257 STW vs 258 Condor

1972RedNeck · April 3, 2024, 10:09 PM

257 STW is an 8mm REM necked to 257. 258 Condor is basically an improved 375 H&H necked to .257.

Same cartridge, different name?

stagpanther · April 4, 2024, 12:23 AM

Most modern belted mags can trace their lineage to the 375 H&H--but their case lengths can vary widely. the 257 STW (like the 7mm STW I have) can be more or less directly made from H&H brass with little change other than a slight adjustment to the shoulder/neck and has a case length of about 2.850 and max case capacity of 94. The 257 condor appears to be derived from 300 win mag and is significantly shorter in case length at about 2.4" and max case capacity of 78 grs. Even my 7mm STW is an overbore barrel roaster; I imagine the .257 is a bore incinerator.

The conder sounds pretty cool but might be a lot of case reworking compared to other more popular alternatives would be my guess.

Pumpkin · April 4, 2024, 07:25 AM

I have one Condor cartridge in my collection. It used a much faster twist for stabilizing heavy for caliber bullets before the practice was cool.
I believe Norma used 160gr bullet in their loading.

1972RedNeck · April 4, 2024, 10:39 AM

Quote:

The 257 condor appears to be derived from 300 win mag and is significantly shorter in case length at about 2.4" and max case capacity of 78 grs.

258 condor is different than the 257...

stagpanther · April 4, 2024, 11:14 AM

I found something googling called the 258 super condor based on the 300 H&H which while being closer in size to the STW (which is sized from 375 H&H/8mm magnum) is still not quite the same thing--but certainly more capacity than the smaller 257 condor. My bad.

I have a 257 PRC blackjack which is capable of shooting the latest generation of heavy high BC .257 bullets--I guess it really depends on what you want to do with it but I can't see much point in going huge overbore on a 257 unless you really see match potential or really have a thing for picking off small game at extreme range.

1972RedNeck · April 7, 2024, 10:03 AM

Quote:

I guess it really depends on what you want to do with it but I can't see much point in going huge overbore on a 257 unless you really see match potential or really have a thing for picking off small game at extreme range.

Yeah, thinking about a longer range varmint/coyote rifle. I hear rumors of overbore 25s pushing 100 grain bullets 4k fps and that just tickles my fancy…

April 3, 2024, 10:09 PM	#1
1972RedNeck Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2015 Posts: 210	257 STW vs 258 Condor 257 STW is an 8mm REM necked to 257. 258 Condor is basically an improved 375 H&H necked to .257. Same cartridge, different name?

April 4, 2024, 12:23 AM	#2
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,875	Most modern belted mags can trace their lineage to the 375 H&H--but their case lengths can vary widely. the 257 STW (like the 7mm STW I have) can be more or less directly made from H&H brass with little change other than a slight adjustment to the shoulder/neck and has a case length of about 2.850 and max case capacity of 94. The 257 condor appears to be derived from 300 win mag and is significantly shorter in case length at about 2.4" and max case capacity of 78 grs. Even my 7mm STW is an overbore barrel roaster; I imagine the .257 is a bore incinerator. The conder sounds pretty cool but might be a lot of case reworking compared to other more popular alternatives would be my guess. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!* Last edited by stagpanther; April 4, 2024 at 12:38 AM.

April 4, 2024, 11:14 AM	#5
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,875	I found something googling called the 258 super condor based on the 300 H&H which while being closer in size to the STW (which is sized from 375 H&H/8mm magnum) is still not quite the same thing--but certainly more capacity than the smaller 257 condor. My bad. I have a 257 PRC blackjack which is capable of shooting the latest generation of heavy high BC .257 bullets--I guess it really depends on what you want to do with it but I can't see much point in going huge overbore on a 257 unless you really see match potential or really have a thing for picking off small game at extreme range. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

April 4, 2024, 07:25 AM	#3
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 454	I have one Condor cartridge in my collection. It used a much faster twist for stabilizing heavy for caliber bullets before the practice was cool. I believe Norma used 160gr bullet in their loading.