Weatherby Vanguard Realtree 257 Barrel Bolt Action Rifle

The 257 Weatherby Magnum was designed by Roy Weatherby in 1944, so is one of the original Weathery Magnum cartridges. It is based on the belted 300 H&H case shortened, blown out, and necked down. It is by some margin the fastest commercial 25-caliber cartridge, and Roy Weatherby often commented that it was his personal favorite. With an 87-grain bullet at 3825 feet per second, a 100-grain bullet at 3602, and a 120-grain bullet at 3305 it is one of the flattest-shooting of all commercial cartridges. With heavier bullets of tough construction it can be effectively used on elk-sized game, and it is an excellent choice for longer shots on deer, antelope, and mountain game. Despite its attributes it has never become extremely popular, with Weatherby remaining the primary source for both rifles and ammunition. Federal has also offered a 257 Weatherby Magnum load, and a few other rifles have been chambered to it. — Craig Boddington