I'm starting load development on a new 257 wby mag. So far I have a 100gr Barnes tripleshock with RL-25, and 115gr Nosler BT with IMR 4350, and just for fun, a 110gr Berger MEF (varmint) with IMR 4350 to try.

I've read that RL-22 is good, but I don't have any laying around to try. Is it worth trying, or should I stick to the powders I have?

It's the Vanguard sporter, wood stock. The test target looks pretty promising. Anybody have one? How does it shoot for you? I'm still lapping the bore, and just mounted the scope today. I haven't even lightened the trigger yet. I'm hoping to take it to the range next week and test some loads.

I'm looking to use it for whitetail deer and antelope, with maybe some coyote's thrown in if given the opportunity.

I just got back from the range and was shooting a new load in 257 WBY.

Case: Norma/Weatherby
Primer: Fed 215
Powder: H4831SC
Weight: 68 gr.
Bullet: 100 gr. TSX
Rifle: Custom, based on MRC 1999 Action

I fired five shots, the velocities were:

3392, 3481, 3436, 3436, 3456

Measured center to center, it was a 1.07" group.

The only thing that concerns me is the velocity spread. I think it's a very "huntable" load though.

Pete

I rather like 25,s I have 2 roberts and a long barreld 25.06.
You guys are shooring a good bullet in the 100 grain t-shock.
My 20 inch Roberts puts them out at 3100 and I flatted a 140 LB mulie buck with it last year.
If you get that thing moving at 3400 or better, and I, know you will it would be rather impressive on deer and antilope, as far as you are able to shoot.
I saw a sako 25,06. I would like to get my hands on and see what it will do, the weatherby is a great round but more speed than I need,
I can't get the 115 grain T-shock to shoot as well, in any of my rifles,
If I get that sako, or a custom Roberts I know of witch I would AI , I would try like hell to get 3000, and MOA with the 115 t-shock dead critters all over with a load like that ! I would have great cnfidence in anything up to 450LBS...tj3006

Slowpoke....read my lips.......IMR 7828 sc.

With my 257 WBY Mag I get 3530 FPS 100 gr bullet
I USE RL25 POWDER 75grs.

I use Speer and Nosler bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by lofter:
Slowpoke....read my lips.......IMR 7828 sc.

Like lofter says the IMR7828 should deliver 3600 fps +.

In mine 72 grains of RL22 and a 100 TSX will go over 3600 fps and often 1 ragged hole for three shots. I have recommended this load to several others, and as far as I know it has worked out much the same for everyone. I load it to the normal OAL per Weatherby I think 3.250.

Slowpoke,

I went to the range last weekend and had some success with my Mark V in .257 Weatherby Mag. I have tried and tried to get the 100 grain TSX to shoot, but all I did was shoot a hole in my wallet.

I decided to try the 110 grain Accubond again (I tried it earlier with IMR 7828 with no success)with RL25

The specs are:

74.0 grains of RL 25 (as always, work up from well below)
Winchester 7mm Remington Magnum Brass Partially full length sized for a "crush fit"
Federal 215M primer
Nosler 110 grain Accubond
Seated as far out as possible and still work through the magazine.

Below is a picture of the group.

Average velocity for the three shots was 3,524 fps.

Group was shot at 100 yards. Measured in the 7's

I get 4000 fps with the 100gr TSX using 87.5gr Ramshot Magnum in my 257STW. It shoots .5 MOA and under consstanly. Be carefull using the RL25 and RL22 powders in .257 cal some have experinced powder bridging in these small bores.

Dr B

I spent most of the day at the range yesterday. I discovered that my Barnes loads were way too hot. The Barnes manual shows the 100 gr XLC with RL-25 with a start load of 71.0 and a max load of 76.0 grains. According to Barnes, the triple shock can be loaded up to a grain or two more than the X bullet due to less barrel friction from less bearing surface on the bullet. I split the difference between the start and max loads and started with 73.5 grains of RL-25. I also went up .5 grains at a time up to 77.0 grains (to equal 1 grain over max for the triple shock like Barnes says). I loaded 5 rounds each at each .5 powder increment for testing. My bullets are seated to 3.250" OAL, as that seems to be the consensus of the many sources I've checked.

