257 Weatherby Vanguard S2. Load development. New data

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pacobillie

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This post has been updated since it was originally posted. I have abandoned the idea of a pressure point.

Here is my predicament. I am trying to develop a long range hunting load. The rifle is a Weatherby Vanguard S2. I upgraded the stock to a Boyd laminated stock, and the action is bedded. The barrel is free floated.

I have tried three powders thus far: IMR 7828 SSC, H1000, and RE-25.

I have tried two bullets: Hornady ELD-x 110 grains, and Hornady Interbond 110 grains.

At the beginning, I had decent grouping (once) with the ELD-x bullet, 68 grains of IMR 7828 and the rifle in the original synthetic stock. (I sold it. So, I cannot go back to determine if it was a fluke).


I have been unable to duplicate the same results with the new Boyds stock. Rather, my best group with the ELD-x has been with 66.5 grains of IMR 7828 SSC (about 0.7 MOA, but I am unable to duplicate the accuracy with the Interbond. The best load thus far with the Interbond is 70.4 grains of of H-1000. Stringing is vertical. Accuracy is about 1.3 MOA. Velocity is 3341 fps, out of a 24 in. barrel. No signs of pressure. Hotter loads are worse, accuracy wise.

I have not found an accuracy node yet with the RE-25 powder and the Interbond. I have gone up to 71 grains, for 3325 fps.

BTW, I am using 7mm Rem Mag Hornady brass, that has been annealed and resized to 257 Wby mag. Brass is slightly heavier (thicker) than Wby brass. Thus, loads are less than published max loads. The brass has been weight sorted.

Although it shoots well, I do not trust the ELD-X to perform well on game at those velocities (about 3300 fps).

Since I cannot get the Interbond to group, I am considering trying something different. Options include the 110 gr Accubond, the 100 gr Barnes TSX, or the 110 grain Nosler E-tip. Any thoughts or input?
 
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Weatherby supplies their rifles with the appropriate stock - i had one and it shot 3 shot MOA or better with the non-free floated barrel. It could be the new stock you have - I would buy some Weatherby ammo measure the coal of each round take an average. See if your groupings tighten up - then use those to reload.

I loved my weatherby like an idiot i sold it.

ivo
 
Weatherby stocks come with a pressure point in the barrel channel, this really helps with skinny profile barrel consistency. It's usually 2"-3" from the end of the forestock and provides 4-5lbs pressure. You can always add something that isn't permanent, I use cork drawer liner, one or 2 layers thick in my skinny barrel rifles does the trick.
 
Hitzy said:
Weatherby stocks come with a pressure point in the barrel channel, this really helps with skinny profile barrel consistency. It's usually 2"-3" from the end of the forestock and provides 4-5lbs pressure. You can always add something that isn't permanent, I use cork drawer liner, one or 2 layers thick in my skinny barrel rifles does the trick.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about a piece of bicycle inner tube, in the barrel channel.
 
Try IMR 7977 or Retumbo. Both shoot great in my Vanguard II 257 Weatherby.
Like yours, it is in a Boyd's Laminate Classic. I have a pressure point under the
barrel, about 3" from the front of the stock.
I also had good results with IMR 5010, but it is obsolete. [I have 6 lbs, lol]
Am going to try Vihtavuori N570, since it is very slow burning also. Dave.
 
The No.4 Enfield rifle was to have 2 to 7 pounds of up pressure at the forend tip. And some of the the Remington 700 rifles with wooden stocks had 3 to 9 pounds of up pressure at the forend tip.

This up pressure at the forend tip was a way to tune the rifles for the best accuracy. And sometimes if you free float a barrel that had factory up pressure the groups will get bigger.

Another tuning method is the amount of torque applied to the receiver bedding screws that will effect barrel vibrations.

Below the factory put the raised section in the forend tip to help tune the rifles and improve accuracy.

Barrel-Bedding-3.jpg
 
Every Vanguard that I put into a Boyd's and bedded/floated all shot decently(.270 , 25/06 , and a friends 300WM)

I think you just have to find the sweet spot.

What is your COAL?

They have extremely long throats ,you may need to play with seating depth.
 
My Weatherby 257 was very fussy with its load development, my groups got better as I kept the barrel cold and clean. The first two shots in my rifle will touch the third Shot opens up the group as the barrel has warmed up. Cold bore mapping is a must for a Hotrod calibre like the weather bee..
My pet load uses 100 grain Barnes with IMR 4831, h1000 was also very accurate but not as fast. It makes a good hunting cartridge not so much a good target shooting calibre. Good luck with your hand loading I love my Weatherby laser
 
I've used sawdust and wood glue to build up a pressure point on K31 stocks that a couple people free floated thinking it would improve accuracy. That free floating made them useless at 300m. Applied with action screws a little loose and waxed the barrel at contact point. Stock should be let to dry with sight vertical as if ready to shoot. 2nd application with action screws tightened may be needed.
 
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Wouldnt be the first sporter weight barrel that didn't like free floating. You can try a temporary pressure point to see if that helps. Piece of rubber would be fine.

You can build a pressure point with epoxy. Use playdoh as a dam. Place the action back in the stock but don't tighten screws completely. When the epoxy is hard you should have pressure on the barrel by tightening the action screw. Sand it down if to much pressure.
 
I seat 115's and 120's out as far as possible. [one bullet diameter in the case neck.]
They look a bit ungainly, but shoot well seated out. ¾ moa groups are common, with
some even smaller. Dave.
 
I run Nosler brass, 110gr accubond at 3400fps using H4831. Mine sits in a B&C stock which has the pressure point, I don't shoot it fast, but it will print 3 rounds under an inch like clockwork. It's zeroed to point and shoot anything deer sized out to 300m, nice flat shooter.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
Every Vanguard that I put into a Boyd's and bedded/floated all shot decently(.270 , 25/06 , and a friends 300WM)

I think you just have to find the sweet spot.

What is your COAL?

They have extremely long throats ,you may need to play with seating depth.
Click to expand...

If I increase COAL, pressure inside the case will likely go down, and velocity too. Other than trial and error, is ther a method for figuring out the best combination of load and COAL?
 
pacobillie said:
If I increase COAL, pressure inside the case will likely go down, and velocity too. Other than trial and error, is ther a method for figuring out the best combination of load and COAL?
Click to expand...

Not exactly, where I typically start is what the bullets tend to traditionally like for jump/jam, rifle parameters being considered in some cases(single shot/mag feed).Then do my load testing and development.

Also,if you get to a certain point into the lands depending on bullet and case dimensions you could also have pressure increase/spike.
 
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