Clyde M
Member
Ramshot Magnum in the 257Bee MKV ultralight 26" ,100TTSX 76 grains of Magnum Federal 215, 3667 FPS, SD 11.1 under 1/4" 3 shots starting with a cold barrel and no signs of pressure.
257 Weatherby loads with RL26
- Thread starter Hooscow
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
Nomosendero
Well-Known Member
Several of you are using the 100TTSX, what kind of terminal results are you see?
The animals are terminally dead, just make sure you hit them where you should. It's not a "long range bullet" but every thing within 400 yards will be dead before they hear the muzzle report
257Wby/100gn TSX/Ramshot Magnum, Mule Deer, quartering towards, 597yds. Into the point of the on-side shoulder, found under the hide of the off-side rear-quarter. The deer crumpled in place. MV 3650fps, Impact velocity ~2000fps which is plenty given that the bullet is mushroomed almost all the way down to the solid shank.
Last edited:
Nomosendero
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the pic and reply, yes bullets in the right place kill, but rifle loonies like detailed responses, thanks for sharing.
I have had good luck with this combo. I have only tried RL22, but now this thread is making me want to explore some different options if they become available.
Currently at 68.5gr RL22 in Weatherby brass, 110 AB & 215M primer. Do not know initial velocity but it shot a 1.9" at 300 yards this past weekend.
Are the mentioned powders H1000 & RL26 that much more superior than RL22? (for 257 WBY)
I've used all 3 powders in my 257. All are good only I found RL-22 more temp sensitive than the other two. My go to load is RL-22 with the 120 Sierra, but I keep in mind the temp I will be hunting in vs the temp I developed the load in. JME
I had my 257Wby assembled in '08. 'Win M70 SS Classic, #3 Lilja @ 25" 1:10 3-groove, McMillan Classic Edge fill. 22 and Ramshot Magnum were the only 2 powders I tried. Magnum was a bit faster but significantly lower ES/SD and demonstrably more accurate than '22 for me. I run the Magnum through a Harrell's Culver dispenser to +/- .1gn. Assuming prepped brass, I could run them on a Dillon 550 the powder meters that well.
I haven't actually chrono'd Magnum in really cold temps, but, I've taken a cow elk and at least 1 Mule Deer @ 0F ambient with zero drama.
Sending156s
Well-Known Member
I've never seen a cold barrel effect, though I see a cold shooter effect quite often. Try practicing dry firing before shooting & I bet that cold barrel warms up!
Best wishes & God Bless!
I will also be sure to check on that this summer. Here in Tucson, even in October it can still be in 90s/low100s during the day but 40/50 early AM.
What is the temperature swing that RL22 can tolerate?
Of the other powders, is there one that would be least sensitive to temp w/o sacrificing accuracy?
With the small bodied deer we hunt here, it doesn't take much to miss so I'm thinking it might be a good idea to find another powder so my dope doesn't change from Oct to Dec
What I meant was if you developed a max load in 50 degree temp with RL-22 then used it in 90-100 temp you will run into pressure problems and vice versa would drop your pressure/velocity and you may be out of your node. Only way to know is to test. H-1000 and RL-26 are more stable, but very hard to find right now. Norma MRP is another good powder that I have used and found it to be, while somewhat temp sensitive, not as sensitive as RL-22.
Yep, like CC said, hotter is worse than colder. Even colder, 100fps only costs you about 1MOA @ 500yds assuming a ~.5BC and 2700-2900fps start. Add velocity, BC, or both and the effect of lost velocity @ colder temps is nullified greater.
Looking @ the OP and 100's/257Wby, Assuming 3600fps and .336BC, @ 600yds 100fps is less than 1MOA lost/gained.
Depends on how many nits you wanna pick.
Looking @ the OP and 100's/257Wby, Assuming 3600fps and .336BC, @ 600yds 100fps is less than 1MOA lost/gained.
Depends on how many nits you wanna pick.
Clyde M
Member
I made the comment from a cold barrel. To duplicate hunting conditions after I have done my testing and arrived at a load I am happy with, I will shoot 3 shots starting with an ambient temperature barrel and fire 2 more shots about a minute apart, as I feel this will duplicate what I might encounter in the field. As to the comment practice dry firing. I have been a competitive precision bullseye pistol shooter since 1970, some years I have shot over 80 NRA registered matches in one year. I was putting on a seminar for a group of shooters several years ago and someone asked how many rounds I had fired between the 22 and 45ACP, as near as I can tell close to 1/2 million. We shoot from 50 feet on some indoor ranges, out doors, is 25 yards timed and rapid fire 50 yards slow fire at a ten ring a little over 3" one handed. My first reloading press was a used RCBS A2 that I purchased in 1967, been reloading since and still learning.
Haydad77
Member
I tried R26 with Fed 215 Gold metal and could not find any combinations acceptable. Shelved it for over a year and was able to get Vihtavouri N560 but no Fed 215. I have a lot of GM210 so I tried the GM210 with the N560. With increasing charge was able to achieve desired accuracy with optomine velocity. I will still go back and try R26 with the same GM210 to see if I can achieve similar results.
