What round to rebarrel to?

[Calif Hunter]

I have a Vanguard in .257 Weatherby that needs to be rebarreled - it may shoot well enough for some but not for me any longer. I like the cartridge and its performance. I have a lot of brass and bullets for it, as well as dies. If I get a barrel made, I can specify a faster twist in case there are longer, higher BC bullets developed for that diameter....but the 6.5 PRC and the 6.8 Westerner look interesting.

I will probably leave it in .257. What would you do and which brand of barrel would you choose?

[MJB]

I'd keep it at 257

Then go buy a Browning X bolt LR MAX in 6.8 western so you can shoot heavier bullets

[RNE228]

Big fan of the 6.5-284. Solid round with a history of excellent performance in long range matches and in hunting.

[FishnHunt]

7 PRC
Think your barrel will last longer than 6.5 PRC

[Cowboy T]

That 7mm PRC cartridge is looking good. But since you already have components, the .257 Weatherby chambering is still advantageous for you.

The other reason to consider the 7mm PRC over the 6.5mm PRC is the increased BC over even the 6.5mm bullets. It's with good reason the 7mm Rem Mag remains popular today. The 7mm PRC looks like what the 7mm Rem Mag would've been if Remington had designed it today, free of the "magnums must have belts!" way of thinking that was prevalent back in 1962.

[GunDog]

OP I think you would be ahead of the game to just buy a new rifle in the caliber you want; that is, unless you're overly attached to the Weatherby Vanguard you now have. When one factors in the price of a new barrel and paying a qualified and competent gunsmith to fit it to your action, you're already into the price of a new off the shelf rifle......maybe more so.

[MongooseV8]

Obvious answer is 257 Wby Ackley

[Calif Hunter]

OP I think you would be ahead of the game to just buy a new rifle in the caliber you want; that is, unless you're overly attached to the Weatherby Vanguard you now have. When one factors in the price of a new barrel and paying a qualified and competent gunsmith to fit it to your action, you're already into the price of a new off the shelf rifle......maybe more so.

That may be so, but I also have a Macmillan Edge stock on it that was pricey as well as an after market trigger. I can get the barrel contoured the same. It is not bedded but has aluminum pillars.

[Fjold]

Buy a Krieger, Broughton, Bartlein or Proof Research barrel in the same contour as your original barrel. Leave it in 257 Roy since you have all the equipment and supplies for it but get it in a 1:8" twist. Although I love the .25 caliber it doesn't have the bullet selection of the 6mm, 6.5mm and 7mm calibers but if it's strictly for hunting, there are more than enough quality .25 bullets available.

[LindenBruce]

I would keep it in .257 and buy another rifle in one of your other choice calibers. Be cautious of getting one of the new new calibers as ammo availability will be very slim and hard to come by. Several weeks ago, I was finally able to find some 6.5PRC for a rifle I bough three years ago and was never able to shoot it. Now I can. B.

[sigstroker]

If he's a semi-young guy, he might consider a 6.5 or 7mm. The bullets will be more available and on sale more often. Plus a cartridge that is less overbore might get the barrel to last longer - I've never heard of someone wearing out a hunting rifle barrel.

[sigstroker]

I would keep it in .257 and buy another rifle in one of your other choice calibers. Be cautious of getting one of the new new calibers as ammo availability will be very slim and hard to come by. Several weeks ago, I was finally able to find some 6.5PRC for a rifle I bough three years ago and was never able to shoot it. Now I can. B.

What kind of ammo? I have a 6.5 PRC (unshot) too.

[LynnJr]

If your hunting with the rifle and keep it 257 in California your bullet selection is limited so get a 8 twist barrel just in case better bullets become available. You already have brass dies and load data.
The 6.5-284 is a great round but you would need a 30-06 or 0.473 boltface not your Magnum or 0.532 bolt you have now.
The 257 Ackley adds velocity but dies or $350 and a 3 month wait to get them.
The 6.5 PRC uses the Magnum boltface and with the newer longer solid target bullets it gives you a ballistic edge but you need new dies and brass.
Same for the 7 PRC. You get a ballistic advantage but need brass and dies.
On the barrel go with a fast twist in any barrel you order to take advantage of any future bullets as well as those already available today.
8 twist in 257,264 or 284 from Grizzly Bugholes Brunos or anyone else without a long wait time.
And have it finished at 27 inches to give yourself a better ballistic advantage. If you don't like the extra inch take out your hacksaw cut it to the length you prefer and have it recrowned.
On a new custom barrel I myself would never go shorter than 26 inches but your hunting situation might not be the same as mine or others.
I would only go with a carbon wrapped barrel if weight was an issue as they simply cost too much for your everyday hunting rifle.
If you were a long distance hiker or a high altitude sheep hunter the lightweight barrel makes more sense.
Just my 2 cents

[LindenBruce]

What kind of ammo? I have a 6.5 PRC (unshot) too.

I found some Winchester white box 147gr ELD Match at Bass Pro and some at Sportsman's Warehouse. Sportsman's actually had 12 boxes. I bought six and left the other six for a future customer to be named. I know what it's like to not find it so when I did, I did not ammo hog what they had.

I have been seeing small selections of Creedmore ammo on various shelves. But, I don't have one of those. So hopefully the PRC will start to be more available really soon. Still no Large Rifle Primers. B.

[sigstroker]

I found some Winchester white box 147gr ELD Match at Bass Pro and some at Sportsman's Warehouse. Sportsman's actually had 12 boxes. I bought six and left the other six for a future customer to be named. I know what it's like to not find it so when I did, I did not ammo hog what they had.

I have been seeing small selections of Creedmore ammo on various shelves. But, I don't have one of those. So hopefully the PRC will start to be more available really soon. Still no Large Rifle Primers. B.

Thanks. I've never seen white box, it must be new. Kinda funny that its has ELD Match bullets.