Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa 257 Weatherby

Hello Men,

I have an old FN Southgate Weatherby rifle in 257 Magnum, been itching to take it to Africa for plains game, i'm going this fall up to the little bush camp on The Limpopo, you can throw a rock into Botswana, great, great place to hunt, anyway, this rifle with 12 twist barrel will only stabilize the 100gr Swift A Frames and 100gr TTSX's that i have pulled the tips out of to make the bullets shorter, the 100gr TTSX with tip removed is shorter than the standard 100gr TSX, i dont lean on the old rifle too hard, all loads shoot into a half inch or less over Norma 204 powder for around 3450 fps from the rifles 24 inch barrel.

Question is, what's the upper limit of plains game you experienced hands would use this setup on? Blue Wildebeest and Waterbuck will be the largest plains game animals on the list, shots will be a max range of 300 yards and some could be 40 yards in the thick thorn, this little rifle drops white tail deer like a bag of hammers, never got a bullet back from double shoulder hits or raking rib shots to exit off shoulder, i have plenty of larger rifles, but would sure like to take this cool old Weatherby Mauser and hear of some experiences shooting quarter bores at plains game, shots can be placed with precision, but the perfect angle is often not presented, that's where the concern comes in, also, if this rifle were a 10 twist firing 115gr TSX or 120gr A Frames i wouldn't have started this thread.

Thanks in advance.

Jerry: you will have zero problems with that TTSX or the A-Frame. I had the same issue with a German 257. I can't say how the TTSX will perform without the tip, but that would be my choice.

Curious - it won't stabilize a 100 TTSX with the plastic tip in it? Or are you removing the tip for magazine constraints?

I'd think the plastic tip doesn't ever touch the rifling and never has any input on twist/stabilization.

i have never yet been to Africa , but i know plenty about a 257 Weatherby mag. mine are 1-10- twist that i have used , my reloads with a 100 gr. bullets shoot 3700-3800 fps. i like 2 brands of bullets the best 100gr. Nosler Partitions and 100 gr. Swift A-Frames both shoot excellent on animals . i have never got Barnes bullets to shoot as consistent on paper in my custom barrels as Nosler or Swift shoot . i also have just built a new 257 Weatherby mag. with a 1 - 7 1/2 twist that i have not started shooting yet with bigger gr. bullets in the 130 gr. class. good luck ,Pete53

Thanks Jorge, if anything the Barnes will expand quicker with the tip removed, hence me running them around 3450 instead of BTTW 3600+ fps, maybe that slower speed will help them keep their petals long enough to drill some real damage to the vitals.

Teal, the bullet length is where i found trouble, had a piece of cardboard stapled to a pallet leaning against a 400 yard gong, after a rainy night i stapled a Redfield target to the wet cardboard, shot the 100gr TTSX as is for a three shot group, with target wet against the cardboard the bullet holes were very clear, i saw yaw in them all at that distance, pulled the tips on three rounds with side cutters, the next three rounds were perfect circles, just want to stabilize the bullets as much as i can hoping to help them drilling straight and stable through animals, iirc removing the tips shortened the bullets 0.125, guess that was all the 12 twist needed.

Pete, Thanks, iirc the 100gr A Frame is an inch long, it's the most accurate of the 100gr bullets ive fired in the rifle, just wish i knew how it would behave leaving at 3450 should i need to drill a fleeing Wildebeest in the last rib, thinking the 100gr Barnes may out penetrate it.

Interesting. I always thought stability was related to bearing surface length and not OAL of the bullet.

Wow. Mine will show pressure and a hard bolt lift with that velocity. Would you mind sharing what powder you are using. I am using IMR 7828 and H1000. 3600 is all it will let me do.

LOl, i always related bearing surface to pressure levels, a sample of only one of course, this rifle/load may act different on another day or for sure at 2500' elevation Africa versus 555' here at the farm, just wish the old guns were 10 twist.

