What powder should I look at for my 257Wby and 110 ELD X bullets?
- Thread starter WildBillG
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
snox801
Well-Known Member
Seems like anywhere h1000 is being used rl33 has been able to gain 100-200 FPS. At least that my observation. I run it in my .375 and .338 lapua improved.
I was gonna try and do a new load for my .257 this summer with it cause who doesn't want more speed. I'm using the 115 nosier but my try the new hammers. As out to 600 speed is still king IMO
I was gonna try and do a new load for my .257 this summer with it cause who doesn't want more speed. I'm using the 115 nosier but my try the new hammers. As out to 600 speed is still king IMO
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Don't worry about max velocity, just fine the most accurate load you can at a reasonable velocity. The 257 is a scorcher even with mid range loads and maxing it out will do nothing really other than eat up your barrel far sooner than necessary.
That being said, RL26 and RL33 will give you higher velocities with lower pressures than a lot of other powders.
Of the six 257 I and my friends own: we all shoot the 115 Berger. One rifle uses H1000, Five use RL-25 and mine uses RL-33.
I was just at the range yesterday verifying a new lot (8 lb) of RL-33 and my friend was using a new lot of RL-25. We wanted to find out which powder charge weight would duplicate the previous loads. Turns out both powders had no variance in performance with same charge weights.
The RL-33 beat RL-25 by 85 fps. The rifle with RL-33 is 1 1/2" longer (27 1/2" vs 26") which may account for some of this difference. Otherwise the two rifles use the same 3 groove Lilja, moly coated 115 bergers, same seating depth, reamer, primer, and brass.
I hesitate to show the actual load data because it these rifles are the same rifle that one would get with a "regular" 257 Weatherby.
Why? Custom reamer with different throat angle and less freebore, 3 groove barrels, minimal bearing surface VLD and moly coating.
Nosler shows a max load with a 115 bt as 72 gr of RL-25. The rifle shot yesterday used 74.5 grs for velocity of 3600 fps
RL-33 load is 83 grs for velocity of 3685 fps.
For load data with RL-33, I have found that in many cartridges I could start RL-33 with the max data for Retumbo and go up from there.
=====================================================
RL-33 seems to work best with the heaviest bullets for that caliber.
Posted this before when the powder first came out. :
There is little data to on RL-33 reference at this point. Determined by comparisons and now by testing that RL-33 is slower than Retumbo for the 7 Rem Mag, 257 weatherby and 6mm-284.
With all three rifles didn't make any changes other than switching powder. Used the same brass, primers, bullets, seating depth, neck tension etc.
---------------------
The loads below are worked up carefully in my rifles. Your results may vary. Please work up carefully.
7 Rem Mag: 24" Rem barrel, moly coated 162 A-max seated .010" into rifling.
Original load: 72 gr of Retumbo 2975 fps
RL-33:
starting load 76 gr vel 2837
Unfortunately the chrono had to be adjusted, shot without it till they had a ceasefire.
worked up to 79 gr for vel of 3000 for very small gain over Retumbo
80 grs showed a hint of lift and a small shiny spot on casehead.
I used a bullet seating comparitor and noticed that even with the use of a drop tube the powder was filling the case. 79 gr and up caused the OAL to lengthen over .010", enough so the bullet wouldn't fit into magazine.
I can see why Alliant only mentioned a load for the 175 gr bullet.
----------------------------------
An earlier barrel on my 257 Weatherby (now retired): 28" #5 fluted SS Lilja 3 groove barrel, moly coated 110 accubond, .015" off rifling.
Original load 75.5 gr of RL-25 vel 3615 fps
RL-33
starting load 76 gr for vel of 3318
jumped to 80 gr 3432 fps
81 gr 3525
82 gr 3559
83 3625 which slightly faster than old load with RL-25
83.5 3674 fps shot well two shots were same velocity
84 gr 3704 fps shot well two shots were same velocity
84.5 gr 3735 slight signs of pressure on one case of four this is max case capacity with drop tube
This makes a 91 fps gain over a max load of RL-25
No signs of pressure what so ever.
6mm-284: 28" SS Bartlein 5R barrel 1 in 7.5 twist
Original load: 58 gr of Retumbo, 105 Berger target hybrid seated .065" off rifling (to feed from magazine) vel 3307 fps
RL-33:
starting load 58 gr vel 3074
jumped to 61 grs vel 3274
62 grs vel 3335
62.5 gr 3376
63 gr 3414
63.5 gr 3453
64 gr 3485 fps excellent accuracy (used this load)
64.5 gr 3535 a bit warm max case capacity using drop tube
Old velocity with Retumbo was 3307 which was the highest charge of powder without pressure issues. RL-33 yielded a 178 fps increase!
I was just at the range yesterday verifying a new lot (8 lb) of RL-33 and my friend was using a new lot of RL-25. We wanted to find out which powder charge weight would duplicate the previous loads. Turns out both powders had no variance in performance with same charge weights.
The RL-33 beat RL-25 by 85 fps. The rifle with RL-33 is 1 1/2" longer (27 1/2" vs 26") which may account for some of this difference. Otherwise the two rifles use the same 3 groove Lilja, moly coated 115 bergers, same seating depth, reamer, primer, and brass.
I hesitate to show the actual load data because it these rifles are the same rifle that one would get with a "regular" 257 Weatherby.
Why? Custom reamer with different throat angle and less freebore, 3 groove barrels, minimal bearing surface VLD and moly coating.
