.257 weatherby
- Thread starter Stan_Warren
- Start date
I do know how to clean barrels and I do cool my barrels...at least as much as competition will allow. As I get older, have began looking for cartridges that kick a little less. I have experimented with a variety of 6mm's, .25's, .27's, and 6.5's. My last "little gun" in competition was a 6.5x284 (Kreiger bbl). It would start shredding the MatchKings at 900-1200 rounds. With the few matches I was able to shoot in, a barrel would last about 16 months.
My real question is this: In my 6.5x284 I am burning 50.0 grains of H-4831 with a 142grain MK. Strain gauge measurement shows a pressure of about 48,000PSI with a velocity of about 2850fps. Both the 6.5x284 and the .257Wby have an expansion ratio of 53-55%. The .257Wby is burning 30% more powder and 30+ % higher velocity and I really don't even want to guess at the pressure you guys are running. Can I really expect to get the same or better barrel life from the .257 Wby?
My real question is this: In my 6.5x284 I am burning 50.0 grains of H-4831 with a 142grain MK. Strain gauge measurement shows a pressure of about 48,000PSI with a velocity of about 2850fps. Both the 6.5x284 and the .257Wby have an expansion ratio of 53-55%. The .257Wby is burning 30% more powder and 30+ % higher velocity and I really don't even want to guess at the pressure you guys are running. Can I really expect to get the same or better barrel life from the .257 Wby?
Barrel life to a certain degree is a subjective thing based on how fast you shoot and the main factor of just how much freebore you had when the throat was new.
You can only jump a bullet so far before the bullet starts getting started crooked, and like you mentioned, at some point the interior surface will get very rough.
Pcammo, I respect your experience. You have to remember that these are hunting rifles, not 600-1000 yd match rifles, requirements are very different. If a guy shooting a Factory 257 Weatherby can shoot a 1 1/2" group at 100 yards, he will kill effectively at 400 yards, which is further than 95% of all our hunting experiences.
You can only jump a bullet so far before the bullet starts getting started crooked, and like you mentioned, at some point the interior surface will get very rough.
Pcammo, I respect your experience. You have to remember that these are hunting rifles, not 600-1000 yd match rifles, requirements are very different. If a guy shooting a Factory 257 Weatherby can shoot a 1 1/2" group at 100 yards, he will kill effectively at 400 yards, which is further than 95% of all our hunting experiences.
The Perferator
New member
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Your gun will tell you how and when it is clean
Thanks, Ackleyman. I'm just trying to get a feel for what others are getting.
Ackman: Those are some incredible speeds your getting with that 29" barrel. 4000 fps with a 100gr bullet is an absolute laser, I bet!!!
That's what I was thinking. For 71.5 Re22 that is flat-out zippin'.
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Your gun will tell you how and when it is clean
Thanks, Ackleyman. I'm just trying to get a feel for what others are getting.
Ackman: Those are some incredible speeds your getting with that 29" barrel. 4000 fps with a 100gr bullet is an absolute laser, I bet!!!
That's what I was thinking. For 71.5 Re22 that is flat-out zippin'.
Stan I am loading 67.5gr of IMR7-7828 under a Seirra 117 Game King with Fed 215M primers. This load is not record book fast @ 3380FPS but it is good for a ragged hole 5 shot group at 100 and well under 2 inches at 200.
As for barrel life......I have no idea how long it will last but at 20 to 50 shots a year I am sure it will be some time before I need another barrel.
P.S. It turns coyotes wrong side out.
First deer with it before I changed the stock.
As for barrel life......I have no idea how long it will last but at 20 to 50 shots a year I am sure it will be some time before I need another barrel.
P.S. It turns coyotes wrong side out.
First deer with it before I changed the stock.
Mike Pearson
New member
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Preferator, the load of 72.0g of R#22 is listed as the accruacy load and max in the Nosler manual. You really have to be your own ballistician and watch for pressure signs in your own rifle.
With .300 of freebore in a factory rifle, there is no telling what the actual max load really is.
Yeah, you gotta love the general inconsistency of the data available.
My .257weatherby is a Vanguard Sporter so I watch things closely. I'll be picking up a chrony in the warm season so I can track the performance a bit closer.
Do you have a chrony check on your load?
I agree with your statement on the need to clean (and never shoot hot). My groups started opening up and being erratic like the guy at the range you spoke of. I took the rifle inside and began to clean it with a foaming bore cleaner. Probably took 8 applications to get the black tar out of it.
These .257's are like ferrari's.....they need a little more attention than your basic .270win or '06.
Excellent analogy Perforator! I'd be more content I think with a (more pedestrian;0) .25-06. Even it's overly big on varmints and predators but at least with it, the barrel life is more reasonable, the noise volume is less and the ammo is alot less expensive (off the shelf or reloading). Still, there IS something to be said for owning at least one Ferrari (or it's gun equivalent) in one's life! --- Mike
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Preferator, the load of 72.0g of R#22 is listed as the accruacy load and max in the Nosler manual. You really have to be your own ballistician and watch for pressure signs in your own rifle.
With .300 of freebore in a factory rifle, there is no telling what the actual max load really is.
Yeah, you gotta love the general inconsistency of the data available.