Jerry, I shot an Oryx at 280 yards with my 257 Wby....one shot and down. Wildebeast are pretty tough...just wait for a perfect broadside shot.

Which bullet did you use for your 257/Oryx hunt?

Thanks, Guy

It was a 100gr A-Frame as I remember. To me, the A-Frame is THE bullet for African animals.

Great to hear Biebs, Thanks, especially if it was a 100gr A Frame on your Gemsbok, that tells me if it worked on that it should surely work on Wildebeest at my much lower velocity of 3450 as i'm sure you were shooting factory or custom loaded ammo that should have been North of 3650 fps in your 26 inch barreled rifle.

This is helping my confidence wanting to use the little rifle, the batters box is loaded with:

pre-64 264 WM, 160gr Woodleigh PP's at 3000 fps
pre-64 300 H&H, 220gr NPT's at 2750 fps
Kimber Superamerica, 338 WM 250gr NPT's at 2750 fps

257 Weatherby 100 gr TSX 250 yds on Nilgai ran 60 yds and done with 1 shot

Damn good stuff Dan, that's definitely a tough customer, where'd you hit the bull? and did you get an exit? Thanks for posting the pic Sir.

i use Reloader 22 but its out of my Ruger # 1 27 inch Brux barrel , my Winchester pre 64 26 inch Lilja barrel and a Weatherby mark 5 accumark 26 inch barrel , Remington action i tried had a pressure problem with hard bolt lift.

I shot an Oryx in New Mexico with a 100 gr TSX at 180 yards and it dropped it within 10 yards with my 257 mag. I have seen elk, black bear and all sorts of other critters taken with it. Trust me when I say that it punches WAY above its weight class. I would not hesitate to use it. Tough bullets are a game changer at 3700 FPS.

Then you were always very much mistaken....

jmp300wsm, more good stuff, that sounds great, makes me want to load to higher velocity lol, Thanks for the info.

Mine is a Mark V with 26" barrel. IMR 7828 give the best velocity in it, but also needs to be 2 grains under max to equal the max velocity listed in the manual. Anything over that creates hard bolt lift. One time I had to use a rubber mallet on the bolt handle to open it with a max book load.

stability. pressure. Not the same.

Hmm. I have some 100gr A Frames somwhere. Might have to try them in my South Gate...

25 caliber Swift A-Frame bullets are an excellent hunting bullet and in a 257 Weatherby mag. this is a accurate ,fast killer and these bullets stay together very well too . good luck,Pete53

Jorge, load em up, they're little slap downers on white tail deer, also the most accurate bullet in my old FN.

Pete, were i you, i'd be over on the Hammer Bullets sight ordering the longest Hammer 25 cal bullet that would stabilize in that 7.5 twist barrel, talk about a Hammer! i saw that Davis guy shoot a Warthog at 417 yards with 338 Lapua Improved and 262gr Hammer bullet, vapor trail to, THEN through the Warthog, petals went through the pig too and landed 40-50 yards behind the pig at 10-1-and 3 o'clock, holy damn what a slap down!

Jerry shot was 250 yds took out both shoulders and found bullet just under off side hide

My brother had a 1961 German in 257 with the 24" barrel, He also bought 6 boxes of Weatherby 100 grain sciroccos and that rifle loved that ammo.

Mine was made in the mid 90s when WBY guaranteed 3 shot 1.5' groups. It pretty much does that but rarely better and sometimes worse.

After seeing deer shot stem to stern and what it will do to a big hog I would have no hesitation to use the 100 gr TTSX on an elk from my 257 Wby. That bullet is about perfect for that cartridge.

GreggH

By god perfect Dan, good stuff buddy, this tells me my bullets loaded to 3450 will work perfect, your load impacting at 250 yards was most likely hitting at 3450 fps, tells me i can slam a Wildebeest at 25 yards and not worry about blowing the petals off before i can chainsaw the vitals, Thank You Sir!

The little 257 has just moved another notch up the ladder to take for plains game this fall.

