257 Weatherby Mag

[CptnAwesome]

I'm wondering what your pet load is for this one.

I've search and read older posts on 257 Wby mag loads and RL22 and RL25 seem to be the most popular powder choices for this rifle. Anybody else got anything to add, anything at all, powder, grains etc.

Also it will be used on southern whitetail with opportunities for shots around 300yds but most will be under 100. I know Nosler partitions and accubonds are popular. Any others?

I know it's not one of the more popular calibers but I also know THR family has just about everything covered.

 

[JimKirk]

I can't address the .257 WB .... But I can tell you that the 110 grain Nosler Accubond works great in a .25/06 ...

 

[Mn Fats]

.257 weatherby was his only cartridge I was ever interested in. Had one, sold it off years back. I liked sierra's 117 gr GameKing. Also a big nosler fan. 67.5 gr imr7828 worked for my rifle. Ones "pet load" may work as a general starting point, but each rifle likes different combos. Trial and error.

 

[Grumulkin]

 

[Captcurt]

I had a Vanguard that was laser accurate with the 110gr Accubond set over 63gr of IMR-4350. There are slower powders that will increase velocity but the 4350 was listed as the most accurate powder in the Nosler Manual and I was cranking 3325 fps. It shot so well that I didn't play with any more powders. I can say that the round is like a lightning bolt on whitetails. Shot a doe at the long range of 40 yards. She was quartering to me. I hit her on the point of the shoulder where it cut the scapula in two, popped a hole measuring 1"x 6" through 4 or 5 ribs, and traveled all the way to the pelvis. The bullet retained 65% of its weight and had a perfect mushroom. If a bullet was going to come apart it would have been at 40 yards and 3300 fps. She didn't even kick.

I had a 270 Win sighted in 3" high at 100 yards. It was on at 275 and 12"-14" low at 400 yards. The Weatherby with a 100gr. and the same 3"+ sight-in was 7" low at 400. That is about as flat as you can get.

 

[Captcurt]

Why the flier?

Sorry, but I had to do it before someone else did. That is pretty nice. I absolutely love a gun that shoots like that.

 

[Bart B.]

There are no fliers. Every shot goes where the system (rifle + ammo + human) and the environment made it go.

 

[Laphroaig]

C'mon Bart, I think its a widely accepted term among shooters to denote a bullet that arrives more than a little outside of the intended target area. It lets us blame the first two parts of the "system" rather than the most probable cause, a jerked shot. I think that Captcurt used the term tongue in cheek in this instance

 

[witchhunter]

Try IMR 7828 with a 120 grain Nosler Partition. Other bullets may be a bit more accurate, but for hunting, i like the partitions.

 

[Captcurt]

C'mon Bart, I think its a widely accepted term among shooters to denote a bullet that arrives more than a little outside of the intended target area. It lets us blame the first two parts of the "system" rather than the most probable cause, a jerked shot. I think that Captcurt used the term tongue in cheek in this instance

Flier or no flier. when I shoot a group like that one I am a happy camper. With any of my hunting rifles a group under 1/2 MOA will bring a smile that is wide enough for eating pie.

 

[GooseGestapo]

My Vanguard likes H4350 with a 100gr bullet. Most will shoot sub MOA over 63.5gr, but it isn't particularly fast at about 3,350fps. H4831 is also a good performer, a little faster, but got hard to find circa 2007, so I don't have any real memory of loads. RL25 is my favorite, as 74.0gr gets 3,600fps+, with a 100gr bullet (due to significant free-bore, oal or bullet make/version not critical as long as cup and core). 69.0 with 120gr Speer flat base or Nosler Part. Gets 3,200. Trajectory equal to or better than a .22-250, punch better than ANY .243/6mm.

Most loads are sub MOA, some, 1/2 MOA. But, I can't say it's significantly better than a 24" bbl .25/06 or .270. I prefer my .257Roberts... or .270. Jack O'Conner was right about his his one...

 

[CptnAwesome]

.257 weatherby was his only cartridge I was ever interested in. Had one, sold it off years back. I liked sierra's 117 gr GameKing. Also a big nosler fan. 67.5 gr imr7828 worked for my rifle. Ones "pet load" may work as a general starting point, but each rifle likes different combos. Trial and error.

Are Sierra GameKings bonded? I love Sierras in my 270 and 7mm-08. I don't think they are, only reason I didn't consider them for the 257 Wby.

 

[Reloadron]

Had one long ago in left hand. Looking back at old mark ups in my manuals I apparently liked the 117 and 120 grain bullets, especially the Sierra 120 grain HPBT. I seemed to like H4831 pushing bullets around 3100 FPS. I also went through a phase trying to push the light 75 grain Sierra HP bullets at 4,000 FPS using IMR 4350. I just never got great accuracy with the light bullets pushing 4,000 FPS. Looks like I also had some good loads using IMR 4064 but H4831 gave me the best results with the rifle I had and the only Weatherby I ever owned.

Ron

 

[Mn Fats]

Are Sierra GameKings bonded? I love Sierras in my 270 and 7mm-08. I don't think they are, only reason I didn't consider them for the 257 Wby.

I don't believe they're bonded but I've also never heard of one coming apart. Sierra makes a fine product with their gameking. I like nosler and Berger but the gameking has never let me down.

