POP - .257 WBY Load Question

[TBASTIAN]

POP - Any chance you could run your ballistics program for the .257 WBY MAG using RL 25 and the 110 grain AccuBond? I've found a load that is shooting really well, it's not showing signs of pressure, but I'd be interested to see what the max load is. I'm currently loading this combo with 74.0 grains, and using Federal GM215M's. Thanks in advance!
-TB

 

[hardpan]

Hi TB, I asked not that long ago for favorite WBY loads and AccuBond 110. HEre is what was posted.


Cartridge : .257 Weath. Mag
Bullet : .257, 110, Nosler AccuBond 53742
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.170 inch or 80.52 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch or 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.

Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 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 !

151 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
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
ADI AR 2218 106.4 80.1 5.19 3564 98.1 62000 16596 1.162 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 102.4 76.2 4.94 3533 97.6 62000 16226 1.187 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H870 108.5 79.1 5.13 3504 99.0 62000 15625 1.193 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo 106.6 75.7 4.90 3497 100.0 62000 14239 1.178 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon US 869 108.8 81.8 5.30 3483 97.7 62000 15383 1.182 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 94.0 67.9 4.40 3474 99.5 62000 14712 1.181 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum (Big Boy) 96.8 72.8 4.72 3468 99.9 62000 14391 1.182 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 101.6 71.7 4.65 3467 99.9 62000 14618 1.196 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 517 96.7 72.9 4.72 3467 99.9 62000 14379 1.182 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 93.0 67.5 4.37 3466 99.7 62000 14276 1.171 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 98.3 67.5 4.37 3466 99.7 62000 14276 1.171 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 12 96.6 72.8 4.72 3466 99.9 62000 14347 1.183 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 94.3 70.8 4.59 3463 98.8 62000 14850 1.190 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 92.2 67.9 4.40 3462 100.0 62000 14118 1.190 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 94.2 67.3 4.36 3455 99.7 62000 14165 1.166 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25 99.4 69.8 4.53 3454 100.0 62000 13570 1.184 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214 98.0 71.8 4.66 3454 99.9 62000 13953 1.166 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 103.1 72.0 4.66 3451 99.9 62000 13914 1.167 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation 94.4 67.4 4.36 3443 100.0 62000 14040 1.186 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 94.4 67.4 4.36 3443 100.0 62000 14040 1.186 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 94.4 67.4 4.36 3443 100.0 62000 14040 1.186 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR 96.9 67.7 4.39 3442 100.0 62000 14062 1.186 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 24N41 105.2 79.2 5.13 3423 92.7 62000 14798 1.174 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905 95.8 67.1 4.35 3420 99.5 62000 13882 1.183 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 91.5 64.2 4.16 3413 100.0 62000 13431 1.168 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 91.9 64.9 4.20 3408 100.0 62000 13470 1.175 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation 92.6 65.4 4.24 3401 100.0 62000 13376 1.176 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 94.1 67.2 4.35 3393 99.1 62000 13546 1.173 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 97.9 67.2 4.35 3393 99.1 62000 13546 1.173 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4 90.2 63.7 4.13 3389 99.9 62000 13195 1.173 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation 90.2 63.7 4.13 3389 99.9 62000 13195 1.173 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon 50BMG 110.0 78.9 5.11 3389 88.4 60487 14935 1.197 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350 92.1 62.3 4.04 3383 99.7 62000 13160 1.171 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N170 105.9 73.9 4.79 3372 96.4 62000 13947 1.198 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904 91.3 63.5 4.12 3367 99.7 62000 12982 1.172 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831 94.4 63.9 4.14 3364 100.0 62000 12570 1.196 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 92.0 65.7 4.25 3362 100.0 62000 12814 1.196 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 90.2 61.0 3.95 3357 100.0 62000 12380 1.206 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 96.9 67.7 4.39 3346 100.0 62000 12549 1.188 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 97.4 65.9 4.27 3345 99.6 62000 12733 1.176 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100 100.1 66.8 4.33 3335 100.0 62000 12378 1.215 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 13 110.0 79.4 5.14 3316 95.8 56566 14256 1.250 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 20N29 110.0 83.6 5.42 3303 93.5 55114 14598 1.266 ! Near Maximum !

