.257 Match Varmint Bullet

[Buzzbee]

Hi All,
I'm in the process of working up 25-284 loads for predator hunting. I have tried 75g vmax, 85g Btip and 87g SPT with Fed 210, between RL19, H4350 & H4831 loaded in prepped Lapua brass. I started with .010 in to the lands and back out, the best 5 shot so far avg about 1" @ 100 in indoors condition. I am just about pulling my hair out with this gun, I thought a match grade bullet may be the answer, so I called Berger today, they told me they stop making the varmint HP in the .257, I was wondering if there is another source for a match varmint bullet or any one has a recipe or any idea that may help me before I toss this barrel and start over.
BTW, both barrel and gun smithing are by reputable names and I won't bad mouth either as I have guns from them that shoots.

Thanks in advance,

Buzz

 

[bmx]

Buzz
I'm shooting a 7# 25-06 sporter using Lapua necked down 06 cases, H-4832SC and 87 grain Sierra flat base bullets that will cosistantly group within 3/8 inch @ 100 yards and will hold within 4 inch groups @ 500 yards.

The only varmint style bullets that I've been able to get good accuracy is the Sierra or the Hornady.

I had some bulletrs made by WILDCAT bullets in canada that shot great but they were heavy jacket hunting bullets.

Have you tried just barely touching the lands with the bullet? My .25-06, .257 Roberts and my 25-08 all seem to like just touching the lands. Also try the H-4831 SC powder

 

[M700]

What's the barrel twist on your rifle?

I've shot some very nice groups from a .25-06 with plain jane 100 grain SPBT Sierras...

 

[AckleymanII]

In the 25/284 that I had, I shot a full case of WC852 with a 100g Nosler Ballistic Tip, the accuracy was simply unreal. Your rifle may like 100g bullets better than the lighter bullets.

I have had two custom zero freebore 257 Weatherby Mags that had no freebore. I shot several bullets that simply shot unreal which includes the 100g Nosler Ballistic tip, the 100g Sierra Spt BT, and the Sierra 100g Match. I was shooting these bullets at 3850 and I am sure that your rifle will shoot them with unreal accuracy if you find the powder that the gun likes.

By the way, the 100g Nosler makes a gut rug out of a coyote. Don't be surprised if you see a yote come off the ground when shot at 300 yards!

 

[Buzzbee]

Barrel is 1-10", 26" hvy varmint and I'll give these options mentioned a chance as I have nothing to loose at this point.

 

[Preacher]

100 grain Ballistic tips and H-4350 should be a excellent combination in the 25/284, it wouldn't hurt to try H-4831 either with the same bullet. My Lilja barreled 25/284 loves that load of H-4350 and will do less than 2 inches at 300 yards 99% of the time if I yank on the trigger hard enough 'O)

 

[chino1969]

Buzz,
I'm having pretty good results in a .25-06 using 100 grn. Nosler Ballistic Tips with H4831sc. I tried the various 87 grn. bullets and wasn't that impressed with their accuracy. It appears as though my bore favors the heavier bullets with slower powder. Jeff Fowler makes accuracy grade .257 cal. bullets in, I believe, 110 grns. Jeff's bullets are excellent and I can vouch for his 6mm 68grn. & 80 grn. bullets. I want to try some of his .257 cal. bullets in the near future. Before you give up, I would try H4831 with heavier bullets.
Regards,
Chino69

 

[RJinTexas]

I agree you should take a hard look at the combo of NBT100gr & H4831sc as it's shoots sub .5 moa consistently in almost every 25-06 I've loaded for and just about as well in most 257Wby's but as Keith stated it devastating in a 257 Wby. Should be a natural fit for your 25-284. Please do post your results.

RJ

 

[2506]

Also try some flat base bullets. My current 25-06 Shilen barrel will not shoot BT bullets but will shoot FB bullets like a house a fire.

 

[Preacher]

For a up date, I'm now using 95 grain Berger Match bullets in my #5 26 inch Lilja 25/284 with HV100 and H-4831SC... Getting lots of velocity out of the HV100 and usually will hang around the 4's at 100 yards, and if all's going well, right around 1.5 inchs at 350 yards off a Harris bipod, and a varmint stock....
H-4831 shoots as well but the velocity is off by 200 fps.......

 

[wildhog]

Nice stuff Preacher
JIM

 

[sewwhat89]

I really like the 87 gr Speer Spitzers. I am waiting on the TNTs to see if they will shoot as well as the SPs do.