Everything I've ever read and for the most part practiced in reloading rifle cartridges is to seat the bullet 0.002 to 0.003 of an inch off the lands. My next rifle I will be working up a load for will be the new Remington 700 CDL SF chambered in the 257 Weatherby Magnum. Seating close to the lands is not suppose to be possible due to the famous freebore of these rifles, yet there is the claim for such great accuracy. So what makes them accurate? Having found the "sweet spot" in so many rifles close to the rifling, I'm confused.
Getting ready to load for a 257 Weatherby Magnum.
- Thread starter Old Southern Man
- Start date
I've got that same exact gun. You just have to pick a COAL and go with it. The 100 grain Nosler B-tips and 100 grain Scirocco's seem to like 3.330 to 3.400. Most other bullets have shot best around 3.270. I have shot them all and settled on the 100 grain Swift Scirrocco and Re22. Allot of people at the range around here shoot this caliber and we all shoot the same load with either the B-tips or Scirocco's. Must be in a well defined acuracy window for most guns. I will p.m. it to you if interested.
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
Old Southern Man
I have a custom .257 WBY with a Krieger barrel with minimal freebore on a M700 LA with a long magazine.
I seat close to the rifling with a long overall length. You have to drop the powder charges because you have a normal throat. You cannot used factory ammo.
In your rifle you can load closer to the rifling if your magazine is long enough but you have to decrease powder charges. You will get the same velocity and pressure with less powder. Years ago P.O. Ackley disproved the freebore theory as one of the Weatherby sales gimicks. In addition, some of the WBY. factory ammo is loaded to high max. pressures.
I use Barnes TTSXs with my best accuracy around 1/2-5/8" groups.
Another Old Southern Man
I have a custom .257 WBY with a Krieger barrel with minimal freebore on a M700 LA with a long magazine.
I seat close to the rifling with a long overall length. You have to drop the powder charges because you have a normal throat. You cannot used factory ammo.
In your rifle you can load closer to the rifling if your magazine is long enough but you have to decrease powder charges. You will get the same velocity and pressure with less powder. Years ago P.O. Ackley disproved the freebore theory as one of the Weatherby sales gimicks. In addition, some of the WBY. factory ammo is loaded to high max. pressures.
I use Barnes TTSXs with my best accuracy around 1/2-5/8" groups.
Another Old Southern Man
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
My 257Wby is a MarkV with a Hart barrel.Try RL 22; H4831sc;IMR 4350 and Fed mag primers. Start out with the bullets seated out as far as the magazine will allow and see where they are in relation to the lands. For hunting, try the Barnes 100gr Triple shock....accurate and deadly!The good thing about the triple shock is that they usually shoot well when they are farther away from the lands - about 50 thousandths off.
Good luck, Gary
Good luck, Gary
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