Gun writers such as Layne Simpson consider the .257 Weatherby one of his favorite long range cartridges.

[6] The .30 Super Belted Rimless H&H manufactured by Winchester served as the direct parent cartridge for the case design.

There has been some speculation that Roy Weatherby may have used the full length .375 H&H Magnum case if he had slow burning powders available today when the cartridge was designed.

The shortening of the case allowed for the more efficient use of the slow powder of the day, IMR 4350;[2] a powder which would not have provided any great advantage for such cartridges as the .257 Weatherby Magnum or the .270 Weatherby Magnum if such cartridges utilized the full length H&H case.

CIP limits the .257 Weatherby Magnum to a maximum average pressure of 4,400 bar (64,000 psi).

The treatment of the body-shoulder-neck transition zone accounts for the inconsistencies between SAAMI and CIP official dimensions for the cartridge.

Compared to the Winchester's .270 WSM SXP270S ammunition show a bullet drop of 24.5 in (62 cm) but retains 1,552 ft⋅lbf (2,104 J).

Due to the cartridge's use of lighter bullets of a quarter bore diameter it should be restricted to medium game species.

This is especially true in major grasslands such as prairies, steppes, Pampas, or savannah; or in mountainous terrain such as the Rockies, Alps or the Himalayas.

The typical pronghorn weighs less than 175 lb (79 kg) and as a small bodied ungulate does not require bullets with a great penetrative ability.

These deer species are typically larger and tougher than the pronghorn antelope and may require a slightly heavier bullet.

Although the .257 Weatherby is used as an elk and moose cartridge with success in North America, the cartridge is thought of as being ill-suited for these heavier deer, with elk weighing on average 700 lb (320 kg) and moose on average between 1,000–1,400 lb (450–640 kg), depending on subspecies.

The cartridge has had success against mountain sheep and goat whether it be in the Alps, Rockies, Caucasus, Pamir or the Himalayas.

[8] The cartridge is effective against smaller plains game species such as gemsbok, waterbuck, nyala and impala.

Furthermore, barrel heating and wear are a consideration when employing the .257 Weatherby for such duties where one would shoot long strings of shots in a short period of time.

Conley Precision Cartridge Company manufactures several premium lines of .257 Weatherby ammunition using Barnes, Nosler, Speer, Swift and Trophy Bonded bullets.

Giving the barrel time to cool between each discharge of the weapon and following recommended cleaning procedures will help mitigate this issue and extend the usable life of the firearm chambered for this cartridge.

Earlier .257 Weatherby Magnum rifles had a twist rate of 1 rotation in 12 in (300 mm), which is too slow to stabilize long for caliber bullet.

Hornady's 117 gr (7.6 g) round nose bullet is made for such firearms which have the slower spin rate.