 

[GB300wm]

TB, when I get home I'll get you some data that I have. I found RL25 really accurate but a tad slow. My best results were with imr7828.

 

[FOTIS]

Cartridge : .257 Weath. Mag
Bullet : .257, 110, Nosler AccuBond 53742
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.170 inch or 80.52 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch or 660.4 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-25

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 3.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-30.0 70 49.00 2442 1456 22589 9913 89.9 1.796
-27.0 73 51.10 2546 1583 24997 10515 92.4 1.731
-24.0 76 53.20 2651 1716 27657 11080 94.6 1.670
-21.0 79 55.30 2756 1855 30611 11598 96.5 1.610
-18.0 82 57.40 2861 1999 33877 12059 98.0 1.552
-15.0 85 59.50 2965 2148 37499 12456 99.0 1.491
-12.0 88 61.60 3068 2299 41519 12782 99.7 1.422
-09.0 91 63.70 3170 2454 45982 13029 100.0 1.356
-06.0 94 65.80 3269 2610 50938 13223 100.0 1.294
-03.0 97 67.90 3366 2768 56457 13407 100.0 1.235 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 100 70.00 3462 2927 62502 13584 100.0 1.180 ! Near Maximum !
+03.0 103 72.10 3556 3088 69170 13751 100.0 1.128 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 106 74.20 3649 3251 76537 13909 100.0 1.079 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+09.0 109 76.30 3740 3417 84689 14057 100.0 1.033 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+12.0 112 78.40 3831 3585 93732 14194 100.0 0.989 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+15.0 115 80.50 3922 3757 103790 14321 100.0 0.947 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

 

[TBASTIAN]

Thanks to each of you for your quick and helpful responses. Much appreciated!
-TB

 

[GB300wm]

TB, turns out that I never tested the 110 nab's with rl25 due to the slow speeds that it gave with the tsx's. I was loading 75.0 RL-25 at 3.125"col and only getting 3353 av velocity, but groups were good. Well under an inch. For comparison, I'm driving the tsx at 3680 average velocity with 73.2 gr IMR7828 and grouping well under 1/2" with this load. So I never went to Rl-25 with my AccuBond testing. However, my go to load with the AccuBond and my most accurate one is 71.0 IMR7828 at 3.250 col. This load yielded 3490 fps and very accurate. I currently shoot a 100 gr GS custom bullet over 73.5 gr IMR7828 at 3705 fps average and this load is really accurate and very flat shooting.
Good luck with your load testing and I've tested many powders and found out for me IMR7828 could not be beat, velocity and accuracy. I have an accumark in 257 with a 26" tube. Let me know if I can help any further. :grin:

 

[TBASTIAN]

I just returned from a trip to the range. I double checked both pet loads I had recently worked-up, and both loads are shooting around 3/4" at 100 yards.

After sorting through 55+ different loads, I think I've finally found two that I'll stick with. Needless to say, this Mark V Fibermark is VERY finicky. It's definitely been the hardest gun I've ever loaded for.

Thought you'd like to see the final products...the 110 grain Accubonds are shooting 0.67", and the 115 grain TSX's are shooting 0.86". Both loads are using Weatherby brass, and Federal GM215 Magnum Rifle primers.

 

[GB300wm]

Good shooting TB. You're so right, some rifles can be a trick to get to shoot. My 257 would foul real bad until I got a couple hundred shots through it. I does fine now and is really accurate on a clean barrel. Have you tried IMR 7828? This powder really is the ticket in a 257 wby. :grin:

 

[hardpan]

TBASTIAN;
I had the same problem with the same stock gun. 2 good shots and a flier. using a longer OAL, I got the group about what you have, and by using 7828, I got the group under a 1/2 inch (* cover all 3 holes with a dime *). I am still tinkering a bit. My brothers stock 257 shot my last loads at 300 yds and a 3/4" group. Some 257s just are hard to get really accurate, but when you do, it is my favorite gun!
Hardpan

 

[FOTIS]

velocity?

 

[Jerry 919]

GB300wm,

I have been working with two rifles in .257 WM for the last couple of years. Just finished working up a load with the 110 AccuBond for my son's Mark V. I have found RL 19 the best with 85 grain Nosler Ballistic Silvertips, (quarter inch groups at 3800 FPS). The 100 grain Ballistic Tip performs best with Retumbo, (half inch groups at 3650 FPS.) The best powder for the 110 AccuBond is IMR7828 SSC, (half inch groups at 3400 FPS.)