Oldelkhunter, Thanks for that, i would have thought the 100gr Scirocco to be a bit too long.

JAH, yes, they're little burners that heat barrels fast, i've fired my old rifle two times, let cool a bit then fire number three, i havent threw up and fired at any game animal three times, so all good there.

GreggH, Thanks to you too, i need to revisit my 100gr TTSX load, will re-shoot with tip left in, has to make expansion a little slower, with tip removed a massive hollow point is visible.

We have never found for want with the tipped ones. Being that the tip is shoved into the HP it helps speed it up vs relying on tissue etc... I'd think.

Anyway some demand bigger expansion but we have never been left wanting on 100 TTSX

Yep, Thanks Rost, i went with the 100gr TTSX's with tips pulled because they're shorter than the 100gr TSX versions, hence my concern for rapid expansion, i think i'm barely scrimping by with a 1.050" bullet and 12 twist, as you well know a childs toy top begins to wobble as it slows it's rotation, my concern for the little 257 cal Barnes bullets to remain spun up tight enough to drill straight holes through larger African plains game, all i've ever hit with that rifle is smallish white tail deer.

myself i would use either Nosler Partition or a Swift A-Frame 25 caliber bullet they never fail , are very accurate in a fast cartridge with no pressure problems on warm days.

Pete, the 100gr A frame mics at an inch for me, it's the most accurate bullet in my 12 twist rifle, do you think it'd work on heavier plains game? especially that i run it at 3450 instead of trying for BTTW 3600 fps.

Trouble with me is if any other great example of a trophy animal appears i'll shoot it, a man simply cannot gear up, load up and go back to Africa for the cost of that trophy fee, even if he does, he may NEVER see that good of an animal again, that said, plains game animals from 30 pound Steinbok to 1800lb Eland, man that's a big stretch for my 257 WM and any 100gr bullet, i fear.

I would have thought so as well, he bought them for another Mark V he has but decided to try them in the old gun, nice cloverleaf groups.

^^^^^^^^^^Nice! Thanks OEH.

using 100 gr. Swift A-Frames in a 257 Weatherby mag. at speeds between 3600 - 3800 fps i see no problem on any plains game animal in Africa with this cartridge , but like i posted i have never been to Africa yet. good luck with your choice ,let me know how you do,Pete53

10-4 and Thanks, will do........................i'll have too, it'll be on video LOL!

Got the little FN out of the back safe yesterday morning, pulled it out of the stock and gave everything a good checking over then a cleaning and light oil wipe down, chrome bore cleaned right up with a couple soakings of Wipeout, S&K two piece bases and scope ring screws holding the old gloss 4-12x40 AO were all good and snug, forgot how trim and light this rifle was, went to the chronograph at first light this morning.

65gr Norma 204 pushed the 100gr TTSX with tip pulled to 3499 fps with COL of 3.235, COL of 3.170 went 3475 fps from the 25" barrel, dont know what either would correct to true muzzle velocity from 18 feet away, have three rounds loaded with each COL, will see which is most accurate when the winds settle and rains are gone, i've only shot a couple deer with the 100gr A Frames, [64gr N204, 3450 fps COL 3.200] they melt deer, i think this load will do a bangup job on plains game up to the size of Wildebeest, we shall see this fall.

You will rock anything you shoot with that load best of luck!!!!

my 4 - 257 Weatherby`s like these 2 powders best for speed and accuracy RL. 25 and RL.22 .

Thanks Big D, i'll be thinking of you and looking for an exit when i line the cross-hairs up on a Blue Wildebeest's shoulders ; ]

Pete, when i bought this rifle i knew it was sort of a specialized rifle with it's 12 twist, knew it'd be more than fine for deer hunting and knew i'd never be able to shoot the 115gr TSX or premium 120gr offerings, still wanted one of Roy's early rifles, they really done some nice work on these, that said, i like the 65gr charge of Norma 204, it's very accurate, less blast, easier on the throat and doesn't heat the barrel like some of the powders that call for 10 or as much as 15 grains more powder per shot, i haven't even fired this old rifle a dozen times.

