Varmint Loads for 257 weatherby?
- Thread starter JBD-TN
- Start date
i bought 1 when they first came out in 257, im a nosler fan so thats were i started, w/ 100 g bal tips, got em in between 3/4 and 1"....loaded some 100 g seirra matchking and got real consistant 3/4 or less, i ve since floated and glass bedded the stock and havent got a chance to mount a scope and see where it is ,but hopefully its better than 3/4.....
MikeinFresno
New member
RL22 will get you 3600+fps with 100 gr bullets, Im in the 72+gr range. I use the Nosler 115BT in one of my 257W and the other shoots the 100gr Hornady soft point with a cannelure real well, but I ended up using the 100gr copper tipped Barnes due to the no lead rule where I live in CA. Im at 4000fps with it in a 27" BBL with tight neck chamber and PMC brass, its better than the Weatherby stuff. The solid copper shoots lots faster, but doesnt kill as well.
As to the question of varmint loads, I still have not got around to a 80gr Starke which I have 600 of just for the 257W. Just never got to it.
As to the question of varmint loads, I still have not got around to a 80gr Starke which I have 600 of just for the 257W. Just never got to it.
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JBD-TN
New member
Thanks MikeinFresno,
I have some RL-22 to try. I also have some RL-19, and was wondering if anyone used it for the lighter bullets with good results.
I never had a chance to try any of the Starkes. By the time I got the urge to try them, he had pretty much liquidated all of his inventory. Lots of good accuracy reports and violent expansion to boot!
I have some RL-22 to try. I also have some RL-19, and was wondering if anyone used it for the lighter bullets with good results.
I never had a chance to try any of the Starkes. By the time I got the urge to try them, he had pretty much liquidated all of his inventory. Lots of good accuracy reports and violent expansion to boot!
My daughter-in-law had one custom built out of an old 308 Norma mag action. Let me tell you this there NOT Fur friendly!!! My son came up with a load using "Trail boss" and an 85 gr speer that won't completely incinerate a coyote,but it's still not very fur friendly. All that said there one incredibly flat shooting,hard hitting, killing machine.!!
JBD-TN
New member
I had a chance to shoot a few loads yesterday. I had 3 different loads with the rl-19 and 85gr ballistic tips. Also tried 2 loads with the rl-22 with 100gr ballistic tips. All 3 shot groups were 1.25" to 1.75". Nothing looked very promising at this point. Guess its time to scratch my head and figure out my next move.
TimberToes
Active member
MikeinFresno: are'nt you using a very-little/no freebore chamber ?
JBD: if ya got some spare coin, think about a Bell and Carslon medalist Stock.
I have the same gun on its way to me, and the B&C stock too. Intend to pull the original stock immediatly.
will be trying Sierra 90gr HP and 75gr HP bullets with RL22, and I borrowed just a little bit of H4831 to try.
Looking forward to your future results.
JBD: if ya got some spare coin, think about a Bell and Carslon medalist Stock.
I have the same gun on its way to me, and the B&C stock too. Intend to pull the original stock immediatly.
will be trying Sierra 90gr HP and 75gr HP bullets with RL22, and I borrowed just a little bit of H4831 to try.
Looking forward to your future results.
JBD-TN
New member
UPDATE:
I decided put a B & C Medalist stock on it. I skim coated the action and left the pressure point in. Today I took it to the range. I loaded 3 different loads of 85gr and 2 loads of 100gr ballistic tips. I was hoping to have time to "cold barrel" it between shots but due to time contraints, I gave it only a minute or two between firings and let it cool completely beween groups. I also cleaned it thoroughly every other group. On several of my groups, I was around the 1" mark with my first 3 shots, then would end up around 1.25" by the fifth shot. Not much difference between the point of impact between the 85gr and the 100gr., which is a good thing in my book : )
Overall it was a good improvement over the factory stock but I still have work to do. There was more vertical in my groups than horizontal, I may remove the pressure points at the end of the barrel channel before my next range trip.
Also, I have been seating my bullets to 3.250", it seems lots of folks are seating deeper, around 3.150-3.200". I may try that as well, especially with the 85gr, to ensure they are contacting the full length of the neck inside the brass. I have a few more new cases to fire before I can begin neck sizing, I am hoping that will help me squeeze out a little more accuracy.
Cheers,
I decided put a B & C Medalist stock on it. I skim coated the action and left the pressure point in. Today I took it to the range. I loaded 3 different loads of 85gr and 2 loads of 100gr ballistic tips. I was hoping to have time to "cold barrel" it between shots but due to time contraints, I gave it only a minute or two between firings and let it cool completely beween groups. I also cleaned it thoroughly every other group. On several of my groups, I was around the 1" mark with my first 3 shots, then would end up around 1.25" by the fifth shot. Not much difference between the point of impact between the 85gr and the 100gr., which is a good thing in my book : )
Overall it was a good improvement over the factory stock but I still have work to do. There was more vertical in my groups than horizontal, I may remove the pressure points at the end of the barrel channel before my next range trip.
Also, I have been seating my bullets to 3.250", it seems lots of folks are seating deeper, around 3.150-3.200". I may try that as well, especially with the 85gr, to ensure they are contacting the full length of the neck inside the brass. I have a few more new cases to fire before I can begin neck sizing, I am hoping that will help me squeeze out a little more accuracy.
Cheers,
TimberToes
Active member
JBD;
I loaded mine with 75gr Sierra HP. RL22, Book max, and Book COL. Got some very decent 3 shots groups, typically 2 touching, the 3rd a little bit away for a < 1moa group.
Same stock, bedded recoil lug area, and Pressure Pad still intact.
I need to order some gunsmiths black, to see if the pad contact is proper, I bet it has high spots.