My .257weatherby is a Vanguard Sporter so I watch things closely. I'll be picking up a chrony in the warm season so I can track the performance a bit closer.
Do you have a chrony check on your load?
I agree with your statement on the need to clean (and never shoot hot). My groups started opening up and being erratic like the guy at the range you spoke of. I took the rifle inside and began to clean it with a foaming bore cleaner. Probably took 8 applications to get the black tar out of it.
These .257's are like ferrari's.....they need a little more attention than your basic .270win or '06.
Excellent analogy Perforator! I'd be more content I think with a (more pedestrian;0) .25-06. Even it's overly big on varmints and predators but at least with it, the barrel life is more reasonable, the noise volume is less and the ammo is alot less expensive (off the shelf or reloading). Still, there IS something to be said for owning at least one Ferrari (or it's gun equivalent) in one's life! --- Mike
WolfSlayer
New member
how fast do you think they would go with a 75 grain v-max /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
The Perferator
New member
Quote:
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Preferator, the load of 72.0g of R#22 is listed as the accruacy load and max in the Nosler manual. You really have to be your own ballistician and watch for pressure signs in your own rifle.
With .300 of freebore in a factory rifle, there is no telling what the actual max load really is.
Yeah, you gotta love the general inconsistency of the data available.
My .257weatherby is a Vanguard Sporter so I watch things closely. I'll be picking up a chrony in the warm season so I can track the performance a bit closer.
Do you have a chrony check on your load?
I agree with your statement on the need to clean (and never shoot hot). My groups started opening up and being erratic like the guy at the range you spoke of. I took the rifle inside and began to clean it with a foaming bore cleaner. Probably took 8 applications to get the black tar out of it.
These .257's are like ferrari's.....they need a little more attention than your basic .270win or '06.
Excellent analogy Perforator! I'd be more content I think with a (more pedestrian;0) .25-06. Even it's overly big on varmints and predators but at least with it, the barrel life is more reasonable, the noise volume is less and the ammo is alot less expensive (off the shelf or reloading). Still, there IS something to be said for owning at least one Ferrari (or it's gun equivalent) in one's life! --- Mike
....and that is what drove me (sorry) to buying the .257weatherby. I have more generic "chevrolet" rifles in the cabinet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Wolfslayer, you could push the 85gr up near 4,000fps depending on your load.
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Quote:
Preferator, the load of 72.0g of R#22 is listed as the accruacy load and max in the Nosler manual. You really have to be your own ballistician and watch for pressure signs in your own rifle.
With .300 of freebore in a factory rifle, there is no telling what the actual max load really is.
Yeah, you gotta love the general inconsistency of the data available.
My .257weatherby is a Vanguard Sporter so I watch things closely. I'll be picking up a chrony in the warm season so I can track the performance a bit closer.
Do you have a chrony check on your load?
I agree with your statement on the need to clean (and never shoot hot). My groups started opening up and being erratic like the guy at the range you spoke of. I took the rifle inside and began to clean it with a foaming bore cleaner. Probably took 8 applications to get the black tar out of it.
These .257's are like ferrari's.....they need a little more attention than your basic .270win or '06.
Excellent analogy Perforator! I'd be more content I think with a (more pedestrian;0) .25-06. Even it's overly big on varmints and predators but at least with it, the barrel life is more reasonable, the noise volume is less and the ammo is alot less expensive (off the shelf or reloading). Still, there IS something to be said for owning at least one Ferrari (or it's gun equivalent) in one's life! --- Mike
....and that is what drove me (sorry) to buying the .257weatherby. I have more generic "chevrolet" rifles in the cabinet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Wolfslayer, you could push the 85gr up near 4,000fps depending on your load.
Ackman
New member
Quote:
Ackman: Those are some incredible speeds your getting with that 29" barrel. 4000 fps with a 100gr bullet is an absolute laser, I bet!!!
That speed was a pleasant surprise. Ackleyman was getting 3850 with a 26" barrel so 4000 seemed possible, but I wasn't really expecting it. Remember though, this is a really good 29" barrel with a very minimal chamber. Because of shorter overall length, cases are trimmed about .050" and can be kept within .005"-.010" of chamber length. Neck dia. is .282", loaded rounds are .2805". And there's no freebore which means a 100gr. Sierra .005"-.010" off the lands will seat to where the neck/shoulder radius begins. And finally, PMC brass is several points harder on the Rockwell scale than other headstamps including Weatherby. The whole combination just works.
Ackman: Those are some incredible speeds your getting with that 29" barrel. 4000 fps with a 100gr bullet is an absolute laser, I bet!!!
That speed was a pleasant surprise. Ackleyman was getting 3850 with a 26" barrel so 4000 seemed possible, but I wasn't really expecting it. Remember though, this is a really good 29" barrel with a very minimal chamber. Because of shorter overall length, cases are trimmed about .050" and can be kept within .005"-.010" of chamber length. Neck dia. is .282", loaded rounds are .2805". And there's no freebore which means a 100gr. Sierra .005"-.010" off the lands will seat to where the neck/shoulder radius begins. And finally, PMC brass is several points harder on the Rockwell scale than other headstamps including Weatherby. The whole combination just works.
Stan_Warren
New member
Thanks for all the info he will be loading it down a little and keeping it clean.