After years of considering it, I finally took the plunge and acquired a .257 Wby. The rife is the older version (V1) Weatherby Vanguard Sub-MOA. My plans are to run the 100 gr TTSX. I am curious if any of the new powders that have come out in the last few years are out performing the benchmarks like RL 22; Magnum & H 1000? RL 26 and a 150 gr bullet in the 270 seems to have a magical combination, any special combinations with the new powders and the 257 Wby?

I own a .257 Wby. in a MkV, in which I shoot 100 gr. TTSX Barnes bullets, using RL22. Like you, I am curious about the performance of RL26 in my rifle. Hornady is now making their ELD-X bullet for .257 in a 110 grainer, with a BC of .465, quite a bit higher than the .327 of the Barnes TTSX.
I'm thinking that if this bullet can be safely pushed at around 3450-3500 fps, it would be very flat-shooting indeed, and with a lot less wind drift than the TTSX.
Been hoping that someone would post some load data as a starting point.
BTW- I have recently worked up a load for my .280, utilizing RL26 and the Hornady 150 gr. ELD-X bullet, at a MV over 3000 fps, and great, sub-MOA accuracy.

This might be worth a look been considering myself. MD really like Ram Shot Magnum in his vanguard. Been shooting the 100GR TSX with H1000 in mine and it is my go to for deer.

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/rl26-257-wby-115-bergers.191185/

Good luck and shoot straight y'all

C ROY,

I haven't tried all the new powders in the .257 Weatherby, in particular RL-26, because according to Alliant's data it doesn't provide any more velocity than I'm getting with H1000 and 100-grain bullets. A lot of people assume that because 26 results in higher velocity with SOME cartridge/bullet combination, it will do it in just about anything. But that's not true, anymore than it was for RL-17 when it was the latest Wonder Powder.

Am still finding Magnum and H1000 pretty good for 100's, partly because both are more temperature-resistant than RL-22, especially H1000. IMR7977 proved to be pretty close, with both 100's and heavier bullets, but in my NULA H1000 was more accurate--just as Magnum was in my first .257 Weatherby, a Vanguard.

Haven't tried IMR8133 yet, partly because there's no published data, but partly due to being too busy with assigned projects.

Thanks MD. I happen to have been given an almost full 8 lb. jug of H-1000 about a year ago from someone winding down their reloading. This should come in handy. I also have some Magnum and IMR 7828 ssc on hand. This should get me on my way with some initial load development.

The Speer data has become my go to source as I use several types of Alliant powder. https://www.speer-ammo.com/reloading/rifle

Their data is still showing R25, R33, Magnum and VV560 as all ahead of R26 and R23 is behind R22 in velocity for some loads. So R26 is in the top 4-5 powders for velocity it trails up to 100 fps behind the old standbys. I am having good results with R26 in several cartridges but it is not magic and some of the super high velocities reported were due to a lack of tested data and a heavy hand on the powder dipper. It also doesn't show any traditional pressure signs until you are at a proof load level. I believe this is due to the long peak pressure curve and that the peak is further down the barrel than for less progressive powders. But I have no data to support this theory.

I get 3600 fps with 100 gr TTSX and book max H1000 in a 26" barrel.

My .257 Wby. shoots 100 gr. TTSXes at a chronoed 3700 fps, using RL 22 powder, with great sub-MOA accuracy, from my 26" bbl. MkV.

MD I noticed that your max load of RS Magnum for 100 grain in both Gun Gacks is now nearly 3 grains above max in the data now published by Western. Seems like a lot for batch to batch variances. Is the new data for a different batch or are you still using the same loads?

Shoot straight y'all

scottishkat,

Actually, my only handload with Magnum that uses any of the 100-grain bullets listed in Western's data is 1.7 grains above Western's. My load with the 100-grain Barnes TSX used 75.0 grains, while their max load is 73.3 grains. That was in my first .257 Weatherby, a Vanguard sporter--which I sold a decade ago. (

When I first started playing with Magnum in the .257 Weatherby in 2005, Western didn't have any data for the cartridge, probably because they didn't have a pressure barrel, so I started low, with charges that seemed reasonable given the approximate burn-rate with Magnum, and worked up until velocities were in the right area, and accuracy was good.

Have encountered slightly warmer batches of Magnum since, based on results in other rounds, but nothing startling.

I have several Weatherby units and a few friends carrying too. Presently my 257 loads are with RL 22 and they're well under MOA. Amongst my associates, however, IMR 7828 seems to be the cat's ass from 240's up through the 300's. Next reloading, I'm going to give that a try in the 257. That was also a powder often found on the shelves when we went though our last shortage.

As a generality, the slower burners seem to do quite will in the super velocity units.

Ramshot in both of my .257 Roys

I use 72 grains of Reloader 22, right at 3500 fps, right at an inch. I prefer the 110 Accubonds.

