My first reloads down range

Well glad to say gun did not blow up and all the rounds even went off. I loaded some 100 grain barnes ttzx, swift A frames, nolser ballistic tips with rl 22 in 69 or 70 grains of powder. Did not get picture of all 3 shot groups because I kept leaving my cell back at the bench. I did check gun with old reloads and factory ammo to see if it was still in so 2 older rounds are in the total target.

Gun is a stock Remington 700 stainless in 257 weatherby mag. Just did the trigger so it is crisp at 2 1/2 lbs. Never found the need for a custom rifle as all my 700's shot good enough for me.

Only rounds that were off are across the top the 3 high and covered. Those were some 120 grain nolser partion I had from last trip. The lowest hole is a factory round

Nice looking groups that ought to good enough to get er done. Bruce

If the picture with just 3 holes showing is either the TTSX or the A-Frame, you could hunt with that for sure provided it's repeatable. Whatever that load is, I'd load up the same again to confirm it's repeatable.

After that my hand loading OCD would kick in and I'd also load up 3 shots at 0.4gr below, 0.2gr below, 0.2gr above and 0.4gr above. Pick the one that gives you the tightest group. Or ignore this latter part if the original load is repeatable and go hunting.

One caveat if the 70gr load is max, going above this is obviously exceeding the recommendation of the manual. I've done this many times so it can be done in certain circumstances, but you need to be careful. As always when doing a load development as you move up in charge, you need to be paying attention to bolt lift on extraction and taking a close look at the brass base for extractor marks and the state of your spent primers. If bolt lift seems like it requires more effort, or you see a shiny spot on the brass that looks like the shape and size of the extractor or your primers are getting flatter, you need to cease and decist. Pressure is building into an unsafe area.

One word of caution. I'm sure you know this, forgive me if you do. But do make the mistake I made and presume that a max load of powder for a lead bullet will be safe in the same weight TTSX. The TTSX is longer and takes up more case capacity. With more bullet in the case, the pressure will be higher and thus you typically can't put the same amount of powder in as you can using the A-Frame or Partition. I made this mistake right at 7 years ago with a .300RUM. The gunsmith had to put the rifle into a vice upside down and then with a 2x4 against the bolt handle hit it with a hammer to get the bolt to open. The primer fell out of the primer pocket which was about 1.5 times larger than it should have been. On close inspection of the brass, I could feel the blood draining out of my head and my shorts involuntarily soiling. I wouldn't want anyone else to experience the same.

Thanks

That is good info phil and I will watch doing that. I was worried as all heck when I pulled the trigger on my first round because of some of the story's I have heard.

I was wondering if anyone has noticed when a group is wider then you like. Does coming down in grains help or more grains help on avg to tighten a group up. Only did 3 rounds of each to start now will load some more up and some with other powder I have to try.

each round seemed to load and inject easily so I guess I am ok so far. Those 3 across in pic are ttsx and then 2 a frames hit inside them and 1 lower which I am sure was me.

Good going bill.

Bill, it is time to look at a Hornady Loc n Load Concentricity Gage. Use it and your group size will shrink.

billc said:

I was wondering if anyone has noticed when a group is wider then you like. Does coming down in grains help or more grains help on avg to tighten a group up. Only did 3 rounds of each to start now will load some more up and some with other powder I have to try.

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You never know Bill. Sometimes the group will tighten going up or down. This is why when I get a group like you did in the pic I referenced, I know I'm close. But then I dial it in, going a bit above and below to find where that sweet spot is. Once you do that, then you can be confident that even if you're off by 0.1gr when you load you should still have a set of rounds for hunting you can be confident in.

The most frustrating part is when you never find a load that even comes close trying multiple powders. This doesn't happen very often to me, but once in awhile. The most recent experience was with one of my .300H&H's, it just won't shoot 165gr bullets well at all. Fortunately it shoots 180's quite well.

While there are some general guidelines for many calibers, your rifle is an entity to itself and will tell you what it likes best. For instance the general rule on the .30-06 is to use IMR4350. I got that advice here on AH and followed it. It proved to be good advice. But I dialed in the load for my rifle, and I'm sure it's somewhat different than others. Close, but not exact.

