I just acquired a Vangaurd stainless SUB-MOA 257 weatherby. I noticed the other 257 discussion and found it great but I was curious if any of you have been loading the 257 wby with powder like imr4350,H4831sc, and AA MagPro. I know the slower powder will be better but MagPro is the slowest I have on hand at the moment(I can not find a reloading manual that has info with MagPro in it) I plan to shoot some Sierra Match 100 grainers and some Hornady 117 grainers. Any and all info is appreciated.

Thanks
Jason

Jason,

Congratulations on your new Boomer; personally I consider the 257 Witherbee one of the all-time great cartridges and your SS Weatherby Vangaurd a fantastic great rifle, too. I'd own one but as a Leftie gotta go the MKV Custom route and it was way-y-y too expensive IMO.

Ours just happens to be a Blaser R8 barrel that's 65cm=25.6", so we're not exactly handicapped regarding tube length, with this cartridge either. Screwed a Vias SS Muzzle Brake on it to tame the basically <.30/06 Sprg. recoil level to @ that of .243 Win. - it's a Hoot to shoot!

Tried H-4350 for a light bullet 80 gr. Nosler BT & 80 gr. Barnes TTXS' load that shot fine and musta been real Screamers but I prefer a higher load density and bullets with a higher B.C. Actually your suggested heavier weight for caliber 115, 117 & 120 grainers have the best potential for longer range B.C.'s

We've used 68.0 grs. of H-4831 or H-4831sc for the 90 & 100 grainers exclusively 'cause that's what we've got on hand. This powder has produced superb accuracy with Swift 100 gr. Scirocco II's, Barnes 100 gr. TTSX's & just recently 90 gr. Hornady GMX's. While somehow with all the turmoil in our life lately we've not gotten around to Chronying any of these loads, if they'e even remotely close to manual velocities they're smokin'.

Just for Giggles we stuck a 20X scope on it and took it to Namibia last year. With the Swift Scirocco II's 100 grainers it quite handily tipped a trophy Black Wildebeest over - DRT. Where it really shined was culling Springbok. No body shots, just noggin shots for meat but at +450 meters the way we had it sighted-in; it would connect dead center of the forehead when holding on the nose - IMO really impressive! We potted a few at longer range(s) that made it appear to be some sorta Magic Death Ray but in the interest of good sportsmanship we'll just let that topic die a slow death.

Net, if you know what you're about with your rifle & cartridge you're on to a Good Thing. Like everything else it isn't the Holy Grail but within it's limitations pretty close ....

Have fun with your New Boomer & I hope you get some good loads developed for it!

I've had three .257 'Bees. The first one was a Mark V and was quickly claimed by my then 11 year old son. Since he wasn't showing any signs of giving it back I got a Remington LSS to replace it.

The load that I used in both of those rifles was/is 69 grains of IMR4831 under a 100 Ballistic Tip or 100 TSX. It does 3500 fps in the 26" barrels and my kid has literally filled the back of the truck with deer with the NBT.I don't remember anything running, never mind escaping. The TSX load usually left them on their feet briefly.

Someone was absolutely determined to pay more than the LSS was worth, so I recently picked up a couple Cabella's edition Lazerguards, one of those in .257. It shoots the old load well enough to make the 1" accuracy guarantee but is particularly fond of the 80 gr TTSX over 76 grains of old IMR7828. I say old because I've got 15 kegs in the old square steel 8 pounders and don't really know how old it is. That clocks 3950 FPS in the 24" barrel and makes little groups suitable for shooting grasshoppers. I haven't hunted with that load, but a friend that I trust popped a big whitetail, black bear and 6 point elk with it last year. One shot apiece, and straight down.

There is nothing wrong with using the OP's three powders in the .257 Weatherby. I have owned three .257s (still have two) and had great luck with IMR4350 and 100-grain bullets in particular. That powder was listed in Weatherby's load data for over 40 years. Today I normally use RL-22 or IMR7828 but that's because my favorite rifle prefers them for accuracy. All are good.



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Jason. I have a Remington 700 LSS in .257 Weatherby. Out of the box (with the exception of the Jewell trigger), 5/8" groups at 100 yards using 62 gr. IMR 4350 behind 110 gr. Accubond. Hits like the hammer of Thor. Good luck!

Ok done a little shooting this afternoon. I was shooting 117 Hornadys with 64 grains of IMR 4350. That is max according to a very old Lyman book. It claims they got 3325 with a 26" tube. My results were 3315 with a 24" tube. The 64 grain group was around 1" at 150 yards. I worked up to 64 from 62.5 and 63.5 was the best group I didn't measure but it was 3/4 of an inc with 4 bullets touching and 1 out just a little. When I learn to post pics I will

IMR-7828 is THE brew for a 257 Wby!

IMR 7828 and 100 Gr ballistic tips for he.

IMR 4350 under the 115gr Partitions was the load I settled on in my 257Wby...tiny groups and lightning on game.

I know it's not on your list but I usually shoot H1000 with a coated 115gr NBT at 3327fps for about 1.5" groups at 300yds.

My next favorite powders are RE22 and RE25. I don't think 4350 is a bad powder but I'm out and can't find it right now. I have not tried RL19 which took 4350's place in my .280IMP.

My 257Wby seems to shoot best with 75gr of RE25 and either 100gr Sierra's or TTSX's. The next powder in line is IMR7828.

I have two 257 Wby's and each had different sweet spots. I tried all the book powders and just couldn't find the performance I wanted. I ended up liking RL22 the best of all.

Mark V Ultralight, re-barreled with a Shilen match select, bedded, trigger work, free floated. Load: 68.6gr RL22, 115gr Barnes TSX, Fed 215M primer. This is a hot load for this rifle with occasional primers falling out, so I would recommend working up your load until signs of pressure and back off. I am getting 3527 fps avg. with this load.

Vanguard, stock rifle with bedding, trigger work and free floated barrel. This has been the most accurate out of the box rifle I have ever owned. Load: 69.2gr RL22, 120gr Hornady Interlock bullets, Fed 215M primers. I can't find my load book due to moving, but I was getting mid 3300 fps. No pressure signs despite a slightly higher powder charge.

Both rifles consistently shoot 1/2" groups at 200 yards which is my zero.

quote:

Both rifles consistently shoot 1/2" groups at 200 yards which is my zero.

I'd be pretty pleased with .25MOA out of any gun, much less two of them.

IMR7828 with 117gr Hornady SST is my go to round.

quote:

Originally posted by TX Nimrod:
Today I normally use RL-22 or IMR7828 but that's because my favorite rifle prefers them for accuracy. All are good.

This ^^^.

I'll add that RL25 has it's place with the 257 Wby as well.