Ramshot Magnum gives me excellent velocity and single-digit SD's w/100TSX. 25" 3-groove 1:10" Lilja on a SS M70 Classic action.

i use 72 grains of reloader 22 also with a 27 inch Bunx barrel on my Ruger no.1 100 gr. Swift A-Frame bullet 3700 fps out of my ohler chronograph.

I look forward to seeing what RL-26 will do in the .257 Wby.

Mine worked well with RL-22, RL-23 should do as well and with better temp stability.

DF

RL-25 and 115 NBT's. You can thank me later! As a 2nd choice, H-1000 and 110 NAB's.

Skip the 100 TTSX. It's a ping pong ball. If you're going to burn 70+ grains of powder, you might as well maximize it with a better bullet that doesn't get stomped by lesser cartridges, burning less powder.

As for RL-26, It didn't generate any more velocity than RL-25. Both will give me just over 3400 fps with a 115 NBT. That's max in my gun.

100gr TTSXs or old Hornady Interlocks;
71.3gr RL-22/MRP
Fed 215 primers.
done

There definitely seems to be a trend on powder burn range for this cartridge. Luckily I have some RL 22 & 23 & 25; Magnum; 7828 & H-1000..waiting on the rifle & components to arrive! Can’t wait to get started

75.5 grains of H1000 is giving me sub moa consistently (most much better) with Wby or Norma brass, Fed 215M’s and 110 grain Hornady ELD-X bullets. Chronograph is running between 3470 and 3505 for rounds clocked.

Ping pong ball? Hardly. I have used the 100 gr. TSX and RE 22 for 10 plus years from 20 to 600 yards from elk to antelope to Oryx and everything in between and it has not failed a single time on any critter. 3700 fps and super accurate spells very lethal and very effective. 6-8 hunting buddies also have the very same experience. I think the rest of this thread backs that up.........................YMMV.

Ping Pong ball, seriously? NOTHING kills like that 100gr TTSX @3700. NOTHING>

I've got to question the ping pong ball comment also especially when you place a Nosler BT above a TTSX. I own 4 Weatherby's in cals 240, 257, 6.5-300 & 300. I've yet to see a BT hold up as well as a TTSX in the velocity ranges produced.in those calibers.

I concur!

Monos really come to life in hyper-velocity rounds.

The 120 TTSX and E-Tips are stellar in my 26 Nosler, running at near 3,500 fps. About the most accurate bullets in that round with impressive terminal performance on game. Messes’em up pretty bad, DRT the norm.

I would think100 TTSX in the .257 Wby would be similar, long way ahead of a ping pong ball.

DF

Look at Reloader 25 and 33 these out perform R26 and I am a fan of R26. I would also consider VV N565 and N570. The old stanbye's produce plenty of velocity so I would look towards more temperature stability with the newer powders. The old H870 type powders also did well, H869 and some surplus powders in this burn rate range are available.

872 is about the same as 869 and much cheaper. Google Jeff Bartlett, $50 for 8#’s.

Vv-570 is a very coarse stick powder that won’t meter. I took the drop tube out of my Uniflow, dropped charges in a scale pan and weighed each one. It has good QL data for a number of large rounds.

DF

Jorge,
You know, some others know, and some will never know..
The .257 always states its case in the field. I have experience with 4 over as many decades and don't worry too much any more about opinions.
John

How do you get a ping pong ball in that little bitty hole??

I'm a fan of a max load of 7828SSC and the 100 grain Barnes. It is accurate and repeatable.

I’ve ran the 2 fiddy 7 more than most, 100 factory Hornadys are nasty...... ALOT of meat has been made with said bullet....

25 years as a matter of fact, exclusively..

They don't bounce off thats for sure

i just purchased a 1,000 131 grain Black Jack bullets ,my 257 Weatherby Mag. has a 27 inch - 10 twist barrel on my #1 not sure if these bullets are going to fly well but if ? these 131 gr, bullets do fly well at 3300 + fps would be a heck of a long range bullet. the reason a purchased these 131 gr. bullets is for my 25 Creedmoor i am building with a 7 1/2 twist and probably shoot around 2800 + fps ? will find out in the next month or so about accuracy and velocity of my 257 W. Mag. with 131 gr. bullets

Regarding the comment: "Nothing kills like the 100gr TTSX @3700." The 115 Berger @ 3600-3675 is no slouch either. To date, five of us have taken a few animals using this bullet with the 257 Roy. Many were DRTs.

25 coues wt
6 elk
4 mule deer
2 antelope
and a few javelina

I used 7828 and it gets my 117 SST screaming toward the target.

Just my opinion.....the 100 grain TTSX is a very fine bullet for the .257 Weatherby....and if I still had my .257 "bee" I'd be using IMR 7828.....with a lot of experimentation, you might be able to beat that by a hundred FPS but if you do you'll never be able to see the difference in the field. I'm not aware of any powders that perform so much better that one will actually be able to see a real difference.

A lot of what we (so called) hunters do is actually for our egos and not for venison on the table.

This - 7828 and 120 grain partitions

Nice wood.

DF