.257 weatherby…great success, just slapped an amazing load together…by chance?

[Calvin45]

Got my new to me .257 vanguard stainless up and running today. And holy smokes I'm in love. Every now and then things just work the way you want them to the first time. I've noticed that's more likely to happen to me with Nosler ballistic tips. They're easy.

Anyway, did all my research, didn't do any load work up even (so sue me - not saying others should imitate this, understood it might result in me having to pull some bullets if it was off) - just slapped a load together and it's PERFECT!!!!

100 grain Nosler ballistic tips (the only 25 cal bullets my LGS had, not complaining) treated with Hex Boron Nitride (as is the bore of my rifle). Resized .264 win mag brass, win headstamp. Fed 215m. 73.5 grains of imr7828ssc. Seated to standard book coal.

Very slightly pancaked primers. No heavy bolt lift or ejector swipe. 3720 fps!!!!! Extreme spread of only 20 fps or so, very good (for me). Grouped under an inch (forgot to take any pics). To say I am pleased is an understatement!

 

[Calvin45]

I'm seriously so smitten with this cartridge! First time user. No recoil really. It is loud.

But it has more energy than my former 308, less kick than my .270, and a flatter trajectory by far than my .243. What a winner!

 

[Calvin45]

And from a 24 inch barrel no less!

 

[Hard rock]

And from a 24 inch barrel no less!

Sounds like you are excited about that load , one too keep in the books for sure.3720 fps is smoking . I have a 25 in -25-284 I'm getting 3874 fps with the 90 gr Hammer absolute, just for fun give 'em a try I bet you can get over 4000 fps with those with no worry about being too close more impact vel the better solid copper mono .A 1-10 twist will work also .Once again your load sounds great , congrats

 

[Calvin45]

Sounds like you are excited about that load , one too keep in the books for sure.3720 fps is smoking . I have a 25 in -25-284 I'm getting 3874 fps with the 90 gr Hammer absolute, just for fun give 'em a try I bet you can get over 4000 fps with those with no worry about being too close more impact vel the better solid copper mono .A 1-10 twist will work also .Once again your load sounds great , congrats

I've messaged both Canadian distributors of hammers regarding that exact bullet. They don't presently have it in stock but they gotta order more sometime. I'm simply not willing to pay the shipping to order them direct from the states, and if I'm paying 2 dollars a piece or more even within Canada I'm only willing to do that for the exact bullets I'm interested in. But if they stock those, I will buy them. I gotsta know! .

Also very interested in the 75 hammer hunter in .257 and the 245 shock hammer in .358 for my .358 Norma mag.

 

[cape cove]

@Calvin45
Glad things are working for you. In my 257 Vanguard a powder that has done good for me is RL-22. Don't be afraid to give it a try if you have some.

 

[Calvin45]

@Calvin45
Glad things are working for you. In my 257 Vanguard a powder that has done good for me is RL-22. Don't be afraid to give it a try if you have some.

I've so far been seeing that 7828 is the king. I do like rl22, don't have any. It was the undisputed velocity king in my .270 win. BUT it is also the most temp sensitive powder I've worked with, and I live in Saskatchewan so that's a very big concern for me. Learned the hard way with a safe load in January seizing the bolt in June.

 

[FEENIX]

My .257 WBY has a 22" barrel specifically built to propel the heavies. My current load (work in progress) is 64.5g Magpro 2955 FPS with more room for powder. I am just playing around with the powders I already have. For a baseline load, it is not too shabby.

 

[Dean2]

The 257 Bees I have and have had are among the least picky guns I ever loaded for. My current MKV UL will consistently shoot factory Weatherby 100 grain at 3650 FPS into .30-.35 for 3 shots. If reloading them wasn't so much cheaper it wouldn't be worth the work. I too tried a number of powders and settled on 7828SSC.

 

[Calvin45]

The 257 Bees I have and have had are among the least picky guns I ever loaded for. My current MKV UL will consistently shoot factory Weatherby 100 grain at 3650 FPS into .30-.35 for 3 shots. If reloading them wasn't so much cheaper it wouldn't be worth the work. I too tried a number of powders and settled on 7828SSC.

Isn't that so weird? Like usually the rule is that the more overbore you go the more finicky things get.