Worked up 100gr A-Frame load and shot a couple deer with less than 10 rounds, the other 40 bullets in that box went to a friend, picked him a book max load of 7828, he may shoot a deer every year or two, i found i still have two full boxes of the 100gr A-frames, i only bought three.

Looking really forward to taking it to Africa for maybe a half dozen head of plains game.

Might mention that I know two women who went on plains-game safaris and killed animals up through wildebeest with the .243 Winchester and .257 Roberts, both with one shot per animal. Both used Nosler Partitions, 85-grain in the .243 and 120 in the .257.

Of course, their husbands used much larger cartridges

A few years ago I arrived in a hunting camp where the PH’s were discussing the success of the prior hunter. He was maybe 12 and was a little guy. His dad was very experienced and let the young man do all the shooting. He used a 260 with 120 grain bullets. The rifle had a 20” barrel and his dad mentioned that he didn’t load too hot to minimize recoil. Anyhow the kid dropped everything with a single shot. His bag included the general run of plains game except eland.

The group that preceded him consisted of two guys packing, respectively, a 300 Win and a 338 Win. They didn’t do as well.
There you go.

Jerry,
I found your concerns about driving the Barnes TTSX too fast and blowing the petals off interesting and insightful. I have a 1/8 twist 220 swift and I tried the ttsx55gr at 3950 fps and found it an unreliable killer because I believe it was blowing the petals off.
If I remember correctly Dirt Farmer had the same problem with the ttsx in a 240 Weatherby... thinkin the 100 gr Swift a frame may be your huckleberry... good luck on your safari buddy...

after some almost failures with a couple of other brand bullets i now only use 100 gr. Nosler Partitions and 100 gr. Swift A-Frames in my 257 Weatherby mag. i have never had a failure with these 2 great bullets and that is in probably around 30 some years and 20 years in a 257 Weatherby mag., so i have stocked up on these 2 bullets . i wanna mention this while using 100 gr. Nosler Partitions and / or 100 gr. Swift A-Frames we have never had a buck Whitetail or Mule deer buck go farther than 80 ft. with 1 shot out of our 257 Weatherby mags using either of these 2 bullets for me 20 some years son 10 years . many of the Whitetail bucks would weigh over 200 lbs. live weight some up close to 300 lbs. live weight these were bucks shot by the Canadian border in Minnesota.

LOL, that's good news Mule Deer, surely the 100gr TTSX or A Frame with petals blown off or pancaked near flat would equal the weight of an 85gr npt? so, what were you and the other guy shooting?

Thanks RinB, sd's of .264/120gr have to be close to .257/100gr, having the kids load running slower had to help with penetration.

Fubar, that's part of the deal that's bugging me old Buddy, i'm altering a purpose built bullet by pulling the tips to help with stabilization, there lies a pretty damn big hole under those tips, hence the concern for blowing petals before i can drill the vitals, i love that little 100gr A Frame, it's the most accurate in this rifle, but damn it's short, i have to wonder how it will penetrate if i pancake it near flat, hoping if i wind up using it ample damage will be done before it gets riveted, also giving both bullets all the help i can give by using 3450-3500 fps instead of 3600-3700, one thing about that, the stubby bullets slow down fast, 100-200+ yard shooting will certainly lessen my concerns.

Pete, those 2 to 300lb deer will near cover this hunt, red hartebeest, waterbuck and blue wildebeest will be the only things that exceed that weight, but holy damn, what if another 57 inch Kudu jumps up??

