257 Weatherby Reloading Boo Boo

[Double Dropper]

Been loading for my new 257, has been very frustrating. I am always very meticulous with respect to documentation and weighing charges, brass prep etc. Had 40 rounds of brass, weighed, trimmed cleaned etc. all within 2 grains. was working up a load and picked up a box of Weatherby 100 grain factory ammo. I should clarify, all Weatherby brass, all pulled factory bullets so as new. 60 rounds total, 40 original and just picked up an additional 20. Cleaned trimmed and loaded with the same load. But......never weighed the latest 20 rounds. I loaded them up with the same load, Fed 215GM primer 71 grains of IMR 7828 COAL 3.195 and they were all over the place! I was inspecting each piece and got a hard bolt open...should have been a sign. Then blew a primer. I stopped, pulled all the bullets, weighed the powder charges, all perfect, double checked the length, all same..... I load for 25-06, 30-06, 35 Whelen, 300Win Mag, 300 RUM, etc, what gives. Then weighed the brass. The new 20 rounds I pulled weighed 20 grains more!!! That just might affect the internal capacity.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Have only blown one primer so far.
I hand loaded 100 rounds for my 25-06 using RE22 in the winter for a hunt later in the year to a very arid part of Australia.
Very first shot at a hog resulted in a locked up bolt, which had to be pounded open, the case head was swollen and the primer was no where to be seen.
Learnt a valuable lesson that day, don't work up loads in winter for summer hunting...bad juju can only be the outcome.

Cheers.

 

[Double Dropper]

That I definitely get, I always attempt to work loads in spring or fall under more ambient temps. I just didnt expect the brass to weigh in that differently, seen 5 grains but almost 20 grains?

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

That I definitely get, I always attempt to work loads in spring or fall under more ambient temps. I just didnt expect the brass to weigh in that differently, seen 5 grains but almost 20 grains?

that's a rather big difference in weight, but I've seen worse lately in some brass my Pops gave me to get started with my striker barrel in 7-08. I'll be buying more brass soon (for better uniformity) but it doesn't really seem to be bothering anything. I'll just weigh the stuff and separate it out for now. I don't usually run close enough to the wall to even notice brass brands or weight issues causing problems.

 

[BEEMAN]

Had that happen to my 6.5 Sherman. 270 Nosler brass. Lot varied by 24 gr if I remember right. Really changes the case capacity.

 

[Double Dropper]

WOW 24 grains....what a lesson

 

[BEEMAN]

WOW 24 grains....what a lesson

Was a real eye opener that's for sure. I always weigh my brass now when starting with new stuff.

 

[Double Dropper]

Absolutely, Ive never seen that much variation in batches from Winchester, Remington, Federal, or ADG

 

[WildBillG]

Was the primer in all the cases when you wieghed them. I am wondering as primer in or out could make that difference.

 

[440coronet]

Did you nail the hog?

 

[Deleted member 115654]

Open questions:
1. who made the first lot of brass ?
2. was the 2nd lot primed when you weighed it ?
3. if the 1st lot was uniformed, primer pockets reamed, flash holes drilled, trimmed, neck turned and chamfered, that removes a lot of brass. What prep did you do ?

Norma makes BEE brass. generally thicker and heavier than other brands.

 

[Iron Worker]

What do you mean " pulled factory bullets "? 71grs of IMR7828 is a hot load . I hand load for that cartridge, in fact I'm gonna load some up now ,try for a late afternoon coyote .

 

[Deleted member 115654]

Hodgdon lists 73 gr as max w/100 gr Speer BTSP.

 

[Iron Worker]

Hodgdon lists 73 gr as max w/100 gr Speer BTSP.

How can you be sure that Hodgens doesn't have ties to Russia Russia ?