257 Wby Quickload

[HeathSexton]

Guys a friend is working up some loads for a 257 Wby with the 117 Sierra GK #1630 and I was curious if you guys could help me with some info. Just looking to see what powders do what for a starting point.


Weatherby Mark V 26" barrel

Weatherby Brass
Fed 215
Sierra 117


Thanks

 

[FOTIS]

Not home right now so can not help. But just ran a sim with the 117 Hornady BT earlier today

With RL33 it was like 3450 fps.

 

[JD338]

Not home right now so can not help. But just ran a sim with the 117 Hornady BT earlier today

With RL33 it was like 3450 fps.

Man, that load is smokin'.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : .257 Weath. Mag
Bullet             : .257, 117, Sierra SP 1640 G7 Litz
Useable Case Capaci: 78.108 grain H2O = 5.071 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.170 inch = 80.52 mm
Barrel Length      : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 63000 psi, or 434 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

54 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Vihtavuori N570                    100.5     76.3     4.95    3466    98.4    63000   16642   1.209  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-33                 100.9     79.8     5.17    3447    98.7    63000   16388   1.214  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-50                 106.6     83.0     5.38    3436    98.3    63000   16693   1.240  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H870                       106.6     79.3     5.14    3436    99.5    63000   15982   1.216  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo                    104.2     75.4     4.89    3424   100.0    63000   14511   1.201  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 217                          106.4     75.4     4.89    3421   100.0    63000   14930   1.226  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560                     92.5     68.0     4.41    3405    99.8    63000   15003   1.201  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2                         99.8     71.9     4.66    3397   100.0    63000   14865   1.218  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO                     92.7     71.0     4.60    3396    99.3    63000   15190   1.211  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                        91.5     67.7     4.38    3396   100.0    63000   14538   1.191  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828                            96.7     67.7     4.38    3396   100.0    63000   14538   1.191  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP                           90.6     68.1     4.41    3387   100.0    63000   14339   1.211  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000                      101.4     72.2     4.68    3382   100.0    63000   14162   1.188  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25                  97.6     69.9     4.53    3376   100.0    63000   13789   1.207  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22                  92.8     67.6     4.38    3372   100.0    63000   14266   1.206  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR                      95.3     67.9     4.40    3371   100.0    63000   14291   1.206  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 24N41                   103.6     79.5     5.15    3368    94.0    63000   15336   1.195  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon 50BMG                      109.0     79.7     5.16    3364    90.4    63000   15660   1.203  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon US 869                     108.6     83.3     5.40    3352    94.1    63000   15335   1.210  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                      92.6     72.6     4.70    3341   100.0    63000   13583   1.211  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19                  90.5     65.2     4.22    3339   100.0    63000   13700   1.195  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 8700                      110.0     82.6     5.36    3331    97.7    60077   14987   1.229  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831                       95.6     66.9     4.33    3326    99.7    63000   13746   1.192  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC                    91.9     66.9     4.33    3326    99.7    63000   13746   1.192  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 20N29                   110.0     85.2     5.52    3322    95.8    60292   15372   1.246  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N170                    104.3     74.3     4.81    3313    97.3    63000   14372   1.217  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160                     96.0     66.3     4.30    3281    99.9    63000   13001   1.195  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165                     95.5     68.0     4.41    3278   100.0    63000   12764   1.208  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                            90.1     62.1     4.02    3269   100.0    63000   12358   1.216  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100                       93.1     67.1     4.35    3264   100.0    63000   12585   1.235  ! Near Maximum !

 

[HeathSexton]

Thanks guys

 

[JD338]

Heath,

I wonder how the Sierra 117 gr GK would compare to the 110 gr AB or the 115 gr BT. The better BC's might wring out even flatter trajectories.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

RL25 was super with the 120 PTs.

 

[HeathSexton]

JD, I agree on the bc but the guy is set on Sierra's I believe. If it were I would be throwing the 115 NBT.


The reason I asked is he has a load for it but it getting split necks on the 2nd firing. It's factory Weatherby ammo. He fires it in his rifle, FL sizes the brass, loads, fires and has to throw it away due to split necks.


67grs RL22 is what he is running now.


Scott, he is sold on RL22 also. I have suggested 7828 but so far it's RL22 or nothing.

 

[Guy Miner]

It may not be the powder charge that is splitting the necks.

Over-generous throat dimensions leap to mind.

 

[HeathSexton]

I have wondered if it's a gun or die issue

 

[SJB358]

RL22 should work just about as well as anything else with the 117's. That Wby has some ability to scream those little bullets out quick...

 

[Guy Miner]

I have wondered if it's a gun or die issue

That just makes more sense to me than one high-pressure load vs another high-pressure load.

I'm thinking the neck of the brass is either getting blown out way too large in the chamber on firing, or the brass is squeezing it down tighter than necessary, or both.

Any decent .257 Wby load is going to be warm to hot... :mrgreen:

Or maybe he's got some brass that's a bit brittle? Try annealing it or using different brass? Maybe neck down some 7mm Rem mag brass? That might result in a slightly thicker neck, and makes excellent (low cost) .257 Wby brass.

Just thoughts, Guy