I took the rifle to the bench this morning, cold bore fired two rounds at 400 yards with the 100gr tipless ttsx holding 3 inched right wind and dead center on the white bullseye to check drop, strikes landed near dead center 6 o'clock and 7 inches low of dead center bullseye, that'll work, went and put up Redfield diamond target for 100 yard shooting to see which COL worked best, 3.235 COL had two in the same hole with one a bit over an inch high straight up, COL of 3.170 had three in a very nice triangle less than 3/4 of an inch, i'll load the remaining brass to 3.170, it also clocks 24 fps slower, even though not mashing on the gas with these loads i don't know how Norma 204 will behave in 95 degree weather so i'll take the lower pressure, don't expect it to be very temp stable.

you hit that big kudu with either of those 2 bullets i mentioned with your 257 Weatherby mag. you will dump that kudu too.

Pete, that's a great level of confidence in those 100gr bullets, do you think there's any way i would pancake or heavily squat the 100gr A frame enough to inhibit penetration running it into a wildebeests shoulder at say 50 yards should a close shot arise? part of my problem here is i've always been a heavy for caliber with low to medium to high velocity hunter, all African hunting so far has been with:

375 cal 270gr 2800 fps
411 cal 400gr 2255-2400 fps
458 cal 520gr 1240 fps
511 cal 715-750gr 1365 fps
585 cal 750gr 2076 fps

Animals ranged from hippo on the ground at 16 yards to a big Zebra stallion at 277 yards, hippo eland, buffalo kudu, sable on down to Steenbok, i knew these loads and bullets would get the job done regardless of the angle the animal presented OR what ever other animal that was a great representation of the species should appear, i have zero experience with light and fast bullets on heavier [300-700lbs] game, only a few white tail deer.

I owe it to the animals to not go over there and start a rodeo.

Two rounds at 400 yards. 100gr ttsx from 257 weatherby.  

Hello Pacecars, many thanks for posting these pics Sir, sure am glad i have smart friends.

gunner,

I have recovered several Barnes bullets from dead big game animals--ranging from the original "ungrooved" X-Bullet to TTSXs--that didn't retain ANY of their petals. Sometimes I found one or two of the petals, anywhere from the entrance hole to right next to the recovered bullet. Have yet to see any discernible difference in "killing" power between them and the recovered Xs that retained all their petals.

In fact, had a hunting-camp conversation with Randy Brooks almost 20 years ago, just after the TSX appeared. He said that originally he thought Xs that lost their petals might kill better, due to more "shrapnel" around the main bullet wound. But when early X-Bullet fans started bragging how their bullets retained 100% of their weight, he realized that was a MAJOR selling point among many of his first customers. And he was smart enough to know the customer is always right....

Might also add that every Barnes X recovered without any petals still has a far wider, flat front than "caliber sized" This also applies to other petal-type bullets, including the discontinued Fail Safe.

As an example, I put a 120-grain "original" X-Bullet started at 3000 fps into the near shoulder of a BIG axis deer as it quarter toward me at around 125 yards. The buck ran 30-some yards and keeled over. Found the bullet under the hide at the rear of the opposite ribs. It retained 93% of its weight, and the front end measured .41 inch in diameter.

Gunner; thanks for starting this interesting and informative thread.

I do not have extensive experience with high velocity .257s but I did hunt for several years with .25-06. I shot a WT buck at well under 100 yards at a steep angle with the 115 original X bullet.

The bullet was recovered and had lost all of its petals, the metplat measured .41? .42? I would have no concerns with a high velocity 40 + calibre flat nose solid.

I think you would do well with the tip less TTSX (TTTSX? )

Maybe try shooting some into test media at 25 yards and see how they do? Not a 100% reality test but it can give a good idea what to expect.

MD, great info, Thanks, hadn't thought of what Mr. Brooks said and you saw for yourself, seems i need to concern more with keeping the nut behind the butt tight putting these bullets where they belong, Thanks again for the real world experience.

GRF, you're most welcome Sir, i also hadn't thought about what yourself and Mule Deer said, indeed, a 40 cal flat nosed solid should impart plenty of damage, i've said for years 'nothing' lives with a half inch hole blasted through and through, referring to me happily hunting ALL game animals anywhere in range with a 500 Nitro double and 570gr Barnes flat nosed solids, i just hope the little 257 cal tipless drill bit has enough weight/momentum left to exit, good idea on the test media, my old buddy that used to be in the logging business kept me well stocked with empty 5 gal buckets with lids, need to drop by his shop and see if i can find a half dozen.

