran about 100' fell over, with easy access to the tractor. Man I wish I could post pics.
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WOW!!
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Processing day two. This Saturday going to get a bunch of pork and start making sausage. My uncle took the hide. He is going to have it tanned for his den.
Instead of me flying home the wife is flying here this weekend.
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Congratulations on the elk. And your wife is flying up to see you.
You're batting a thousand!
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So all told I got around 400# of usable meat. Now we did make about 40# of greatest sausage with about 17# of pork/ pork fat. Going to make some stew next week. The breakfast sausage is good as we sampled it several times to check for flavor. I have it broke down into 1 # tubes. Several roasts, some steaks, lots of stew meat and about 25# of ground elk. Which I am sure I will be mixing with beef and pork to make everything from hamburgers to meat balls.
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Did a couple of chops tonight with carmelized onions and roasted root veggies. Very good. Doing the standing rib roast for thanksgiving
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And not once did I see a post about sharing this bounty...... :'(
I'll be on the look for one in Arkansas next week. I'm outside of the "permitted Elk zone" so all I have to do is shoot one during deer season and call game and fish and let them know. I heard an elk on the place last year...it's going to be very much hit and miss but a dozen were killed within a few miles of me last year.
And not once did I see a post about sharing this bounty...... :'(