I loaded mine with 75gr Sierra HP. RL22, Book max, and Book COL. Got some very decent 3 shots groups, typically 2 touching, the 3rd a little bit away for a < 1moa group.
Same stock, bedded recoil lug area, and Pressure Pad still intact.
I need to order some gunsmiths black, to see if the pad contact is proper, I bet it has high spots.
JBD-TN
New member
Originally Posted By: TimberToesJBD;
Same stock, bedded recoil lug area, and Pressure Pad still intact.
I need to order some gunsmiths black, to see if the pad contact is proper, I bet it has high spots.
Good point I am going to check the contact of the pressure points this evening. I am not very familiar with them as all my other centerfires are free-floated. It seems the manufacture recommends them with the #2 contour.
Same stock, bedded recoil lug area, and Pressure Pad still intact.
I need to order some gunsmiths black, to see if the pad contact is proper, I bet it has high spots.
Good point I am going to check the contact of the pressure points this evening. I am not very familiar with them as all my other centerfires are free-floated. It seems the manufacture recommends them with the #2 contour.
JBD-TN
New member
Just another update for those that have been following the thread.
After my post above, I rebedded the pressure points to ensure good contact. I test fired it with similar results as before. I went home and filed out those pressure points in the forend. I also noticed a very slight contact on my bolt hande/stock so I removed it as well.
Got the 257 out again on Saturday. It definetely showed more promise today. I loaded some 85gr and some 100gr loads. I have shot these loads before but today the temperature was about 20 degrees warmer. The 85 gr loads were a little too warm, the primers were definetely cratered. The 100gr load primers were cratered a little as well. Looks like I need to back off the loads a touch. Both loads were tight vertically.I have come to the conclusion the most of my right/left problems stem from the table I was shooting of off. It is a collasible table a friend has and it was a little shaky.I noticed my crosshair movement was always horizontal as I increased the tension on the trigger.
I am going to drop a 1/2gr on each load and shoot them again, off a solid rest.
Anyways, I included a target for your viewing pleasure. #4 was a "called" flyer.
After my post above, I rebedded the pressure points to ensure good contact. I test fired it with similar results as before. I went home and filed out those pressure points in the forend. I also noticed a very slight contact on my bolt hande/stock so I removed it as well.
Got the 257 out again on Saturday. It definetely showed more promise today. I loaded some 85gr and some 100gr loads. I have shot these loads before but today the temperature was about 20 degrees warmer. The 85 gr loads were a little too warm, the primers were definetely cratered. The 100gr load primers were cratered a little as well. Looks like I need to back off the loads a touch. Both loads were tight vertically.I have come to the conclusion the most of my right/left problems stem from the table I was shooting of off. It is a collasible table a friend has and it was a little shaky.I noticed my crosshair movement was always horizontal as I increased the tension on the trigger.
I am going to drop a 1/2gr on each load and shoot them again, off a solid rest.
Anyways, I included a target for your viewing pleasure. #4 was a "called" flyer.
nastynatesfish
Active member
I don't know about the 257 wm but all the 2506 I've shot or loaded for I ended up backing off the charge some. I used a lot of the new 90gr Sierra blitz kings when I had mine. I was using about 2 gr under book max and they shot awesome. Just the gun heats up so fast. I think the net rifle I build up will be a 2506 again
72-73g of R 22 with a fed 215 with some kind of 100g bullet works very well.
Some barrels may shoot a sierra or hornady better than Nosler.
87g Speer TNT with a max load of IMR 4831 will vapor mist just about any coyote or chuck, they are very accurate bullets.
CRATERING PRIMERS ON THIS CALIBER IS NORMAL.
Some barrels may shoot a sierra or hornady better than Nosler.
87g Speer TNT with a max load of IMR 4831 will vapor mist just about any coyote or chuck, they are very accurate bullets.
CRATERING PRIMERS ON THIS CALIBER IS NORMAL.
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JBD-TN
New member
I shot the 257 again today, with somewhat better results. I shot off sandbags on the tailgate today. I stretched it out to the 224yd mark to magnify me efforts. I was waiting 5 minutes or so to ensure the barrel was as cold as it was going to get. No pressure signs with the loads today, The wind was a little gusty at times, but was 80+ degrees so I didn't complain much.
The 85 gr Ballistic Tip with 72.5gr of RL-19.shot a nice three shot group that was 1 5/8" wide and 3/4" tall, which I am more than satisfied with for coyote hunting.
The 100 gr with 71.5gr of RL-22 shot ok, it was about 1 7/8" group. The point of impact was about 5 inches right and 2 low of the 85gr loads
I am going to load up some 85gr and dial in my windage on a calm day.
Here's my 85gr group at 224yds:
Ackleyman, the bolt was a tiny bit sticky at 73 gr of RL-19 with 85gr pills at 65 degrees. The 72gr of RL-22 with 100gr pill didn't produce a sticky bolt but was cratering the primers pretty good.I was affraid a higher temperature would push them over the edge. I have been using the Fed GM215M primers.
The 85 gr Ballistic Tip with 72.5gr of RL-19.shot a nice three shot group that was 1 5/8" wide and 3/4" tall, which I am more than satisfied with for coyote hunting.
The 100 gr with 71.5gr of RL-22 shot ok, it was about 1 7/8" group. The point of impact was about 5 inches right and 2 low of the 85gr loads
I am going to load up some 85gr and dial in my windage on a calm day.
Here's my 85gr group at 224yds:
Ackleyman, the bolt was a tiny bit sticky at 73 gr of RL-19 with 85gr pills at 65 degrees. The 72gr of RL-22 with 100gr pill didn't produce a sticky bolt but was cratering the primers pretty good.I was affraid a higher temperature would push them over the edge. I have been using the Fed GM215M primers.