257 Wby or 270 wsm?
 

Which one and why? No handloading here...

I mean certainly either will take a deer, antelope, etc...and be pleasant to carry a lightweight rifle in the mtns, but in elk country with grizzlies, or brown bear country, I'm thinking you might need to take a .300mag or larger as a minimum in which case, who wants to shoot a magnum in a lightweight setup, so in those situations are you stuck carrying a heavy magnum?

For what purpose...???

I'm thinking kinda for a mountain type rifle, mule deer, eventually sheep, goat, etc...but probably mule deer before any of those, and probably many more mule deer hunts than sheep/goat, etc...maybe on antelope too.

not sure about using it on elk or caribou one day either, or sitka blacktail, perhaps, but not sure really about it on the shear size of elk, or the other hunts when you might run into a brown bear/griz, etc...

Do you handload? The .257 weatherby is a bad boy but ammo is pricey, if you dont handload id say 270 wsm. I love my .270 win and have never felt undergunned so im sure the short mag is every bit as good.

I've had the Wby...it is devestating on deer/sheep/antelope etc....in a 26" bbl, I was chrono on 100gr Hornady at 3405 fps....no real pressure signs.....this was a custom bbl on a pre war Mod 70 action.It IS a handload cal.....too many $$$ otherwise. A cousin conned me out of it....wish I still had it!
Dan

Rather wby. Just cain't like 277s.

The .270's taken alot of game. Ive got buddies that down mine for their .30 cals but in the proper hands a .270 can handle most hunting scenarios. Mind you in Florida we dont shoot much over 400 yards.

I have the 270wsm and it has flat put down mule deer from ranges of 85yds. to 550yds. Short action and a 24" barrel makes for a nice packing rifle. I got it in thought one day go caribou hunting. I would not be afraid to hunt elk or moose with it too.

I personally wouldn't have any of the WBY cartridges. Of those two i would opt for the 270wsm.

But for your application of a mountain rifle...
I'd look at the .260 Remington before either of the two you listed.

NEITHER...get yourself a 7mm or .300, that way you'll have alot more choices in bullet weight and if you'd like you could shoot either with 140-50 grain bullets to be about equal to the two you listed. Then you can always bump-up to the 180-220's as needed.... To be honest I think you might be better served with the standard 7mmRM or .300 WM..they can easily better both and are simple and available everywhere...

280 AI, if you reload...

why in the world would anyone want to do that? Get a 7mm rem mag, and rock on at 3150fps with 140gr barnes. Don't have to worry about fireforming, sticky ejection. But I guess Larry is big on it, so your all over it.:s3:

The belted mag is definitely easier but i also like the AI. My buddies will throw a 140 gr tipped tsx at 3400 +

Nosler 140's in 280AI are about 3150, according to their numbers. Same bullet offered by Federal in 7mmMag goes the same speed. I believe Kimber had considered the AI as a factory offering awhile back, but to no avail. Nosler is pricey at $52/box. Some like Budweiser, some like ShinerBock.

If you like something different.

If you reload, you can kick a 7mmRemMag up over 3300fps with 67gr of RL22. I have seen it myself. 3150 is about all the 280AI will ever get up too with 4gr less powder of RL22. 280 AI is a loose loose situation. Unless you want to tell people you got a 280AI.

Doesn't 140 factory ammo in a .270 WSM go over 3200. I know I've heard reloads in a 140 going over 3300. That sounds as good or better than your 7 MM.

I feel the same way about Grizz :arms:

Here is my 7MM Rem Mag - In Stainless 6 5/8 lbs.

http://www.sakoa7.net/

Here is my .338 Win Mag Stainless Stalker 6lbs 13 ozs

http://www.browning.com/products/cat...35&type_id=202


Both good mountain rifles IMO or maybe I should just say; works for me !

Both a 7mmrem mag and 280AI would share the same action. Both COL's are close.

Now talking about a short mag, its a different animal all together.

I was just questioning why you thought the 280AI was such a winner. Just curious is all.

I have went down the AI road with other calibers and came up short. In the end, if I want more velocity, I won't be blow shoulders out and dealing with straight walls for a "hunting" gun anymore. Target, you can do what you want, it doesn't matter.

I don't know if its a "winner", but maybe an option. I've only read about it on this site and a few others. I understand it as being a decent cartridge. Your discontent is interesting though. 7mm WSM seems to be turning into a dinosaur, leaving its cousin 270.

.270 winchester.... or .25-06 remington ... thats right... the non-magnum... i know i know... flame away... but I just see no point in a magnum...

I'm with ya.

They could remove the word MAGNUM from any and all things related to firearms and nothing would be lost. Maybe they could call it what it really is. The 44 penis extension, 357 penis extension, 22 penis extension, and so on.

For me 270wsm, finding shells for this cal. easier, cheaper and just as deadly or better. Works on most game!