Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Whats going on with my .257 wby?

Alright, so I posted "El Chupacabra" up when I got her.( http://24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2281367/page/5/fpart/1 ) I have been reloading and shooting her damn near every weekend since then. I must admit, I have been a little disapointed. For what I paid for the gun and as much shooting as I have done with it, I am not satisfied. The gun shows potential, but that is nearly all it has shown.

Most of the time, I put shots 1 and 2 right near each other and shot number 3 (from a cool barrel, I let it sit for a few minutes)opens the group to 1"-1.5" or so. Other times, the second one opens up and the 3rd is right with the first. It sure sounds like it is just me being a crappy shot, but I am not sold on that!

I recently lightedn up the trigger which I think was kind of hindering my shooting. I wasnt able to get but about 6 ounces lighter. Anything lighter than that wasnt safe.

Is it just me? Am I a shlty shot? Not letting the barrel cool enough?

Here are some test targets:







On the other hand, this group has printed nearly identical twice. As of now, this is my TSX load and I am going to work on my 115 VLD load.

.880" the first repeatable sub- MOA group from the gun.

Casey... brother... don't beat yourself up on this one.

It looks like it wants to shoot, so something is obviously amiss with the load. Seating depth change might help out... or another powder? You cleaning it often? Did you scrub it down before the TSX loads were introduced? How many times have you shot the brass? Maybe it's time for a little anealing...

I don't know the answer... but something's up. Are the bases sitting flush with the receiver? Screws tight (especially the nut behind the trigger... that one always gets loose on me!)? Parallax...? The list goes on and on... all you can do is keep tinkering. Buenos Dias Amigo....

What is your C.O.L.?

I have shot 3.190, 3.200, 3.210, 3.220 all with the TSX. Brass is going on its 3rd round, I have tried Ramshot Magnum, ad H1000. gun is pillar bedded, so loose action screws should be good. I usually clean the gun when I get home from the range. I do think it likes to be 'well fouled' though, so I have not been cleaning the hell out of it, and shoot 2-3 foulers before I go for groups.

How do the 'foulers' shoot?

Into the dirt behind the target. Dont usually shoot them as groups.

OTH, the gun shoots factory 100 gr spire point into about a 1.1" group.

Try 22.

Thank me later.

Rick, funny thing is, when I saw that you had replied somehow I knew what you would be saying

Try going shorter....

Yep, 22 and screw the cool down and cleaning.

Moly aint a bad thing either.....you won't have to worry about constant cleaning and fouling it....

Yep, there is that also. All for it with the screamers...

I have thought about going shorter, but the group that I posted that has produced the same way twice, was shot a 3.220"... The longets COAL I have shot with the TSX... The majority of the groups shot at 3.210" have been the best as a average. Thinking about 3.205" and 3.215" but that seems like a lot of wasted powder and boolits to me. Not to mention the 25 mile each way drive to the range I prefer to go to.

Casey,

I would be really tempted to try RL25 if I were in your shoes...wait a minute, I am in your shoes so to speak. Anyway, I finally got my .257 Wby back from getting glass bedded and had some time to go do some shooting last Saturday. I was really hopeful of finding something with either RL22 or RL25 so I loaded some up.

I fired one fouler into the hillside and then shot a three shot group with RL25 at 78.0 grains behind a 100 TSX. Not to shabby as it ended up being about a .850 inch group at 100 yards. Velocities were right where I expected at 3,650 fps.

The next group was with 72.0 grains of RL22 (the magic load on all of these forums)it ended up being a nice triangle group of about 1.75 inches and the velocity was...............3,400 fps

The next group was with 77.5 grains of RL25 and the group size was close to the 78.0 grain load. Interesting thing about this group was the first two shots were so nice I thought I better let this barrel cool before I fire number 3...should have just pulled the trigger.

I let things cool down again and fired my 77.0 grain load and it came in at .453 center to center.

I am really impressed with RL25 in this gun. The other thing I would suggest is seating them deeper. My C.O.L. on these is 3.130"

Here are the targets:
[img][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/300winnie/Picture005.jpg[/img][/img]
[img][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/300winnie/Picture006.jpg[/img][/img]
[img][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/300winnie/Picture004.jpg[/img][/img]

Send me some R25!!

I'm hoarding the 3#'s of that lot number that I was able to get...darn sure I will buy a 5# jug when I run out of that

Send me enough for about 12-15 shots

Seems like the way mine gulps down the powder that would be just about a 1# jug

Perfect

Try the TSX at 3.160" and 3.140". 3.145" is factory COL for the 100gr Hornady's. My Vanguard Sub Moa loads started at 3.250" @ .910". I then seated them to 3.170" and it went to .740". My next loads will be at 3.160" and 3.140" to see if they continue to shrink. BTW I am shooting 73.0 of RL22 behind the 100 TSX.