Nosler shows a max load with a 115 bt as 72 gr of RL-25. The rifle shot yesterday used 74.5 grs for velocity of 3600 fps
RL-33 load is 83 grs for velocity of 3685 fps.
For load data with RL-33, I have found that in many cartridges I could start RL-33 with the max data for Retumbo and go up from there.
=====================================================
RL-33 seems to work best with the heaviest bullets for that caliber.
Posted this before when the powder first came out. :
There is little data to on RL-33 reference at this point. Determined by comparisons and now by testing that RL-33 is slower than Retumbo for the 7 Rem Mag, 257 weatherby and 6mm-284.
With all three rifles didn't make any changes other than switching powder. Used the same brass, primers, bullets, seating depth, neck tension etc.
---------------------
The loads below are worked up carefully in my rifles. Your results may vary. Please work up carefully.
7 Rem Mag: 24" Rem barrel, moly coated 162 A-max seated .010" into rifling.
Original load: 72 gr of Retumbo 2975 fps
RL-33:
starting load 76 gr vel 2837
Unfortunately the chrono had to be adjusted, shot without it till they had a ceasefire.
worked up to 79 gr for vel of 3000 for very small gain over Retumbo
80 grs showed a hint of lift and a small shiny spot on casehead.
I used a bullet seating comparitor and noticed that even with the use of a drop tube the powder was filling the case. 79 gr and up caused the OAL to lengthen over .010", enough so the bullet wouldn't fit into magazine.
I can see why Alliant only mentioned a load for the 175 gr bullet.
----------------------------------
An earlier barrel on my 257 Weatherby (now retired): 28" #5 fluted SS Lilja 3 groove barrel, moly coated 110 accubond, .015" off rifling.
Original load 75.5 gr of RL-25 vel 3615 fps
RL-33
starting load 76 gr for vel of 3318
jumped to 80 gr 3432 fps
81 gr 3525
82 gr 3559
83 3625 which slightly faster than old load with RL-25
83.5 3674 fps shot well two shots were same velocity
84 gr 3704 fps shot well two shots were same velocity
84.5 gr 3735 slight signs of pressure on one case of four this is max case capacity with drop tube
This makes a 91 fps gain over a max load of RL-25
No signs of pressure what so ever.
6mm-284: 28" SS Bartlein 5R barrel 1 in 7.5 twist
Original load: 58 gr of Retumbo, 105 Berger target hybrid seated .065" off rifling (to feed from magazine) vel 3307 fps
RL-33:
starting load 58 gr vel 3074
jumped to 61 grs vel 3274
62 grs vel 3335
62.5 gr 3376
63 gr 3414
63.5 gr 3453
64 gr 3485 fps excellent accuracy (used this load)
64.5 gr 3535 a bit warm max case capacity using drop tube
Old velocity with Retumbo was 3307 which was the highest charge of powder without pressure issues. RL-33 yielded a 178 fps increase!
snox801
Well-Known Member
That's crazy talk. Everyone knows speed is king. I've been on the internet a bunch and if I've learned one thing from all the post is that it doesn't matter how accurate it is if it's not the fastest.
snox801
Well-Known Member
I was hoping you would chime in AZ.
I have a 28" tube on mine. I've also found I had to go well past book max to find a decent load and pressure. I really wish I had a faster twist so I could throw the long hammers or blackjack out of that 28".
I may try either the lighter hammer hunter or the sledge hammer and rl33 this spring.
Just make it as flat as possible to 500. For ease of use. After that I have better rigs for that distance.
I have a 28" tube on mine. I've also found I had to go well past book max to find a decent load and pressure. I really wish I had a faster twist so I could throw the long hammers or blackjack out of that 28".
I may try either the lighter hammer hunter or the sledge hammer and rl33 this spring.
Just make it as flat as possible to 500. For ease of use. After that I have better rigs for that distance.
That is one big advantage with the 257 very flat trajectory and moderate recoil.
I shot my coues wt with the 257 this year at a "short" 350 yds. Never had to do anything just put crosshairs on him and pull trigger. It was setup 1.9" high at 100 so it was 1.6" low at that distance. Drift at 500 yd is 8.5"
I shot my coues wt with the 257 this year at a "short" 350 yds. Never had to do anything just put crosshairs on him and pull trigger. It was setup 1.9" high at 100 so it was 1.6" low at that distance. Drift at 500 yd is 8.5"
HA HA HA!
AZShooter I will get some RL33 and try it for sure. As for the moly coated bullets I'll pass. I will use your info remembering to reduce a bit for the nonmolly bullets.
My rifle is a 26 inch barreled Rem 700 factory rifle not sure what they called it. It shoots really well and I am super impressed with it. Right now it is wearing a 4x20 Burris Veracity scope.
Wild Rose I like velocity but like accuracy more so I am looking for the right combo there. If all else fails I can go back to my 100gr TSX load at 3602 with RL22.
My rifle is a 26 inch barreled Rem 700 factory rifle not sure what they called it. It shoots really well and I am super impressed with it. Right now it is wearing a 4x20 Burris Veracity scope.
Wild Rose I like velocity but like accuracy more so I am looking for the right combo there. If all else fails I can go back to my 100gr TSX load at 3602 with RL22.
snox801
Well-Known Member
Also try the hammer Bullets. I'm very curious as to how they work in a Weatherby. They don't seem to be affected as much by jump and we all know the roy's Have jump.
snox801
Well-Known Member
Ah you are north of the border. I thought on another thread they were setting something up north of our border. But I not sure that has happened.
