Anyone Lookng for 257 Weatherby Loads?

Got out to the range yesterday. I had good conditions...not to cold and wind was dead calm. I finally sighted in my 375 H&H, which I was itching to shoot for about 6 months now. I also shot my custom 257 Weatherby which always produces fantastic groups. I've attached one 3-shot group from yesterday, which I haven't measured but I suspect is a little over .25". I'm using 70grs. of IMR7828 and Berger 115s. It averages just over 3400 on the chronograph. It's like shooting a lazer beam....very flat.

It 's not the first time, I've have heard about that caliber being super accurate. Congrats!

just got my son a remington model 700 in 257weatherby.Hoping to use it next trip to africa on plains game.Hope it shoots that good when we get out to the range soon.I will keep this load of yours in mind for sure to try out.

Great caliber, I love mine and so far Impala, Nyala, Warthog, Bushbuck, Springbok (of varying colors), Mountain Reedbuck, Blesbok, Waterbuck and Steinbok unanimously hate it.

Did you reload your own bullet combo or use factory ammo on all those animals taken.

Originally Posted by billc

Did you reload your own bullet combo or use factory ammo on all those animals taken.

100gr Barnes TSX handloads at 3650fps

Originally Posted by 1ObsessedHunter

I also shot my custom 257 Weatherby which always produces fantastic groups.

How much free bore does your custom gun have? I have gun being built with a Lilja bbl chambered in .257 WBY. As per several recommendations (including my gunsmith) for best accuracy it is being built with minimal free bore. As such I will not be able to shoot factory ammo, which is a pain, but I think one hole groups are worth it.

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

How much free bore does your custom gun have? I have gun being built with a Lilja bbl chambered in .257 WBY. As per several recommendations (including my gunsmith) for best accuracy it is being built with minimal free bore. As such I will not be able to shoot factory ammo, which is a pain, but I think one hole groups are worth it.

You know I'm not sure what length freebore my gunsmith cut in chambering my barrel. Mine is built with a Krieger barrel. My gunsmith told me not to worry, he would handle the freebore. He made that freebored area so tight there is only .0005" of fee space surrounding the bullet. This is essentially like not having freebore. However, I think both you and I, with the velocites we're getting can shoot factory ammo. With these velocities we are both using loads comparable to factory loads if not more. I would not hesitate to shoot factory ammo through my gun.

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

100gr Barnes TSX handloads at 3650fps

I love it it's like shooting missles not bullets with this type of velocity

Did you have any of those animals go any distance after shooting.Were most recovered within a 100yds of were shot.

Warthog was a bad shot and he went 150yds and required a second shot. Blesbok, to my shame, required 6 rounds. All but one poorly placed at 300+ yds in gusty 40mph winds. Impala 10yds, Nyala x2 DRT, Bushbuck 1 - 30yds, Bushbuck 2 DRT, Springbok x 3 DRT, Mountain Reedbuck 40yds, Waterbuck DRT and Steinbok DRT.

My only issue with it is that it puts bigger exit holes than my .338 Lapua! Still they are not terribly large by any means and the intense internal damage is not mirrored in hide damage.

Originally Posted by 1ObsessedHunter

I love it it's like shooting missles not bullets with this type of velocity

I love that it mirrors the 30-378 trajectory as the flattest mainstream cartridge.

Originally Posted by 1ObsessedHunter

You know I'm not sure what length freebore my gunsmith cut in chambering my barrel. Mine is built with a Krieger barrel. My gunsmith told me not to worry, he would handle the freebore. He made that freebored area so tight there is only .0005" of fee space surrounding the bullet. This is essentially like not having freebore. However, I think both you and I, with the velocites we're getting can shoot factory ammo. With these velocities we are both using loads comparable to factory loads if not more. I would not hesitate to shoot factory ammo through my gun.

That load is from my factory bbl. When I get my new gun in the spring I have been told no factory ammo and will have to start to work up some starting with a reduced powder charge and will have to play with powders to find something that has a lower initial pressure and go from there. Velocity should not change much (probably -50fps or so) but the powder charge will definitely be smaller to achieve that velocity.