Three 5 gal buckets filled with water shot lengthways stacked end to end makes a pretty tough customer.

BTW, i noticed my side cutter marks on the loaded round in the last photo Pacecars posted, i pulled these bullets from some 25-06 AI cases i sent to a guy, used these pulled bullets for all shooting yesterday, just think how accurate one of Roy's old rifles will be shooting virgin bullets.

[quote=gunner500]Pete, that's a great level of confidence in those 100gr bullets, do you think there's any way i would pancake or heavily squat the 100gr A frame enough to inhibit penetration running it into a wildebeests shoulder at say 50 yards should a close shot arise? part of my problem here is i've always been a heavy for caliber with low to medium to high velocity hunter, all African hunting so far has been with:

50 yards wildebeest shoulder shot with either a Nosler Partition 100gr. or a 100 gr. Swift A-Frame i bet it goes thru 1st shoulder and knocks it down too , i hope to go to Africa someday and try it. i have no ideal how well a Barnes bullet will do on animals i never have used Barnes bullets that much ? now with some respect and not a lot of knowledge on copper bullets but will these longer copper bullets have more friction , create more heat and cause higher pressure using a 257 Weatherby mag. with hot weather in Africa ? that would be my concern ? maybe someone like the famous Mule Deer could enlighten us ?

I thought I liked R22. Never tried R25. I was at the range on a hot afternoon (about 85 - 90 degrees) and experienced a heavy bolt lift with a well proven and safe load. Never shot in that kind of heat before that day. Packed up the .257 after that.

H1000 for both of my .257's and never had another problem.

for warmer weather the RL.25 might be better ?

Don't sleep on Ramshot Mag mine both of mine love it

I have killed a pile of critters with the 100 gr TSX in the 257 WBY and all died quick. Never have had a failure on one either. I believe if they are pushed fast the better they perform in the smaller calibers.

In my experience RL-25 is somewhat more temp-resistant than 22, but not all that much.

RS Magnum and H1000 are the first two powders I normally try in the .257 Wby. when loading 100-grain bullets. (They also often work well with heavier bullets.) Some rifles like one a little better than the other....

Thanks for all the replies and experiences gents, i'll use the 65gr charge of Norma 204, it's gotta be a relatively lower pressure load at only 3500 fps.

Big question is, since both bullets shoot plenty accurate enough for 300 max yard hunting on this safari, which bullet would be the best penetrator?

Barnes 100gr tipless TTSX

Swift 100gr A Frame

So what do you guys like? Barnes or Swift, i wonder which one it will be.

Gunner; both are grand bullets. I have no experience with the AFrame in .257 but have used it extensively in 8mm. I have used the Barnes extensively in a variety of calibres including .257 and the 8mm.

I have done head to head tests with the Barnes 180g and the AFrame 200g in 8mm

So based upon experience on game in tests in other calibres I would suggest that the Barnes bullets penetrate as well as lead core premium bullets which are a step up in weight.

Based upon that I would extrapolate that in your case the Barnes would have slightly greater penetration.

Maybe grab some paper before it hits the recycling bin, pack it tightly, soak it, stack it at least 24 inches thick and shoot it at 50, 100 and 300 yards with both bullets. Measure penetration and “wound channel”. Take pictures and post results 😃 You’ll likely find slight but measurable differences.

i am the opposite i have experience with Swift A-Frame bullets 100 gr. 25 caliber in my 257 Weatherby mag. of the 2 that would be my choice ,but don`t forget about the old reliable 100 gr. Nosler Partition bullet another accurate and a good penetrating bullet also. i have shot bigger whitetail ,bucks, mule deer bucks , antelope and elk . when i used a rifle and my handloads it was either with 100 gr Swift A-Frames or 100 gr. Nosler Partitions the last 25 some years in my 257 Weatherby mags. , the last 20 years hunted with a custom Ruger #1 in a 257 Weatherby mag., my son has the exact Ruger #1 rifle as mine and also has done very well with his Ruger #1 on game with my handloads.

