257 Weatherby and RL-25?

slammedsi · October 26, 2010, 09:16 PM

Looking to load up some loads this weekend. i haven't loaded much 257. but have a lot of Nosler partition in 120gr and also have 115 Barns TSX. I mainly want to use the Barns tsx. The load i have for this bullet is 70.2grs of RL25 using weatherby brass, win large rifle primers, and no crimp moving at just 3500 fps. Seeing how this is my first full power load for said caliber would any of you have any tips for me. is this load to hot? Any help would be great.

slammedsi · October 27, 2010, 08:27 AM

Also want to add that the load manuals i have don't state a load for the 115gr bullet, Just 100's and the 120's. I didn't know if i could use the 120gr load and back off then start back up.

Brian Pfleuger · October 27, 2010, 11:14 AM

Based on QuickLoad predictions, I would say that 70.2gr Rl-25 is WAY too high for a starting load.

Especially since the 257Wthby is on the high end of "over bore", it's a little tough to know where to set the QuickLoad variables without having some real data from your gun.

Also, I recently ran QuickLoad using IMR 3031 and the Barnes 110gr TTSX bullet in 7mm-08. QuickLoad's predicted max load was way, way, WAAAYYYY over true max. I don't yet know if it's the 3031 predictions that are wrong or something with the TSX bullet. QL has been very accurate with the same gun and other bullet/powder combinations.

My guess is that 70.2 is AT LEAST max load and probably over. Were it my face behind the gun, I'd start at about 60gr, with one round over a chrony, just to get a good number. Depending on how that looks compared to QL predictions, I might skip 2.0gr at a time, up to around 66, before I dropped down to .5 or .6gr increments.

All of this depends, of course, on exactly what sort of results are obtained at each load.

slammedsi · October 27, 2010, 12:20 PM

from what i read 65 would be a start charge and 70.5 max. Any one else have any information to this load?

GeauxTide · October 27, 2010, 12:28 PM

Nosler 6 says: 115 Accubond, 70.0gr. = 3190fps. I've found no load in loaddata.com with any 115 faster than 3300.

slammedsi · October 27, 2010, 12:35 PM

geaux, did it state a start and max?

GeauxTide · October 27, 2010, 12:36 PM

70 was max and 65 was start.

Brian Pfleuger · October 27, 2010, 12:37 PM

You shouldn't use load data for other bullets with solid copper bullets. The start pressure to engrave the rifling into the bullet is higher than with standard bullets.

slammedsi · October 27, 2010, 06:34 PM

Do you have any information on this? I have never herd of having a problem with using jacked bullets for solid copper? Should i back off more then the start load or what? sorry for the kinda corney questions.

Brian Pfleuger · October 27, 2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Do you have any information on this? I have never herd of having a problem with using jacked bullets for solid copper? Should i back off more then the start load or what?

It's out there.... Barnes has info somewhere on their site. Most makers warn against using standard data for their copper bullets, I believe.

QuickLoad increases the start pressure from 3625 (IIRC) for standard lead core bullets to 4350 psi for the Barnes TSX. Other copper bullets may be the same as Barnes, I've never looked, but they're certainly higher than lead-core jacketed bullets.

Anyway, for START loads, you'll USUALLY be fine, but not always. Some start loads are too high already, without making substitutions. It's not likely, but you could get into trouble.

slammedsi · October 27, 2010, 09:15 PM

Ok taking your advice to heart here. What would you recommend for a start load?

Brian Pfleuger · October 27, 2010, 09:41 PM

If it were me, and seeing what I just saw with in my gun with 3031 and the TSX, I'd load one round at 60.0gr, one at 62.0, one at 64.0 and one at 65.00

Theoretically, between 60.0 and 65.00 should be very low pressure. Theoretically. But, for my guns and my face and hands, for the cost of 2 or 3 extra bullets and the powder behind them, I'd start low.

Preferably, I'd shoot them all over a chrony and verify that I was getting what I expected. After that, assuming all was as expected, I'd start at around 65.0gr, following Dan Newberry's load development system.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspa...ons/4529817134

slammedsi · October 30, 2010, 06:41 PM

Ended up making up some loads with the 100gr tsx bullet. With RL22. Started at 66grs. and made 3 there and 3 at 67,68,69,70, and 71. Found the sweet spot at 69. Avg round was running 3350 over the crono. Best 3 shot group was 0.440

ryalred · October 30, 2010, 07:00 PM

I'm in on this a little late, but Alliant's load data suggests 67 grains of RL25 as a max load for a 120 grain bullet. Reduce that by 10% for a starting charge.

taylorce1 · October 30, 2010, 07:15 PM

I'm a little late as well. When you can't find load data for the bullet you want to use. Try contacting the bullet or powder manufacturer. Ramshot I know is pretty helpful on getting info back, Hogdon has a great reloading data online, don't know about Alliant.

