.257 Weatherby Magnum
The .257 Weatherby Magnum was introduced
during the mid 1940's, back when Roy was still building custom rifles around
war surplus '03 Springfield and the '98 Mauser actions. It was always a favorite
cartridge.
There once was a time when everything written about such cartridges as the
.257 Weatherby Magnum included an apology for it's barrel life, but such
opinions are now as outdated as high top shoe's and Model A Fords. The advent
of tougher barrel steels and, possibly more important, a greater awareness
among shooters of the importance of cleaning rifle barrels properly have
proven that the big game hunting accuracy life of a barrel in .257 Weatherby
Magnum (and other like cartridges) is in excess of 2000 rounds. This, of
course, is assuming that the shooter does not wash out the chamber throat
by subjecting the barrel to a high rate of sustained fire. Allow a barrel
in .257 Weatherby Magnum to cool down every three shots an it will last the
average shooter a lifetime.
The .257 Weatherby Magnum is seen at its best when burning a slow powder
in a 26" barrel. A shorter barrel is handier but it cuts back on .257 Magnum
performance by a substantial degree. H4831 and
IMR-4831 are
good choices for this cartridge when loading bullets up to 100 grains, but
H870 and
IMR-7828 will
usually push heavier bullets faster at equal chamber pressures.
Due to the extremely high velocity possible with this cartridge, bullets
of controlled expansion design are best for shooting big game heavier than
Whitetails and Pronghorn. The Nosler
120 grain Partition and Remington 120 grain Core Lokt are excellent bullets
for shooting big game with the .257 Weatherby Magnum.
Source: Hodgdon Data Manual, 26th Edition
| 257 Weatherby Magnum Reloading Components & Accessories | |
Hornady Shell Holder #5
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RCBS
Case Trimmer Pilot .25 Caliber
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| 25 Caliber (.257) Bullets |
RCBS Standard Bullet Puller, Collet 25
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|
RCBS Ammo Box (#86903) |
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