130g Wildcat bullets in a .257 Wby

esshup

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Here's some info. I loaded 1 each of each charge weight and shot them over the chrono. This is not a chart for any recommended load, this is just my observations on this specific powder/case/primer/bullet combination in my gun.

Gun - Wby Mark V, boltface to muzzle 25.5" not incl. PK brake
Brass - Virgin Norma mfg.(and headstamp)
Primer - Federal 210
Powder - Hodgen H-1000
Bullet - Wildcat 130 grain ULD H.P. Flat RBBT
Cartridge Overall Length - 3.250" (there's a LOT of bullet in the brass!)
Ambient temps in the high 70's
Chronograph was set with center of screens @ 10' from muzzle.
H-1000 Powder
66.0g – 2814 fps
67.0g – 2920 fps
68.0g – 3037 fps
69.0g – 3060 fps
70.0g – 3124 fps
71.0g – 3184 fps
72.0g – 3230 fps
73.0g – 3275 fps
74.0g – 3305 fps
75.0g – 3320 fps
75.5g – 3350 fps
76.0g – 3390 fps
76.5g – 3428 fps slight drag on bolt when opening, slight drag mark on base of shell. Testing stopped with this load.

No further loads were fired, slight burr on primer around firing pin @ 75.5g and higher, but no worse than factory loaded ammo with 117 gr. bullet.

No bullets were fired for any sort of group, I was just testing for velocity and pressure signs.
 
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It seems to me that that combination of bullet, powder and cartridge is a winner.

With that bullet the 3230 fps load will be awesomely flat shooting. And should be enough for anything that cartridge is designed for.

If you want braggin' rights for the most usable velocity in the valley, the 3305 load will definitely qualify for that.

Anything over that would seem to me to just shorten barrel life without much gain in usability, unless it shoots exceptionally well at that level.

Keep us posted on which velocity shoots best. It'll be interesting.
 
Why did you use Fed 210's instead of 215s?

Is the powder compressed at 76.5 grains?

BB: I had the shells primed for another load, but wanted to see what the velocity was. I only loaded/shot one shell of each charge weight. Yes, the 76.5 was compressed, and I could hear kernels breaking towards the end of the bullet seating process. the 76.5 load is too hot - the bolt was draggy to open, and there is a slight scuff mark on the base of the brass from the bolt rotating. I'll be doing some paper shooting this week @ 300 Yds.
 
Waiting accuracy results..

76gr of H1000 is what I shoot with my 115 Bal-tips with under 1/2" at 200 for 3 shots (factory rifle) 3.305OAL. I'm curious as to what your accuracy test shows with this 130gr bullet. Keep us posted.
 
Well, I loaded 3 each of 72, 73, 74 and 75 grains with the intent to shoot them over the chronograph and for groups @ 200 Yds this evening. Those plans went awry when I couldn't hit the paper at 200 Yds.:mad:

Moving back to 100 Yds, the gun was shooting high and right. After adjusting for the change, I only had 2 of the 75g. rounds left. At 200 Yds, they shot 3/4" c-c. The light was fading fast as well, so the only useable readings that I got off of the chronograph mimicked what the rounds shot yesterday.

I'll do more loading tonight, for shooting tomorrow.

BB or others: What is the difference between the Federal 210 and GM210M primers? I have the GM215M primers as well, but I'm thinking now that the Magnum primer might raise the pressure on the hotter loads that didn't exhibit any pressure signs with the 210's. Are the GM210M's really any more consistent than the plain 210's?

I did pick up 9400 Winchester Large Rifle Primers (WLR) for a price that I couldn't turn down on Saturday. What loads would they be usable on? (besides .308's of course;)) The guy that I got them from used to shoot .308 Palma matches. There are a few boxes of Lapua D46 170 and 185g bullets as well, and a bunch of other stuff that I'm still sorting thru.:cool:
 
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