My 257 Wby store goes like this, a fella from the city went hunting in the Western state of ID and was told that he would have shot up to 500 yds. He decided he needed a 257 wby for the hunt. Well most of the State of Idaho shots are under 150 yards unless you can not hunt. Add Mr. Murphy into the equation and the elk showed up 60 yds behind him. He shot the poor elk 4 times with bullets made for 7mm mauser speeds and they were disintegrating on impact. The elk did finally die. The same bullet in a 257 roberts would have done the job much better.
Greetings dlmac,
For my hard earned money:
Extremely high velocity is only valuable for extremely long range.
I mean by this, approaching a Kilometer distant target, such as 1,000 yards down range or, whatever system you want to use for measuring a super long shot rifle target, on your favorite rifle range.
Indeed, I have done some long range shooting, on the local US Army base, with such boring old fuddy-duddy cartridges as the .30-06 and 7MM Remington Magnum, to name but 2 of the several.
This was done against steel “lollipop” reactive targets, that would fall over backwards when hit and then slowly stand back up.
The steel plate (lollipop) was as I can best recall in my now advanced years, either 16 or 18 inches across.
If any of you AH members, who’ve also used the Fort Richardson Rifle Range (Anchorage, Alaska) can chime-in with the actual measurements of said round shaped (“lollipop”) steel reactive targets (not the human silhouette ones), I would be grateful.
Note:
I have no gripe against shooting human silhouette targets.
But for hunting rifle practice, the previously described “lollipop clangers”were perfecto.
Anyway and IMO, the very worst part of extreme velocity is that at more commonly typical hoofed game shooting distances, about 250 meters and under (usually 150 meters and under), extreme-blistering hot velocity ruins way too much meat.
I cherish wild animal meat.
Therefore, I do not appreciate having it unnecessarily blood shot, splattered to the moon and ruined.
For myself, my wife, 2 fine sons and most if not all of my “outdoorsy” friends, venison is a special treat, over the typically almost bland, store bought, farm animal meat.
Moving right along, my personal experiences, out to approximately 400 meters / yards, provided I’m using an aerodynamic bullet —> once a high ballistic coefficient projectile reaches about 2,800 - 2,850 feet per second, punching a hole through some tasty animal’s shoulder/ribcage, from field positions, is not difficult, for any well practiced rifle enthusiast.
I am however a Capitalist and so, I do applaud Roy Weatherby for his clever and highly successful marketing efforts.
Bravo I say. $$$$$$$
He earned and he well deserved every red penny of his wealth.
Nonetheless, for my wants and needs, none of the Weatherby cartridges interest me in the slightest, not even a tiny bit.
My same yawn and shrug goes for the Remington Ultra-Magnums, John Spazzeroni cartridges, Ackley Improved cartridges ( “Improved” … Ha ! ) and so forth and so on.
All great marketing success stories but nonetheless, they each and every one, answer no question that I have ever asked, that is for sure.
(Same goes for straight-pull and semi-automatic hunting rifles but, that is for a different thread).
Now once again, I’m even boring myself so, at this stage, I will stop.
Cheers,
Velo Dog.
