257 Weatherby 120 Partitions and RL33

SJB358 · Jan 29, 2018

Started working with my little brothers 257 Weatherby yesterday. He’s been shooting RL25 and 120’s at 3200 for a few years. He showed some interest in hunting Elk this year so I wanted to see if there was any room for improvement with it.

I was pretty happy to see a nice spot at the 3325 FPS area and will get it on paper soon. 33 fits without issues in the case. Just a tiny bit of compression but nothing to really speak of. 33 seemed to really settle down as the PSI came up.

I’m thinking it should make a great load for him if he goes with me. I don’t have a darned doubt the Partition will crush an Elk.

It’s a bone stock Vanguard but man it shoots like crazy!

This is the old RL25 load. Hope the 33 shoots as well

Guy Miner · Jan 29, 2018

His RL-25 load shoots well, and I wouldn't hesitate at all about taking it.

If you can get another 100 - 125 fps, using RL-33, and keep that kind of accuracy... Why not?

Guy

SJB358 · Jan 29, 2018

Guy Miner":2wxy8axq said:
His RL-25 load shoots well, and I wouldn't hesitate at all about taking it.

If you can get another 100 - 125 fps, using RL-33, and keep that kind of accuracy... Why not?

Guy

That’s what I was thinking as well Guy. He’s a good deer hunter and this would be his first western hunt. He’s got a great shooting 270 Win and this 257 Wby. I think with great Bullets in both he will do fine. It’s usually not the cartridge that makes a good elk hunt anyhow.

TackDriver284 · Jan 29, 2018

Scotty, that will do especially with a Partition.

FOTIS · Jan 29, 2018

That is a good group there

DrMike · Jan 29, 2018

Guy nailed it. That load will hunt. However, any of us will take an extra hundred fps or so if we can up the mass and keep the accuracy. A fine cartridge, without a doubt.

SJB358 · Jan 29, 2018

Yeah, I don't mind monkeying around a little with it. It's a pretty fun little cartridge. I am praying it shoots like the RL25 load. I stripped the bore down and DBC'ed it before I start testing yesterday, so maybe I can keep the fouling at bay. But I will say, that little Vanguard barrel didn't take too much to clean up nice either.

AFG270 · Jan 29, 2018

Boy those are moving right along. Either one would make a great elk load.

My 25-06 with 115gr PT and MagPro shot fairly accurate. They were at 3255 fps and no pressure signs. Thought about trying RL26 to see if I could get a little more speed and accuracy.