October 26, 2010, 09:16 PM	#1
slammedsi Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Location: Vernon Texas Posts: 474	257 Weatherby and RL-25? Looking to load up some loads this weekend. i haven't loaded much 257. but have a lot of Nosler partition in 120gr and also have 115 Barns TSX. I mainly want to use the Barns tsx. The load i have for this bullet is 70.2grs of RL25 using weatherby brass, win large rifle primers, and no crimp moving at just 3500 fps. Seeing how this is my first full power load for said caliber would any of you have any tips for me. is this load to hot? Any help would be great.

October 27, 2010, 11:14 AM	#3
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	Based on QuickLoad predictions, I would say that 70.2gr Rl-25 is WAY too high for a starting load. Especially since the 257Wthby is on the high end of "over bore", it's a little tough to know where to set the QuickLoad variables without having some real data from your gun. Also, I recently ran QuickLoad using IMR 3031 and the Barnes 110gr TTSX bullet in 7mm-08. QuickLoad's predicted max load was way, way, WAAAYYYY over true max. I don't yet know if it's the 3031 predictions that are wrong or something with the TSX bullet. QL has been very accurate with the same gun and other bullet/powder combinations. My guess is that 70.2 is AT LEAST max load and probably over. Were it my face behind the gun, I'd start at about 60gr, with one round over a chrony, just to get a good number. Depending on how that looks compared to QL predictions, I might skip 2.0gr at a time, up to around 66, before I dropped down to .5 or .6gr increments. All of this depends, of course, on exactly what sort of results are obtained at each load. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

October 27, 2010, 12:37 PM	#8
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	You shouldn't use load data for other bullets with solid copper bullets. The start pressure to engrave the rifling into the bullet is higher than with standard bullets. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

October 27, 2010, 09:41 PM	#12
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	If it were me, and seeing what I just saw with in my gun with 3031 and the TSX, I'd load one round at 60.0gr, one at 62.0, one at 64.0 and one at 65.00 Theoretically, between 60.0 and 65.00 should be very low pressure. Theoretically. But, for my guns and my face and hands, for the cost of 2 or 3 extra bullets and the powder behind them, I'd start low. Preferably, I'd shoot them all over a chrony and verify that I was getting what I expected. After that, assuming all was as expected, I'd start at around 65.0gr, following Dan Newberry's load development system. http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspa...ons/4529817134 __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

October 27, 2010, 08:27 AM	#2
slammedsi Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Location: Vernon Texas Posts: 474	Also want to add that the load manuals i have don't state a load for the 115gr bullet, Just 100's and the 120's. I didn't know if i could use the 120gr load and back off then start back up.

October 27, 2010, 12:20 PM	#4
slammedsi Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Location: Vernon Texas Posts: 474	from what i read 65 would be a start charge and 70.5 max. Any one else have any information to this load?

October 27, 2010, 12:28 PM	#5
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,514	Nosler 6 says: 115 Accubond, 70.0gr. = 3190fps. I've found no load in loaddata.com with any 115 faster than 3300.

October 27, 2010, 12:35 PM	#6
slammedsi Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Location: Vernon Texas Posts: 474	geaux, did it state a start and max?

October 27, 2010, 12:36 PM	#7
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,514	70 was max and 65 was start.

October 27, 2010, 06:34 PM	#9
slammedsi Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Location: Vernon Texas Posts: 474	Do you have any information on this? I have never herd of having a problem with using jacked bullets for solid copper? Should i back off more then the start load or what? sorry for the kinda corney questions.

October 27, 2010, 09:15 PM	#11
slammedsi Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Location: Vernon Texas Posts: 474	Ok taking your advice to heart here. What would you recommend for a start load?

October 30, 2010, 06:41 PM	#13
slammedsi Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Location: Vernon Texas Posts: 474	Ended up making up some loads with the 100gr tsx bullet. With RL22. Started at 66grs. and made 3 there and 3 at 67,68,69,70, and 71. Found the sweet spot at 69. Avg round was running 3350 over the crono. Best 3 shot group was 0.440

October 30, 2010, 07:00 PM	#14
ryalred Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Location: SE Oklahoma Posts: 491	I'm in on this a little late, but Alliant's load data suggests 67 grains of RL25 as a max load for a 120 grain bullet. Reduce that by 10% for a starting charge.

October 30, 2010, 07:15 PM	#15
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	I'm a little late as well. When you can't find load data for the bullet you want to use. Try contacting the bullet or powder manufacturer. Ramshot I know is pretty helpful on getting info back, Hogdon has a great reloading data online, don't know about Alliant.