 

[zb338]

Not too many people talk about Weatherby rifles these days, but they are still
damn good. Especially if you want a good hunting rifle.

Zeke

 

[Captcurt]

Not too many people talk about Weatherby rifles these days, but they are still
damn good. Especially if you want a good hunting rifle.

Zeke

I have had 3 Vanguards. Two shot sub-MOA out of the box. The 223 was possibly one of the most accurate that I have owned and the 257 WM wasn't far behind it. Unfortunately the Creedmoor did not live up to expectations. I am surprised that the Vanguards are not popular. They are a lot of gun for the money.. My only gripe with the Weatherby's is the weight. The older I get the lighter my rifle are.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Like Capt.Kirk, I prefer lighter rifles these days. Last season I hunted consistently with the .257wby was '07. I got bursitis in my left elbow from carrying the Weatherby. Longest shot was ~140yds and that was out my kitchen window! It's mostly a "closet queen" lately.

No, Sierra doesn't make a "bonded" bullet. I'm glad they don't, as they don't need to. I've never recovered a Sierra that shed its jacket. I have seen other makes separate, but I don't consider shedding a jacket necessarily a bullet failure.

Sierra makes very accurate bullets, and their hunting bullets work very well, and with Remington and Winchester leaving the components market, their bullets are competitively priced.

Nosler and Swift make some excellent bullets if you need something to perforate a Kodiak bear. Not many of those in Alabama or Georgia.
FWIW, Weatherby rifles/cartridges made their reputation using Hornady Interloks or Norma standard bullets. They're still adequate for 95% of hunting. Even with an "uber blaster" like the .257wby. My choice of heavier bullets in the .257wby is the Hornady 117gr BtSpt Interlok. The only one I've ever recovered was from the largest bodied white tail I've ever shot. It field dressed over 200lbs. Bullet hit left rear flank and recovered under hide of far shoulder. I still have the recovered bullet. Weighs 108gr, .625" diameter. Launched from my .257Robt at 2,800fps, 225yd shot.

Even my .300RUM gets either 180gr Hornady Flat-base or Remington Corlokts. Last time I elk hunted I used it with 200gr Sierra GameKings. BTW, that 140yd shot out my kitchen window was with MidwayUSA Hornady "blem" 100gr flat base Interlok. Through and through, m/v of 3,600fps...
I DONT recommend the SST or Ballistic Tips for the Wby. I have had those either come apart or fail to expand.

 

[mshootnit]

Because I am also getting ready to reload for my 257, I am really appreciating this thread.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Mshootnit, suggestions;

1. Get your brass by buying the Norma 100gr factory load. Same brass, powder, and excellent accurate game bullet for $3/box of 20 more than primed empty Weatherby brass.
2. Don't bother with Federal or Remington brass. It holds 3-4gr less powder, not as accurate, doesn't last as long, and doesn't produce velocities of Norma/Weatherby brass.
3. If I were to load up some elk loads, I'd go with the Swift 120gr A-frame. Second choice is Nosler 115gr Partitions. Use 120gr Speer where the $$$ bullets aren't justified. (i.e.: deer, load work up, etc. ) Nosler data is good, but I suggest using the powder company data.
4. Use Federal 215primers. I had problems with Winchester Magnums burning through at edge of cups. Burned pits in some bolt faces... I don't trust any unplanted Winchester rifle primers any more.
Fwiw, I found Lyman #48 data with IMR7828 to be WAAAYY too hot for my gun.

 

[CptnAwesome]

Mshootnit, suggestions;

1. Get your brass by buying the Norma 100gr factory load. Same brass, powder, and excellent accurate game bullet for $3/box of 20 more than primed empty Weatherby brass.

Excellent advice! I stumbled across some Weatherby select at Cabelas for $39.99 a box, about what a box of unprimed brass goes for

 

[Captcurt]

Excellent advice! I stumbled across some Weatherby select at Cabelas for $39.99 a box, about what a box of unprimed brass goes for

Same here. When I started to look for ammo and saw that most of it was $60+ I thought that I had bought a money pit. Then I got a flier from one of my distributors. Weatherby ammo with 100 gr. Norma bullets $28 wholesale. I bought 4 boxes just for brass. The ammo, BTW, was almost as accurate as my reloads.

 

[mshootnit]

Thanks for the advice! Do you get good accuracy with the 120 Swift A frame? I do think Swift is ahead of the game. I have a box of bonded Swift bullets from way back before bonding was cool.

 

[mshootnit]

For 117 gr. Sierra what would you recommend for a seating length and a starting powder charge for H1000. I have this on hand. I am seeing OAL from 3.160 to 3.300 Quite a range leaving me confused. Hodgdon data goes from 71-74 gr. for 117 Hornady. I am using Hornady brass (new) and CCI 250 magnum large rifle primer.

 

[.308 Norma]

.257 weatherby was his only cartridge I was ever interested in.

That's me. Why did you sell yours if I may ask?

 

[Mn Fats]

That's me. Why did you sell yours if I may ask?

Same reason I make the mistake of selling any gun I like. I tell myself I don't need it (.257 wby in this case). Once its gone, I want it back. One day I'll learn. And I still have reloading components for it so naturally, I'll have one again