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Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: gutsnthegrass on September 30, 2019, 11:09:32 AM


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Title: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: gutsnthegrass on September 30, 2019, 11:09:32 AM
I have a Vanguard backcountry that is starting to frustrate me.  It shoots the factory 110 Accubonds great (.5 and better groups).  I have been playing around with RL22 as it seems like guys really like this powder for this cartridge.  I am seating the bullets at 3.15 COAL (this is where the factory ammo was loaded at).  I have tried doing a ladder test starting at min and working up to max.  Max gave me pressure signs.  I have also played with seating depths.  My hand loads are shooting 1.25"- 1.50" groups (unacceptable).  I Know the gun can shoot as it loves the factory stuff.  Any suggestions on what to do?  I am going to try a different powder as my next step. 

Thanks
Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: Taco280AI on September 30, 2019, 11:17:27 AM
I hear great things about 7828 for the 257. Have a Backcountry as well and going to start loading for it soon.
Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: C-Money on September 30, 2019, 11:17:40 AM
Gave any thought to trying IMR 4831, or H1000? I seat my bullets just under max length listed in the Nosler manual. Though I have never loaded .257 WBY, I have had good luck using IMR 4831 in a 300 WBY for a friend. I load right out of the Nosler manual for most all the cartridges I load for.
Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: Bob33 on September 30, 2019, 11:19:26 AM
Buy three boxes of the factory ammo and you're good for a long time...
Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: grundy53 on September 30, 2019, 11:21:13 AM
I use IMR4350 for mine. This is at 200 yards.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190930/59e5b6b3911a33711ac9d4e25cdb17ec.jpg)

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Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: Taco280AI on September 30, 2019, 01:09:33 PM
What velocity are you getting? Book shows it being pretty slow, considering it's a 257...
Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: gutsnthegrass on September 30, 2019, 01:36:07 PM
What velocity are you getting? Book shows it being pretty slow, considering it's a 257...

I agree, the Nosler book shows this as a slow load (3200fps at the high end) but I would take that group.
Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: Taco280AI on September 30, 2019, 02:16:26 PM
I'm looking online and Nosler says max of 59.0 with IMR4350 for 3115 with the 115 BT. From a 26" barrel too
Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: MarkTrail on September 30, 2019, 04:05:02 PM
I have had real good results with Imr 7828 as well as h1000. 117gr Hornady bt as well as the nosler bullets. Nothing compressed but still excellent velocity. Try those powders if you are set on reloading otherwise buy your factory ammo. Good luck, it is an awesome deer sized cartridge with devastating results.
Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: grundy53 on September 30, 2019, 05:53:38 PM
What velocity are you getting? Book shows it being pretty slow, considering it's a 257...
I've never chrono'd it. Just did a ladder test and used the most accurate.

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Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: grundy53 on September 30, 2019, 05:55:57 PM
I'm looking online and Nosler says max of 59.0 with IMR4350 for 3115 with the 115 BT. From a 26" barrel too
I'm shooting accubond 110's over 61 grains of IMR4350. My nosler book is showing 64 grains as max load.

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Title: Re: .257 Weatherby mag reloading frustrations
Post by: grundy53 on September 30, 2019, 06:00:10 PM
Nosler 7th edition says that the IMR4350 is the most accurate they tested. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191001/4515950425e39bf351ef60ca4ecca285.jpg)

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