GRF, yes, great bullets, hope to be at the point i'm just splitting hairs trying to pick one, definitely need to do some tough test media work.

Pete, Thanks for the real world game use advise too, i cant see any wildebeest being any tougher or harder to shoot through than a bull elk.

Had another thought drifting off to sleep last night, iirc the old 120gr Speer Grand Slams are near a length i can stabilize with 12 twist, if so and also iirc from back in the day, bullets with the same lengths but are heavier in weight are easier to stabilize, something could be said for 20grs more momentum, being able to find and buy some of the old orange plastic slide top boxes of 120gr SGS's could be another great option.

Went and looked, yep, 120gr Speer Grand Slam is 1.088 long, a quick stroke of a file to knock that semi spitzer lead cap off the nose may bring it down to 1.050, perfect for 12 twist and 3250 fps..............................why do i muddy the waters?, i may already be there with the 100gr Barnes/Swift.

Funny how things change in a few weeks, another hunt opportunity popped up during this Safari so i'll have to bring my old Holland Royal double rifle for one particular animal, the mighty 458 WM firing 404gr Hammer bullets at 2500 fps will do the rest, plus, the guys at Hammer bullets want a copy of the video LOL.

Being as i dug the little FN 257 WBY from the back of the safe, checked zero firing a handful of 100gr TSX, it will indeed go on some deer hunts this season, thanks for all the help and info nonetheless Gents.

Gunner, any thoughts about bringing both rifles?

What’s on the menu that needs a bigger gun?

I'm a big fan of fast 25's and picked up some valuable info on some successful load data. Thanks

I'd sure like to see a pic of that Holland Royal.

GRF, i'm bringing two rifles, the 458 WM for all plains game and Cape Buffalo if i can find a big enough one, 404gr Hammer bullets at 2500 fps will let me shoot to a long 350 yards for plains game if need be, the Holland double was added when a very special animal came up, it's the king of animal one doesnt talk about on the www because of all the greenie beta weirdos that put more value in animal life than human, if i'm able to find and kill the animal, get the trophy back home i may be able to discuss it some then.

6MMWASP, go down to the Express Rifles forum, i'll pull up a partial pick of the rifle, it'll be in the 458 thread, i've had it for a good while, figured i best get it over there and get it bloody while we still can, and also while we can export mounts back into the states, i asked Riflecrank to sign a couple bullets, i'll put those in the animal at such an angle that hopefully both can be recovered, i'll then send those along with a video of the hunt to him ; ]

Thanks Gunner

Message received and understood. I would love to hear about the experience. If it’s unpostable please PM me.

Best of luck!!

It actually the other way around , long length is where stabilization is needed. VLD bullets have relatively short bearing surfaces for weight ,but are very Long overall length.

That Holland is stunning. Thanks for the pic.

You were very much misinformed.

well back to the famous old cartridge the 257 Weatherby mag. i have the time just not the funds to do the total package of animals in Africa ,but if i did i would have no problem shooting every different legal animal in Africa except a elephant with my 257 Weatherby mag. rifle and my handloads using 100 gr. Nosler partitions , Swift A-Frames or Hammer bullets. i just need a paying sponsor which will never happen.

You bet GRF, and Thanks Men.

Your memory is excellent.

It was the 80 gr. TTSX at 3,600 fps out of my .240. My conclusion, too fast for that bullet, too much of a good thing. It blew up on a WT's chest wall, small hole thru the chest, slow kill. A slightly heavier ttsx may perform better, just never tried one.

My current go to .240 bullet is the 100 NPT, best accuracy of all, faultless terminal performance. I just love it when the accuracy champ in a round happens to be a NPT. Doesn't always happen, but when it does....

DF