The 110 AccuBond load makes a loud, solid and impressive hit at 500 yard metal gongs. Sighted in at 300 yards it only drops approx. 18" inches. Only one field test on a coyote at 362 yards. There was enough fur left for a medium size pair of gloves.

Contrary to normal rules of reloading I found the OAL to be crucial. Long, say out to 3.25" inches shot terrible. The sweet spot for all three loads was right at 3.17" to 3.18" OAL.

Your length of 3.125" seems really short to me and would probably be a compressed load with my powder levels.

Love the performance. The only real drawback is the cost of brass. Just ordered 200 from Midway. Total was $311 dollars with shipping.

 

[GB300wm]

Your so right Jerry. Oal is really tricky sometimes with the wby mag and they do typically like plenty jump to the lands and I believe that is by design. You would be compressed with the slow powders(retumbo) that you are using, but I'm mostly using Imr 7828 and I still have room in the case, not much though. The tsx's are the ones that I'm loading at 3.125" and they really like the jump. The accubonds are being loaded at 3.250" and the Gs customs are being loaded at 3.215". These seem to be my happy spots and the rifle really shoots. I'm currently getting 3725 fps average with the gs customs with 73.5 gr imr 7828 and grouping .5" or less. This thing really cooks. The 257 wby is sure a speed burner. :grin:

 

[super-7]

This post maybe dated, I was wondering if any one worked up any loads using Retumbo in the 257 wby. if so what primer and what velocity was shown up.

 

[Jerry 919]

Super-7,

I have been playing with the .257 Weatherby Magnum the last couple years and tried various powder, bullet, primer, and COL combinations.

With usual disclaimer, each rifle is different, work up slowly watching for pressure signs I offer the following:

85 grain Nosler Ballistic Silvertip, 72.5 grains RL 19, Federal Gold Medal Match Magnum 215 primers. Many groups at 100 yards at 1/2" with velocity of 3800 FPS. Four dead coyotes out to 400 yards.

100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, 76.5 grains of Retumbo, Federal Gold Medal Match Magnum 215 primers. Groups great at 1/2" and velocity of 3625 FPS. Six dead coyotes between 200 and 300 yards.

110 grain Nosler AccuBond, 71.0 grains IMR 7828 SSC, Federal Gold Medal Match Magnum 215 primers. Groups one ragged hole at 100 yards with velocity of 3400 FPS. One dead coyote at 400 yards. Coyote looked like it had swallowed a grenade and pulled the pin.

I have only tried a dozen or so Factory 120 Partitions and the groups were very poor, about 1 1/2- 2". Basically just recovered the brass.

All of my loads have an overall length of 3.175". The longer I made them the worse they shot.

My rifle is a Ruger M77 Varmit that started life as .25-06, never fired, and re-chambered for the .257 Weatherby Magnum. Rifle has a 26" heavy barrel and I removed LOTS of wood resulting in a basic sporter stock.
Rifle is topped with a 6X18X40 Leupold and weighs 11.2 pounds with sling and three rounds in the magazine.

Hope that helps.

Jerry 919
Bend, Oregon

 

[super-7]

Hey thanks for the info, my brother in-law bought some retumbo for his wby. and said he was having trouble getting info on a good load. He will be loading for a Vangaurd, and he just brought a Rem I've not seen yet I think it is a sendero. Both in 257 wby. He always liked the vangaurd so I don't know why he bought the Rem. in same caliber, impulse buy I guess . He still won't part with the Van though, DIRTY BUGGER! I'm not sure what he's loading for bullets but I'll pass on the info.

 

[nomosendero]

Hey thanks for the info, my brother in-law bought some retumbo for his wby. and said he was having trouble getting info on a good load. He will be loading for a Vangaurd, and he just brought a Rem I've not seen yet I think it is a sendero. Both in 257 wby. He always liked the vangaurd so I don't know why he bought the Rem. in same caliber, impulse buy I guess . He still won't part with the Van though, DIRTY BUGGER! I'm not sure what he's loading for bullets but I'll pass on the info.

Maybe it did it because of the 26"Rem tube vs the24" Vangard tube, it would be enough for me.