Does anyone have any data for this? Thanks in advance!

No load data but I'd try 7828 with the slug for sure.

Dober

Thanks Mark will do!

I have been using 67gr RL25 and COAL of 3.27". This is in no way a max load, based on what Berger emailed me. I am thinking the COAL could be a tad longer and I'm sure the powder charge could be increased a little. This load gets me between .7-.8", not a worldbeater but decent hunting load.

My friends and I have a total of five 257 Roy semi customs. All have 3 groove lilja SS barrels. Two are #5 profile and three are #3 profile. A Pacific Tool and Gauge reamer was used with Dave's special leade angle which is different than the original weatherby specs. Freebore was shortened as well. Two rifles use a .125" jump the other three use .070" jump to rifling. All rifles are using RL-25 with moly coated 115 Berger VLDs, Norma brass and Fed 215 match primers. Work up to max load listed for 115 BT shown in Nosler loading manual #6. I don't have my book nearby IIRC it was 72.5 or 73, best to check. Some of the rifles were able go past this amount with 74 grs. The 74 gr loads were worked up in 85 degree temps. Outstanding accuracy. Two elk, and five deer taken so far with excellent results.

For what it is worth your results may vary due to a different chamber, not using moly, number of grooves in barrel and mixing components. I hope it works out for you.

You guys are great thanks to ALL!!!!!!!!!! Lord willing I'll be trying the Bergers on this weekend!!!!!

I have a 700 Rem SS SPS with 26" barrel. I have tried 7828 with the 115 Berger VLD. I thought that this bullet offered the best balance of mass, BC, and velocity. The loads I have tried are between 66.0 to 67.0 grains. With 67.0 grains I obtained 3363 - 3376 fps using Federal 215 primers, Federal 7mm Mag brass resized to 257, set to an OAL of 3.710". I got very uniform extreme spreads (13.13) and Standard deviations (6.55) but did not shoot good groups. I have not found a single load in this rifle that goes less than 1.5 to 2.5". A problem I encountered with this bullet is that I could not set it any deeper than 3.710", it bottoms out in my Redding seating die. The chamber has a very long throat. I have also tried the 100grain TSX and 110 grain NAB. I have tried Ramshot Magnum, 7828, RL 25, and H1000. 7828 has produced the best Extreme Spreads and Standard Deviations of any powder I have used. Good luck.

Thanks Ed.

This works for me.

Gru that's what I'm looking for!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!! Mine came in today will try them and see what happens!!!!!!!

Marcus,
While I'm not shooting the Berger I am getting groups like Grumulkin with 115 Nosler BTs with IMR4350. It is a little slow but with groups like that who cares. My 257 is a Vanguard.

Same load as Grus' Marc?

No I'm using IMR4350 max load in the newest Nosler Manual with Fed215s and WBY brass.

Interesting Berger sent me some load data and it didn't have any 4350 data,
115 Grain AA MAGPRO 64.5 3121 67.8 3286 90.4%
115 Grain RE-22 61.0 3103 64.5 3273 90.1%
115 Grain RETUMBO 66.0 3136 69.6 3300 97.8%
115 Grain NORMA MRP2 65.0 3107 68.7 3289 97.1%
115 Grain Ramshot Magnum 66.5 3114 70.1 3299 92.5%
115 Grain VIHT N170 67.5 3029 70.9 3195 99.6%
115 Grain H1000 65.5 3096 69.1 3277 94.8%
115 Grain RE-25 63.5 3132 66.9 3287 95.0%
115 Grain IMR 7828 SC 61.5 3058 64.6 3214 88.8%
115 Grain ADI AR 2209 58.0 3078 61.0 3223 83.9%
115 Grain ADI AR 2213 61.0 3110 64.0 3260 87.1%

which is ok. What I'm going to do is try what I have as per powder and if it dosen't look promissing OR if it do I'll still try the 4350. Thanks Marc!!!!

From Nosler #6
IMR4350 115 grain BT/CT/PT
55gr 2952 fps
57gr 3034 fps
59gr 3116 fps also listed as the must accurate load with IMR4350.

Awesome!!!!!! Thanks Marc!

Gotta help a fellow Marcus! It's a fun caliber.

I have over 300 Berger VLD 115s thru a 25 SAUM with 27" Lilja. Case capacity is several grains less than the Weatherby so can offer no help with powder, but Rx 25 has been most uniform, within specific lots, in this smaller case. I expect SDs to be under 20 fps. However, in this rifle I have seen big differences between different lot #s of Rx25. My first can got the Bergers to 3300 with 61.5 grains. My current lot # gets nearly there with 56 grains.
The Berger 115 will shoot flatter at 3000fps than the Nosler 115 Ballistic tip at 3300. I sent a scope to Premier to have ranging dots installed to 600 yards according to shooting groups with the Nosler. I latter tried the Begers and found them to be a bit more than 1 MOA higher at ranges past 300, with a 300 yard zero.
That Berger is a slick bullet.

It really is! Thanks again!

WHOA interesting..... I'll definitely be trying the Rel.25 along with some other powders I have. I figure out of the 5 I'll try HOPEFULLY I'll have atleast one that looks promissing! Thanks headspace!

No problem!

Does anyone actually use the RCBS VLD Deburring Tool while loading these I mean will it make a difference I'm sure one can use a regular deburring tool as well.............right?

I have never used it. I also shoot VLDs in 6mm and 7mm and have used the same inside and outside chamfer tool for all.

Great!!!!!!!!! I'm loading tonight for this weekend!!!!!!

What type of velocity were you getting at 67 grns of RL 25, and what was the barrel length juliang.