CAustin said:

Good going bill.

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Thanks Charlie.

Have been loading a 100 gr ttsx over 50 gr of 4350 for years with excelant results but a friend told me to try 58 gr of magpro and this seems to show some real promise in my 25-06

crudeoildude said:

Have been loading a 100 gr ttsx over 50 gr of 4350 for years with excelant results but a friend told me to try 58 gr of magpro and this seems to show some real promise in my 25-06

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Crudeoildude
I had my rifle throated for the 115 grain tsx, this allows me to seat the 100 TTSX out further in my 25/303 Epps Newton improved using 58 grains of Hogdon superformance I get a chronoed average for 6 shots of 3,600+fps. The 115 grain Nosler combined technology silver tip with 55 grains of Superformance give an averaged chronoed velocity for 6 shots of 3,300+fps.
I will upload a photo of the cartridge tomorrow.
Cheers Bob Nelson

Can't wait for it to warm up here in Minnesota, I'm dying to get my 257 out to the range

Rob404 said:

Can't wait for it to warm up here in Minnesota, I'm dying to get my 257 out to the range

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A
Rob404.
As promised photos of the 25/303 Epps Newton improved. Rifle has been long throated to allow bullets to be seated way out to maximize case capacity. The 117grain SST is set 30 tho off the lands the same as all other long bullets.
100gn TTSX and 115gn nosler combined technology silver tip.

117grain Hornaday SST.

100 yards Nosler combined technology silver tip.

200 yards Nosler combined technology silver tip.

My 25/303 Epps Newton improved on a P14 action.
I can't explain the velocities I get. All loads are within the 51-52,000 CUP range according to load from a disc. I get 8 to 10 reloads per case before neck cracking occurs, if I could aneal properly I feel this would solve the problem. I haven't had to trim any cases and primer pockets remain tight.
I use only Remington brass.
My son's SMLE NO4 action in the same caliber shoots the 100 Remington corelocked @ 3,275 fps and the 80 gn Barnes ttsx @ 3,400fps. These loads print the same point of impact at 100 and 200 yards.
In my rifle both the Barnes ttsx and the nosler combined technology silver tip shoot to the same point of impact at 100 and 200 yards but the Barnes zeros at 300 yards and is only down 10 inches at 400 yards. The nosler zeros at 27yards and about 14 inches low at 400yards.
I feel it is a freak rifle and one I know I won't get rid of.
The longest shot I pulled off using my son's rifle with 100grain Speer soft point boat tail was a lasered 396 yards on a fallow deer. With a backline hold the bullet hit the lower chest taking the lungs and part of the heat out. A few wobbly steps and fell down.
I do love my 25s.
Sorry about the rave on but there's something about 25s that work.
People will now understand why I hate that horrible little caliber 243 so much.
Cheers
Bob Nelson

Bob I know exactly what you mean,when I learned to load for my 25-06 It opened a whole new era of accurate shooting for me,being able to close up cloverleafs 1 grain at a time was amazing,I have tried with 30 cal but not as much luck.Shoot to reload =Reload to shoot.

crudeoildude said:

Bob I know exactly what you mean,when I learned to load for my 25-06 It opened a whole new era of accurate shooting for me,being able to close up cloverleafs 1 grain at a time was amazing,I have tried with 30 cal but not as much luck.Shoot to reload =Reload to shoot.

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Crudeoildude
Mate clover leaf would be good but less,than half inch will do me all day .
My 35 Whelen will group clover leaf with most loads but they are bigger holes. I have shot less than 2 and a half inch at 300 with my 25, this is more than good enough for me. A bench rest shooter could more than likely so better but it is my hunting rifle and does good enough for me in the field. I know off I can hold steady enough in field positions the rifle will do it's part. That's very reassuring. I do still miss sometimes. But that's life. Despite the fact that the rife shoots so well the shooter doesn't at times so I try and limit my shooting to 300 yards only rarely will I try a 400 yard. All the stars have to align, with a good rest and undisturbed game for me to attempt the shot. If I'm not certain of a one shot kill it gets to live another day. I've instilled the same value in my 15 year old son.
Cheers mate Bob