Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Any 257 Weath.Vanguard info w/ newer powders & monometals?

Seeking advice w/ Barnes 100gr TTSX & Nosler 100gr E-Tip projectiles for use in a stock 24" barrel SS Vanguard Sub-MOA. Powders on hand are: RS Magnum, H1000, Retumbo, 7828SSC, Rel. 22, 23, 25, & 26. Please note COAL used as the Vanguard has a 3.5" mag length & about a 1/3-3/8" freebore. I've read JB's info on H1000 & E-Tip. His load (76gr.) w/ the old Barnes TSX gave me just 3412 fps, not his 3550-3575 fps. I've been using Fed 215 primer but also have CCI 250 on site. Any shared experience would be greatly appreciated. -Mark & Belle (replaced Maggie )

I used near the HOD online max for standard IMR7828 with the 100gr E-Tip in my 24" Vanguard. OAL a bit longer than standard. Got right at 3,600 without pressure signs. Was fairly in line with the book velocity, considering the shorter tube. Rifle didn't like the bullet though.

JPro- I tried 73.0gr of 7828SSC (the old IMR max & still Hodgdon max & w/ a 26" barrel, Speer 100gr. SPBT=3655fps) & I got 3521fps w/ non-tipped TSX w/ a COAL of 3.25"(3.209" is SAAMI max). One grain more (74.0) showed 3603fps. Primers appeared moderately flattened w/ case head expansion @ the belt about ~0.003" on previously unfired Norma cases (seems like a lot from what I've read). Accuracy (all ready an issue w/ this rifle) for the 100yd ladder group was 2.5". So, velocity is good, accuracy maybe not. Best groups, based on extremely minimal testing, was w/ RE25 & Retumbo, both @ 1.75".Velocity w/ 75gr of RE25 was 3568fps & 78gr of Retumbo gave 3493fps. Thanks for the reply! -Mark

I have shot hundreds of rounds of RE22 and TSX and they are super accurate and kill like the hammer of thor. Deer, antelope ,elk and black bear

7828 is definitely worth a try. H1000 as well. MD has a great load for the E TIP and H1000 with 215 primers. Ram Shot Magnum works as well. I have had pretty good luck with 71-72 gr RL 22 and MRP.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all

jmp300wsm- Yes, Re22 seems a popular choice but I'd like a temperature stable powder, like Re23 or 26. I work up hunting loads in the summer in 90-100*F & hunt in the Fall w/ temps in the 'teens. Have you tried either of these? -Mark

I have the same rifle and also just starting to do load development. I have H1000, 7828, RL25, Retumbo and RL22. Got various bullets from 90gr GMX up to 120gr PT.
Loaded up some 115gr Berger VLD, 115gr BT, 110gr ELDX and 100gr TTSX and heading out for a range session.

No only RE 22 because I have about 10 pounds of it and it works fantastic. I don't shoot much in high temps so not a big deal to me.

boomer68- I'm off to the range tomorrow. I'm interested in your 100gr TTSX loads. As I live & hunt in the Peoples Republic of Calif. & this is a non-tox projectile for all hunting State and, like all factory .257 Weath., barrels have a 1:10" twist. Barnes recommends faster than that for their 115gr TSX. So, 100gr monometal it is and that's not a limitation. I'm going to try Re23 using Re22 data w/ the E-Tip tomorrow and some Retumbo & H1000 work up loads I never shot from 12 years ago. Re26 is also on the menu but I no reference for a starting point. Regards, Mark

Mark, I will let you know my results. Keep us updated on yours as well.

100 gr TTSX

Nosler/Norma/Weatherby brass (I think it is all made by Norma)

Federal GM 215 M primers

75.5 grs of H1000

3.160" COAL* Don't worry about magazine length

Work up because one of my .257's likes 74.0 grs

You will easily get 3500+ fps

Be careful if using temperature sensitive powders like R22 on a hot day and with max loads.

I get 3700 fps with 100 gr. TSX. It is a laser beam

Looks like we have a winner. Barnes 100gr TTSX, 75.5grs H1000, CCI250, Wby case.

Sakoluvr- Your load, 75.5gr H1000 w/ a TSX (COAL 3.25"), only gave me low 3400's fps. Either a slow lot of powder or a slow barrel? I'd like to get to 3500+fps...Regards, Mark

boomer68- That's a great group. Same load as Sakoluvr above except for the primer. Repeatable accuracy? Velocity? Pressure signs? I'm almost loaded up for tomorrow's range trip. Regards, Mark

,jmp300WSM- 3700fps w/ RE22? What's your barrel length & charge weight, I dare ask? Weatherby/Norma case? Primer? Thanks, Mark

Work up carefully in your rifle. 72 gr. RE 22----Norma brass--CCI 250 primers---100 gr TSX with a 26 inch barrel Pac Nor barrel

I have loaded IMR7828ssc with a 120gr Partition, I believe the charge was 69gr, but I don't have the data in front of me right now. I know it shot just under 3400fps in a 24" Vanguard, and shot very accurately.

I was delayed in giving a report on two range sessions I've had. I shot a series of loads w/ H1000, Retumbo, RE 23 & 26, IMR 7828SSC. All w/ Fed 215 primers. I used two Barnes 100gr (TSX & TTSX) & Nosler 100gr E-Tip. In my Vanguard, the E-Tip isn't a tight grouper w/ either RE23 or 26 or Retumbo but creates less pressure than the TTSX. The TTSX & TSX shot well w/ 7228, H1000, & Retumbo. It appears the TTSX creates higher pressure than the TSX. though, requiring 1.0-2.0gr of powder reduction compared to the TSX. My Vanguard may also have a slightly slower barrel than what others on the Fire have reported. To reach 3512fps w/ H1000 & the TSX, I needed the Hodgdon max of 78.0gr., which had minor-moderate primer cratering and I'd reduce the charge somewhat for regular use. RE23 (shot w/the E-Tips I got from SPS and using RE22 data) won't give me 3500fps safely. RE26 & E-Tips will but w/ less powder than RE25 used to get to the same velocity (3500fps) but w/ a TSX. I'm looking for a temperature stable powder, so RE22 & 25 are off the table. I need to test RE26 w/ the TTSX still but it should produce in the mid 3500s fps. I also haven't tried the TTSX w/ H1000 but will in the future as it seems to have excellent accuracy but may only make ~3450fps. IMR 7828SSC w/ the TTSX printed a 15/16" three shot group right @ 3500fps but was a little too warm. It's more of a mid 3400s fps capbility. My first of the two recent sessions showed that Retumbo & the TSX had the same accuracy potential of H1000 but w/ higher velocity.These are both ADI powders with Retumbo the slower (slightly?) burning. The best group of the two sessions was a three shot 3/8" group w/ Retumbo & the TTSX. I made the mistake of substituting the TTSX for the TSX though. They are not interchangeable w/ maximum loads, in my experience. A "safe" load which gave 3564fps w/ the TSX gave me 3622-3636 fps w/ the TTSX (3 shots w/ 14 fps spread) and stiff bolt lift & some primer crater. But a 3/8" group! Hopefully, reducing the charge by 1.5-2.0gr won't take me off the accuracy node. I would recommend using H1000 load date for Retumbo as a starting point knowing you may be able to add 1-2gr more (carefully). At this point, I hope I don't run out of the Barnes 100gr TTSX as supplies locally are nil. With just a little tweaking, I think I'll have an accurate, plenty fast, & temperature stable load. -Mark

A 'middle of the road load" from my 257 Bee Ultralight