Well I shot my "starting load" of 73.5 grains, and while bolt lift was OK, I was getting very noticeable extractor marks on my cases. I fired 3 of the 5 rounds and all 3 had the extractor marks on the bases. I decided to stop shooting that load. I didn't bring my dial caliper to the range, so I couldn't measure case expansion until I got home. That load gives me .005" expansion on the belt, and just in front of the belt as well (same .005"). In my mind, that is way too hot and too much expansion. As a secondary interest, the 3 shots fired were all over the place on the target. I brought my chronograph, but didn't set it up due to strong gusting winds, so I don't have velocity figures on my loads yet.

So unless someone else is shooting RL-25 with 100 gr TSX's and can tell me that my powder charge is too hot, I'm thinking of putting the RL-25 back on the shelf and getting some RL-22 to try with same bullet. I was using Winchester magnum primers, and I will pick up some Federal 215 primers to try again with RL-22. I also noticed very heavy carbon build up in the barrel with RL-25. Anyone else shooting that powder having problems with carbon? The Federal primers may help that one, will have to try them.

I would also like to hear how much case expansion you guys are getting with your loads, especially with RL-22, since that's the next powder I want to try. How bad does RL-22 carbon up in your barrels?

I shot one other load with RL-25, and that was with the Berger 110 gr MEF bullet. This has been one great bullet out of my other 25 caliber rifles. Also seated to 3.250" OAL (as were all my loads). My "starting load" was 72.5 grains, and I loaded 5 rounds each, increasing .5 grains at a time. I shot the 72.5 and the 73.0 gr loads. They were a little on the warm side, slight extractor marks on the 73.0 load, but it shot the best group of the 2. The group measured 1/2" high and 1 1/2" wide, horizontally stringing. I think some of the stringing was due to cross winds, and also the stock trigger is still pretty heavy and has some creep in it before it breaks, and I'm still getting the "feel" of the trigger. Case head expansion on the belt is .002" and just ahead of belt is .004". This tells me the load is too hot, but the bullet might shoot really well with RL-22 instead.

The only good load I shot was with IMR 4350 and Nosler 115 gr BT's. My "starting load" was 57.0 grains with the same method of 5 rounds each loaded up .5 grains at a time. The second load was the best one fired. 57.5 grains of IMR 4350 shot a group 3/4" wide by 1" high 5 shot group that was vertically stringing by the 4th and 5th shots. The first 3 shots would have made 3/4" X 1/2". I think the verticle stringing was due to the barrel heating up? I was shooting too fast, and by the 4th and especially the 5th shot, the barrel was hot. Case head expansion was a "sane" .001" at the belt, and .004" ahead of the belt. The next .5 incriment started to open up the group, and by 58.5 grains, the group was a pretty large pattern.

Next up will be the same bullets and RL-22 powder with Federal 215 primers and see what happens. I sure hope the Barnes bullets will work, but at least the Nosler BT's are showing good promise so far.

Try the RL22 with the 100TSX and let me know if it works for you.

I shoot A 257 WBY. in a Rem. 700 action with 27.5" Barrel. Here's what I use and have had good results with these's loads.

1. 100 gr. Nosler B/T, 68 grs. IMR 4831, CCI 250, 3.330 OAL
2. 120 gr., Nosler Par., 69 grs. IMR 7828, FED.215M, 3.280 OAL,3426 FPS.
3. 115 Nosler B/T, 69 grs. IMR 7828, FED. 215M,3.345 OAL, OR 64 grs. OF IMR 4831

The 115 Gr. Nos. B/T shoot the best in my rifle and I have taken 5 bucks with them with great results. All the loads above shoot MOA to 1/2 MOA in my rifle.

