Nomosendero
Well-Known Member
I should have clarified, which shoots better in my rifle, I won't know until I try. I know they both will kill!
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.257 bee 90gr absolute
- Thread starter snox801
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snox801
Well-Known Member
Agreed I've used both and the hammer is hands done better in at everything.
snox801
Well-Known Member
The 4350 will be the ticket with the hammer. But I'd love for you to try Rl26. I have a ton of that and also have a 28" barrel. Might have some extra speed on top.
Good call, we don't determine what a rifle likes only the gun does....shoot them both and see which shoots both near and far and you'll know pretty quickly....
snox801
Well-Known Member
Both should shoot well enough for any distance you will get with a .257. I have no doubt about that so it would come down to what kills better and speed which the hammers win by a wide margin. But that's if they shoot. Weird things happen and maybe your rig won't like them but I'd start with those and save some time
The 257 Weatherby velocity with H4350 intrigued me. I built a 25 WSM with 27.75" Hart, 10-twist barrel. Supposed to have 0.130" freebore, according to LRI.
Realize the water capacity of my necked down Norma 270 WSM cases is 76.2gr. About 10% less than the 84gr water capacity commonly reported for the 257 Weatherby case.
My first shots were fired with this rifle today. Simply to find Max Pressure with H4350 and the 90gr Absolute Hammers, next to my LabRadar.
270 WSM Norma cases necked down to 25 cal.
Ambient Temperature = 68F
CCI 250 Primer
COL = 2.917"
59.5gr H4350 > 3,665fps > ~0.0005" cse head swell. Which I'm OK with for a first firing on a casing.
60.2gr H4350 > 3,710fps > ~0.0005" case head swell.
61.0gr H4350 > 3,736fps > ~0.0005" case head swell.
63.0gr H4350 > 3,847fps > ~0.0020" case head swell. I consider this excessive pressure. Brass life would be... maybe 3 shots per casing before primer pockets are loose/lost.
Look's like my rifle can shoot these bullets around 3,725fps with H4350, from my 27.75" 10-twist barrel. That while maintaining my comfort pressure level.
To be crystal clear, and not lead anyone astray: My data is from a 25 WSM chamber. Not a .257 Weatherby.
Realize the water capacity of my necked down Norma 270 WSM cases is 76.2gr. About 10% less than the 84gr water capacity commonly reported for the 257 Weatherby case.
My first shots were fired with this rifle today. Simply to find Max Pressure with H4350 and the 90gr Absolute Hammers, next to my LabRadar.
270 WSM Norma cases necked down to 25 cal.
Ambient Temperature = 68F
CCI 250 Primer
COL = 2.917"
59.5gr H4350 > 3,665fps > ~0.0005" cse head swell. Which I'm OK with for a first firing on a casing.
60.2gr H4350 > 3,710fps > ~0.0005" case head swell.
61.0gr H4350 > 3,736fps > ~0.0005" case head swell.
63.0gr H4350 > 3,847fps > ~0.0020" case head swell. I consider this excessive pressure. Brass life would be... maybe 3 shots per casing before primer pockets are loose/lost.
Look's like my rifle can shoot these bullets around 3,725fps with H4350, from my 27.75" 10-twist barrel. That while maintaining my comfort pressure level.
To be crystal clear, and not lead anyone astray: My data is from a 25 WSM chamber. Not a .257 Weatherby.
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snox801
Well-Known Member
That's screaming
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
I built a 25-284 last year and started a ladder test with h4350 and pressured out a little early so moved too a little slower powder rl19 with standard 200 lr primers I nearly run out of case capacity but made it too 3874 fps back down too a 3800 fps load safely with 6.5-284 Lapua brass primer posters still tight . All testing done with the 90 gr hammer. A old reloading manual showed max vel with the burn rate in the IMR 4831 burn rate . You might also achieve higher vel with the standard 200 lr primers giving a slower start up pressure with more burn down the barrel with the h4350 before hiring pressure.
Interesting. I see I have 1lb of H4831SC in the reloading room. Also see some RL17.
Those are the two powders I have coming closest to the IMR 4831 burn rate.
Should maybe pressure a few casings up to max with H4831SC and see what gives for MV...
Those are the two powders I have coming closest to the IMR 4831 burn rate.
Should maybe pressure a few casings up to max with H4831SC and see what gives for MV...
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
You might try cci 200 s with h4350 instead of the 250s from some new info it seems the standard primers are getting more vel , allowing a more uniform powder burn . Steve from hammer bullets has found in some cases it is making a big difference I tried it and it works . I'm pressuring out later with more powder and vel than with cci250 primers in both the 6.5 prc and my 25-284 with Hammer bullets .
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
Any lr primer over mag should do the trick from what I understand I'm mainly a cci user but fed should do fine .
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
I was pressured out at 59.5 grs of h4350 at3816 58 grs would be safe at3667 fps then I changed too rl19 made it too 62 grs at 3876 ,3856 ,and 3848 with a 3860 average bavcked down too 61.2 grs for a 3800 fps load no pressure problems . 25-284 1-8 twist 25 in barrel ,90 gr hammer.
I would try standard primers with H4350 and jam the bullet. My load in my 26" 25SST is 59gr h4350 at 3800 fps with the 90gr AH & fed 210s. I just jam .001-.002" that way I can eject rounds without pulling bullets. I think H4831 is to slow for you combo running an absolute hammer. My SST is ~ 4gr less h20 capacity at 72.2 gr. Rl26 will produce simular velocities as h4350 and I haven't tested RL17 but I'm guessing it will run a little faster velocities than both of those.