Azshooter if you don't mind could you look at your book to see what the velocity was with the respected grains of powder, and barrel length.

Guys the reason I'm asking is beause I got 1 whole 5 shot groups at 66.5 grns and 1 whole at 67.3 grains(RL25) with the Bergers at .030 of the lands, to say the least I couldn't chrono them because I had to send my CED sensors and computer back to CED. Thanks in advance. Will post picks tonight Lord willing and not forgetting to do so.

The rifles had different length barrels: One 24", two 26' and two 28" barrels. Velocities ranged from 3575 for the short barrel, 3625 or so for the 26" and 3685 and 3700 for the 28" barrels. This is off the top of my head as I only own one 28" barreled rifle. Remember all used moly coated Berger VLD bullets.

You never know what your rifle will chrono at...is it a 3 groove like these? Guess you might have to wait for the CED to come back. Let us know....

No sir Rock Creek 25" as soon as I get my chrono items I'll post or shoot you a pm AZ....

Hey guys, I do not see many loads using Retumbo. I have found in my custom built M700 Roy it is one of the most consistant for accuracy that I have found in bullet weights of 110-120gr, .5'' groups or better with 3 different loads (110,115,120)and the highest velocity to go with that. I know every rifle is different but I thought I would share that. I have tried R25,H4831,H1000 for my comparisons.

I tried R-25, and H1000. allthough I do think R-25 can be a potentail shooter in my gun, I was short on time so I ran with the H1000. I think 71-72 grains, but I am not 100% sure!

I can't wait to get my CED back I got to chrono the loads I stated above, to say the least with the groups I'm getting I'm scared to try anything else. The Retumbo do looks good as per velocity in the data Berger sent me, but accuracy is what I look for I'm hoping the 115's I got loaded with the 67.3grns out of my 25" Rock shows at least 3300!

Mark V .257 Wby. with 115 gr. Bergers, 71.2 gr. RL-25 with Fed GM 215 M using formed new Winchester 7 Rem Mag cases. They're a little shorter, once formed, than factory Wby. brass. At about 1/3 the cost, they are reportedly made of harder brass. This load chrono's at 3,300 fps. and has shot sub inch (.78") at 200 yds. COAL is 3.36", which is about max for the mag length Mark V box. I traded for the gun, a synthetic, sold the factory stock on Ebay for $99 and bought a B&C Medalist from Stocky's on line for $207. I glassed, free floated and torqued the action. It took a lot of research, loading and testing to come up with this load. TSX 100's and NAB 110's would group about .7" at 100. Only this load would do that at 200 yds. Tried 5 different recommended powders to discover that RL-25 was the most consistent in this gun.

Today, I mounted a Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44 BT and am going to zero at 200. That puts it only an inch or so high at 100 and with one turn of the turret, it should range out to around 800 yds. Not that I plan to shoot it that far, but it will be nice to verify each yardage before ordering a custom scribed turret from Outdoorsmans, in AZ. Then all one has to do is range, crank the turret and shoot. After that, it's a function of a steady position, proper trigger technique, mirage, wind and who knows what else. I will be practicing, using my Harris bipod from sitting position before my next Pronghorn hunt in N.E. NM. I would probably need my bench for those mega long shots... And, of course, for the wind to stop blowing for half a minute... I think I'll be comfortable taking a crack at a speed goat up to 450-500 yds. I'd prefer shooting one at 100 yds. I just want to be prepared...

DF

The load data that Berger sent me was real anemic.
I tried RL-22, RL-25, Retumo, and IMR-7828 with the 115 molyed bergers.
Setteled on 75gr of Retumo, Norma brass, cci 250primer,COL- 3.350" for 3350fps and sub MOA

I thought so, too. My Mark V shoots the load I listed with NO signs of pressure. The cases just fall out and the bolt handle opens with ease. The Berger suggestions were of little use to me. I wanted to know which powder was a stand out. All they did was list a bunch of possibilities, all below optimal performance, and with no suggestions otherwise.

IMHO, of course.

DF

thanks for the info also I though I was the only one haveing trouble with thin necks on the Weatherby brass. If I don't anneal them I will start splitting the necks on the second loading of less then max loads. the 7mm rem mag necked down to .257 is working really well for me. I may not spend the money on Wetherby brass again.

Wow this is an old thread!

Update on our 5 semi custom Roys. The following were all killed with 115 Berger VLDs.

Dan's LW (6.5 lb) 24" Roy has killed 6 elk and 4 mule deer
(his heavy 28" version is a safe queen)
Allen's 5 coues wt
Tim's 5 coues wt

My 28" Roy has taken 6 coues wt and an antelope.

---------------


Round count on my Roy got to 600 or so and it began to destroy the 115 VLDs due to rough throat area. Switched to 110 accubonds which won't come apart. Took a javelina last year.

Switched to RL-33 with moly coated 110 accubond and gained some FPS.


Original load 75.5 gr of RL-25 vel 3615 fps

RL-33
80 gr 3432 fps
81 gr 3525
82 gr 3559
83 3625 which slightly faster than old load with RL-25
83.5 3674 fps shot well two shots were same velocity
84 gr 3704 fps shot well two shots were same velocity
84.5 gr 3735 slight signs of pressure on one case of four this is max case capacity with drop tube

Reduced charge to 83.5 gr of RL-33 with great results. Round count now over 900. Barrel is very ugly looking in bore scope and takes forever to clean. BUT it still shoots under 1/2 MOA.

Will definitely rebarrel to 257 Roy when this barrel dies.

I also am working with H1000 in the .257Wby Mag with the 115gr NBT. My gun starts to show pressure at 73gr with bullets jammed in lands. My working load is 71-71.5 right now as I finish up ladders.