Rebarrel to 257 WBY Mag?

[dkevinbarnes]

I would like to rebarrel my Stevens 200 to a 257 WBY Mag but I've never heard of anyone converting Savages to Weatherby rounds. I know these cartridges have an odd shoulder radius and freebore(I don't really know what this is but I hear it discussed with Weatherby rounds) Are there any problems or pitfalls associated with this swap or would it be just like any other rebarrel job. If so, does anyone know where I could get go/no go gauges for this round? Thanks for the help.

[darkker]

It is just a re-barrel job, Be sure to check oal and action length; or you may have a single shot.
the freebore is a comment on the throat, or lead that is found in factory Wby's, not unlike a Savage FP.
for the guages, try Brownell's/Midway.

[Slowpoke Slim]

The SAAMI listed max over all length for the 257 Wby is 3.250". As long as your receiver and mag box are long enough, it should be a no brainer.

I have a Weatherby vanguard in 257 Wby. It is a long range death ray, but the barrel heats up very fast. I can't get 5 shots down the barrel without letting it sit and cool off. Not a big deal for a big game rifle, but if you're varminting, it can be a big deal.

Just FWIW.

[efm77]

The 257's OAL is similar to a standard magnum ie. 7mm rem mag, 300 win mag etc. so if you have a long action it should fit just fine. Belted magnum headspace gauges are all you need to install the barrel. If you get a barrel that doesn't have the long freebore that the factory Weatherby's have then you might want to be careful when using factory Weatherby ammo. It's made by Norma in Sweden and they load it very hot, over SAAMI specs I believe since they are a foreign manufacturer. With a shorter throat you may have an excessive spike in pressure. Of course if you hand load or use another load like the one from Hornady, you should be fine.

[dkevinbarnes]

Thanks for the help. One more question though, how will I know if the barrel I get has long freebore or not. I've only bought one barrel for a savage from Mcgowen in 7/08 and there was no mention of amount of freebore or throat. Is this something that can affect accuracy and or be dangerous?

[hcpyro13]

Try getting in touch with Devin at Sinarms, I spoke with him about a year ago about the same idea. There was an old LA savage sitting in the gun store and if I could have talked them down enough on the price that is the route I was going with it. (My buddy bought it for $20 more than I offered... and still hasn't even shot it!!!) As far as barrel freebore, factory weatherby's run long. How long you want it, is how long you get it. That will come down to the specs of the reamer used and what you want the smith to do with it. Love the idea, let us know how it goes!

-Jake

[keeki]

thinking bout a 25-300 winmag, 25-7mmmag, or 257stw myself and cant decide

[coonhunter70]

thinking bout a 25-300 winmag, 25-7mmmag, or 257stw myself and cant decide


A guy I work with has a 257 banshee that he built several years ago, he claims 4300fps with a 100gr ballistic tip. But anyways I think you can start with 264 winmag brass, should be easier to neck down than 7mag or 300mag and still get the same result. I have also been thinking about one of these super fast 25's the thought of 100 gr 257 bullets going 3900+ makes me smile and who cares about barrel life savages are easy to rebarrel.

[teebirdhyzer]

100grain BT at 4300 fps! wow, that would pretty much liquify the insides of anything hit with it.

[kslefty]

100grain BT at 4300 fps!" He needs to unfold his chrony all the way seriously. I had a friend who researched how to drive a 100gr .25 cal bullet to 4000 fps and he never got it accomplished. I do not believe this claim at all.

[coonhunter70]

I dont believe him either, LOL. But you should google 257 banshee read a little about it. I have a loaded round here that he gave me it is pretty impressive looking it starts out with 6.5x68 hirtinburger or rws brass.

[keeki]

maybe with a barrel 34" long and I still doubt 4300. Do they even make a hunting bullet that would hold up?