I need some help With my Weatherby

ELMOUSMC · December 2, 2007, 08:24 PM

My weatherby Vanguard Varminter is shooting like a dream with 45gr bullets BUT I got a box of 60gr BTHPs from 1 of my shooting buddys and they are all over the place,some are even going side ways! my barrel is a 1 in 12 twist and I understand that is slow for a .223 but I have been reading up on some loads on a few other web sites and I was wondering if I can load say a 55 or 60gr bullet and get some added range with acceptable accuracy out of this rifle. ELMO

joneb · December 2, 2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

I got a box of 60gr BTHPs from 1 of my shooting buddys

Were these bullets or loaded rounds? You may need higher velocity = + rpm for the bullet to stabilize, but 55gr maybe your max weight/length.

VaFisher · December 3, 2007, 07:37 AM

If the loads you got from your buddy were hand loads they could be the wrong load for your gun. You should be able to taylor a load for your gun with a little pateince.

snuffy · December 3, 2007, 01:04 PM

A 60 grain BTHP, if it's a match bullet, will be a very long bullet for a 1-12 twist to stabilize. It's not weight alone you have to consider when figuring whether a bullet will be stabil in any given load.

Take the 162 Hornady A-max bullet for 7 mm. It states right on the box, minimum 1-9 twist or tighter to stabilize it. That's because it's a VERY long bullet for 7mm IN THAT WEIGHT.

At what range were they keyholeing? A marginally stabil bullet will sometimes "go to sleep" past 100 yds, or in other words, need more than 100 yds. to completely stabilize.

December 2, 2007, 08:24 PM	#1
ELMOUSMC Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2007 Location: N.E.IOWA Posts: 384	I need some help With my Weatherby My weatherby Vanguard Varminter is shooting like a dream with 45gr bullets BUT I got a box of 60gr BTHPs from 1 of my shooting buddys and they are all over the place,some are even going side ways! my barrel is a 1 in 12 twist and I understand that is slow for a .223 but I have been reading up on some loads on a few other web sites and I was wondering if I can load say a 55 or 60gr bullet and get some added range with acceptable accuracy out of this rifle. ELMO

December 3, 2007, 01:04 PM	#4
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	A 60 grain BTHP, if it's a match bullet, will be a very long bullet for a 1-12 twist to stabilize. It's not weight alone you have to consider when figuring whether a bullet will be stabil in any given load. Take the 162 Hornady A-max bullet for 7 mm. It states right on the box, minimum 1-9 twist or tighter to stabilize it. That's because it's a VERY long bullet for 7mm IN THAT WEIGHT. At what range were they keyholeing? A marginally stabil bullet will sometimes "go to sleep" past 100 yds, or in other words, need more than 100 yds. to completely stabilize. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

December 3, 2007, 07:37 AM	#3
VaFisher Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2006 Posts: 596	If the loads you got from your buddy were hand loads they could be the wrong load for your gun. You should be able to taylor a load for your gun with a little pateince.