I have been thinking about having another rifle built for this hunting season. I am torn between the new 26 nosler and the 257 weatheryby. Derrick at Horizon Firearms will be building it for me, he's all for the 26 nosler. I am somewhere in the middle. I wanted to get some feedback from you guys.


Thanks.

The middle would be
6.5 SAUM
6.5 wby
6.5 WSM

The 26 nosler is a 257wby on juice.


Personally I'd roll 6.5 SAUM or 26 Nolser. If my 257 wby barrel ever eats it, I'll turn it into a 6.5 wby just due to all the 257wby brass I already have and the fact I also have a 6.5 creedmoor.

I should say I might change it to 6.5 wby.... I do really love my 257wby though

I have 6.5x257 wby (i improved to a 35* shoulder) its one of my favorite calibers. I built it after I did the 6.5x300 RUM. With the 6.5 wby I shoot the 142smk at a soft 3200fps with extreme accuracy. When someone asked me about rounds in this family I always say if you reload get the 6.5 wby.. if not 257 wby. IMO the 26 nosler is very inefficient.

I have built 4- 26 Nosler rifles for customers now and loaded and shot all of them. The 26 Nosler is a beast of a round. You can push a 140 grain bullet 3300-3350 fps. But it takes about 90 grains of slow burning powder to do so.

The 6.5 Wby can be push a 140 grain about 3100 fps, and do it with about 67-70 grains of powder. Brass is easy to find, since you already have some.

Since you already have lots of 257 Wby brass, I'd go 6.5 Wby, unless you just want the crazy over bore speeds of the 26 Nosler.

When I spoke to Frank Green at Bartlein barrels, he said the provided all the test barrels for Nosler and some other mfg's. They were getting about 400-500 rounds out of a barrel in their testing. That's not very many rounds. It is a hoss of a round, but has it's draw backs.

Derrick built a 6.5 Weatherby for me and it is a great rifle. Not sure he wants to work with the Vanguard action again but then I have no idea what action you will be using. Will be happy to let you look at mine and shoot if, if you like. Derrick helped me with obtaining the dies I need and the load he worked up (with 140 Accubonds) is great. I had a bunch of 257 Weatherby brass so I just stretched them out.

Gary

Gary I prefer remington 700 actions. I talked to Derrick this afternoon and decided that I am going with the 257 weatherby.

Thank you for your input guys!

Good call!

Derrick is currently building me a 257wby, So the 257 WBY gets my vote. If you want a 26 caliber look at 6.5X284. The one he built for is so accurate.

I had a 257 Wby built 2 years ago and I love the caliber. That being said APR is building be a 26 Nosler just because I want one. Barrel live isn't a concern for me since it will be a hunting rifle. I'm 60 years old so no more than it will get shot it will most likely outlast me. We all know that when it comes to rifle builds the barrel is one of the cheaper components.

Always pick a 6.5 mm over a .257"

The 257 could have been something with an 8 twist barrel and proper backing from the bullet manufacturers.

But as it stands now, meh.

This^
I shoot and enjoy both but if I'm going for a custom build and trying to choose between the two I will lean towards the 6.5 due to bullet selection over the .257

No brainer 6.5, especially if you plan on shooting beyond 500yds. Maybe consider 6.5x284 to conserve barrel life.

6.5x257 wby is one of my go to rifles its dang near the 26 but im a wildcat nut. If it was me id be 28 nosler all day. I take it your a handloader the bc on the 160 accubond lr is sick. And if nosler lives up to the claims it might be the best 7mm out there well other than my beloved 280ai which if i had to pick one rifle for the remainder of time thats what it would be

Also ive found when build a custo
Off a wby get rid or drastically reduce freebore and things get scary accurate.

I have noticed the same thing with the Weatherby free bore, wonder why they do that? 6.5 bullets have some great BC's. I do have a .257 WBY and love to shoot it, but my next rifle I build will be a 6.5. Even tossing around the idea of doing the old .264 Win Mag caliber on it.

Not disputing your suggestion but that is something I thought I'd never see written

If your using it for hunting and not long range target shooting then I would go .257 wby



Greater factory ammo selection