Hoeram

A question for all of the .257 Weatherby reloaders:

Anybody know any mail order house that has brass in stock?

I just bought a .257, only to discover that brass is nowhere to be found.

Any leads will be appreciated.

Thanks.

quote:

whiteeagle

Make your brass from Winchester brass in 7mmRm Mag. Not too much work but much better than the Norma soft brass. They are less than 1/2 the price and last three times as long.

Anneal the neck and shoulder and run them in to the 257 Wby die.

The 257 Wby likes to shoot hot. Soft loads are very seldom accurate. I shoot 100 TSX in my #1 Ruger 25-05 at 3430 ft 3shots into a 1/4 inch.

The best 5 shot group I fired with my 257Wby was 1.625" at 600yrds. Using a compresed load H4831.

I agree with ZERMEL on the 7mm Rem Mag brass. That is what I do. However, I don't anneal anything...I just lube the case up and run it through the .257 Weatherby die adjusted for no headspace and they are ready to go.

Whiteeagle,

Try Midway, or Cabela's, or Mid South Shooter's supply for weatherby brass.

www.midwayusa.com

www.cabelas.com

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

My 257 WBY is built on a M700, with a custom barrel but has a short throat, so my loads won't suit your gun.

But in general I have found 7828 is great with 100 grainers and use RE25 for the 115's.

I use Re25 in a 264 Winchester as well and the accuracy is fantastic.

Enjoy, the 257WBY is a great cartridge

Blair,
Going to a shorter than standard throat on the Weatherby certainly does improve it. I wish more gunsmiths would try that when building Weatherby calibres.

Gerard, I hope you are right about the shorter throat, as I have one on my rifle built on REM 700LA, with Krieger SS 26 inch 7 twist barrel.

During the last week I have just completed the barrel break in, and now in the process of working up to maximum pressure with the Wildcat 156 grain ULD, using AR2225 (HRetumbo in US), AR2218 (H50BMG in US), H870, and Viht N170.

Hope to complete this process in the next 2 days, as at the moment I have reached 2900 fps, and it appears that I am about 2 - 3 grains away from maximum pressure. Regards, Brian.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerard:
Blair,
Going to a shorter than standard throat on the Weatherby certainly does improve it. I wish more gunsmiths would try that when building Weatherby calibres.

It seems to be a definite improvement, better accuracy over a wider spectrum of loads.

I get my Brass from Midway

Zermel, 300 Winnie--

Thanks for the tip.

Slim, jro45--

Midway, Cabellas, Midsouth and Grafs have been out of stock since mid-August. Driving me nuts to have a new rifle that I can't shoot.

Slowpoke-

Check with Barnes to confirm this, but my recollection is that they are quite emphatic that the TSXs should be loaded with the traditional and not XLC load data. The 100 grain X-bullet data does not even list RL25 for the 100 grain bullets and loads you reference are from the XLC (coated bullet) data. I think this would explain your pressure signs and would be way over what a safe load would be.

Regards,

LWD

quote:

Originally posted by whiteeagle:
A question for all of the .257 Weatherby reloaders:

Anybody know any mail order house that has brass in stock?

I just bought a .257, only to discover that brass is nowhere to be found.

Any leads will be appreciated.

Thanks.

In general, the Norma stamped .257 Wby brass (in bags of 100) is cheaper than the Norma brass stamped Weatherby (in boxes of 20). Since the brass comes from the same manufacturing line, it is perhaps not surprising that I have never noticed any differences...

Try Sinclair's, they usually carry the Norma brass.

I just checked, Sinclair is tad cheaper per case than Midway (who does not have any), and about the same price as Midsouth.

- mike

Yes a real important point: X data and XLC data are very different and TSX's are to be used with X data NOT XLC data.

mho--

Thanks.