23 April 2013, 17:53
doubledownHornady brass /.257 Weatherby.
I use Hornady brass in a couple of calibers, 300 WM is one, its quality brass IMO. I am on my 6th reload, one grain under max, only one trim needed primer pockets are as tight as new.
That said, and with the good performance I have been having I decided to try Hornady brass in my 257 Roy. The factory Weatherby (Norma) is soft IMO and my 257 likes loads right near max. I have loose primer pockets by my third reload.
Anyway I received a hundred pieces of Hornady brass, I prepped them and loaded them with a starting load of RL-22. After the first shot I had to beat my bolt handle up, I was 4 grains under the exact same (book) load I use in my Norma brass, same bullet, powder, primer, and OAL.
When I got home I pulled the bullets, dumped and weighed the powder (charges were perfect) then I took the fired case and filled it with water, then took a fired Norma case and did the same. The difference was 5 grains of water! My starting load with the Hornady was a grain over max!! I know there are differences between brands, but 5 grains is almost a different caliber!
I wrote this as a warning, but also a question. Has anyone loaded their 257 Roy with Hornady brass? What was your experience? I have not had a problem like this in other calibers with Hornady, just the 257.
23 April 2013, 22:50
doubledownOn second thought, I probably should have posted this in the reloading forum.
24 April 2013, 03:52
Gerryd-d,
Well, each rifle is a "Law-unto-Itself".
From our perspective, the Norma "Weatherby" brass was too expensive.
We chose Hornady and it worked perfectly w/top loads but didn't include "pushing-the-envelope", either.
Primer pockets have remained tight w/Hodgdon's max loads.
Good Luck.
24 April 2013, 05:57
SR4759Are you sure it was 5 grains of water?
Have you weighed the two cases. If the volume difference is 5 grains the weight difference should be 40 grains and I find that hard to believe.
quote:
Originally posted by doubledown:
I use Hornady brass in a couple of calibers, 300 WM is one, its quality brass IMO. I am on my 6th reload, one grain under max, only one trim needed primer pockets are as tight as new.
That said, and with the good performance I have been having I decided to try Hornady brass in my 257 Roy. The factory Weatherby (Norma) is soft IMO and my 257 likes loads right near max. I have loose primer pockets by my third reload.
Anyway I received a hundred pieces of Hornady brass, I prepped them and loaded them with a starting load of RL-22. After the first shot I had to beat my bolt handle up, I was 4 grains under the exact same (book) load I use in my Norma brass, same bullet, powder, primer, and OAL.
When I got home I pulled the bullets, dumped and weighed the powder (charges were perfect) then I took the fired case and filled it with water, then took a fired Norma case and did the same. The difference was 5 grains of water! My starting load with the Hornady was a grain over max!! I know there are differences between brands, but 5 grains is almost a different caliber!
I wrote this as a warning, but also a question. Has anyone loaded their 257 Roy with Hornady brass? What was your experience? I have not had a problem like this in other calibers with Hornady, just the 257.