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Messages - Ben257

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1
Around the Campfire (General Discussion) / Re: 257 Ideas please !!!
« on: January 07, 2021, 07:49:39 PM »
Yes, I had read good things about the GameKings.

I have a heap of them, so I may re try the load and see if I can get them to work at some point.
At the moment, Pretty happy to go with the Speers.

If the Speers didn't work, I was going to look at the Barnes and Nosler Partitions.

The terminal performance comment on the ELDX may have been a bit harsh - The range was less than 100m and the Shot was on a very hairy Billy goat shoulder. I took a nice neck shot on a large billy at 200m and the ELDX was very effective.

Not sure the Hornady ELD-X - or many other 25 cal bullets are robust enough for 257 WM high velocity close range impact.

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Around the Campfire (General Discussion) / Re: 257 Ideas please !!!
« on: January 07, 2021, 07:29:20 PM »
Hey Guys a bit of an update !

I have done fair bit of work with different projectiles.

- 85 Grain Nosler BT - Could not shoot a group
- 110 Grain Nosler BT - Could not shoot a group
- 110 Grain ELD-X - 2 to 3" group at 100, Poor Terminal performance in the field (Fragmented on Goat shoulder)
- 117 Grain Sierra GameKing - 4" + Group at 100.

At this point I was very concerned about what I had done to my rifle !!

- Speer 120 Grain BT - Regular 3/4" groups at 100. Happy Days  - Excellent terminal performance on Goats.

I suspect that the 1:9 twist may not be playing nicely with the lighter Projectiles ?? open to theories on this, as a lighter faster accurate load would be nice to add to the options for this rifle.

Other than that - after a long journey, very happy to have the power and accuracy out of a very nice rifle. Time to go and find something bigger to shoot !


3
Small Game / Re: 257 Bullet selection for Goats
« on: August 17, 2020, 09:36:19 PM »
Hey Guys,

Thanks for your thoughts.
It is clear that the Barnes TTSX and the Accubonds are getting a lot of love out there.

I have tripped over some Siearra 117 Gn Gamekings that I will have a go with.
If they group ok, I will have a crack in the field and see what happens.

You dont need to say it, I am already thinking it.
I am using a premium rifle in a Premium Calibre - I should be using Premium bullets !!!
I will go straight there if the Sierra's dont group !

Ben

4
Small Game / Re: 257 Bullet selection for Goats
« on: July 28, 2020, 09:09:09 PM »
Thanks Mike,

Looks like I need a bit of a lesson on bullet construction.
My world has been Varmint / Predator hunting where rapid expansion is very handy.
I am just moving into the mid sized game space and plan to look a larger game in the near future.

As I mentioned, bullet selection where I am is limited, ordering in from overseas is prohibited.
Therefore I need to use what is available.
I will try to track down some Partitions and some 100 Grain TTSX Bullets - thanks for the suggestion. Hopefully the 100 grain projectiles play nice in my 1 in 9 twist barrel.

Are any of the Hornady .25 cal bullets worth trying ??? They are generally well stocked in our area.

Ben

5
Small Game / Re: 257 Bullet selection for Goats
« on: July 28, 2020, 07:46:46 PM »
On another note,

My Shooting Buddy was using a 260 Rem with ELDX projectiles not sure which ones but in the 120 to 130 grain range.

He had a nice shoulder shot on a Nanny at approximately 100m. DRT through one shoulder and belted up the other side - did not exit.
On cutting up the nanny, we only found fragments.

The Nannys are much smaller than the Billys - This adds some weight to the theory that the 110 Grain ELDX in the 257 are completely fragmenting at shorter ranges, and not penetrating enough to put them down.

Looks like a bullet change and another load development process.
Its a shame as I was really happy with the accuracy of the 110 ELDX.



6
Small Game / Re: 257 Bullet selection for Goats
« on: July 28, 2020, 07:13:50 PM »
Thanks Guys,

Most shots were taken on the shoulder, in the event that the the Goat was still, I went for a neck shot. The head is generally moving around too much !

Pretty sure the last one, that burst out of the bush was already hit. With at total 3 hits (aiming at the shoulder), there were no exit wounds and it was difficult to see entry wounds. Thats a total of 8000 Ft/Lbs to put him down.

I have tried lighter projectiles, but I have a new 1:9 twist barrel in the rifle, It does not like the 85 grain Nosler BT's. best I could get out of those was a 4" group, the 110 grain ELDX are a solid 3/4 MOA.

I am very surprised by this result - all the reading I had done suggested the ELDX was a good bullet selection for this type of game. I am starting to think that the many of the 25 cal bullets are designed for 25/06 or slower, and the additional velocity of the 257 is causing excessive fragmentation, particularly at shorter ranges.

I appreciate the suggestions and will look at the partitions.
I was also looking at the 117 grain Sierra Pro Hunters and Game Kings - does anyone have any experience with these in the 257 ?
There are some suggestions that the 120 Grain Speer Hot Core bullets could perform well - any comments or experience would be appreciated regarding these bullets.

There are limited bullet selections where I am - so sometimes I have to use the equipment that is available rather than what is best !!!



7
Small Game / 257 Bullet selection for Goats
« on: July 27, 2020, 11:55:21 PM »
Hey Guys,

I had a pretty ordinary experience recently, looking for some suggestions.

Round 1 -

I was out predator hunting with a 22.250 and unexpectedly stumbled across some goats. The fist target was a nice Nanny, which I dropped on the spot. The second target was the largest Billy in the mob - which soaked up 3 well placed shots before he dropped, the 3rd target was another large billy that I managed to wound and was not able to follow up !!
On reflection, using 55 grain Varmageddons on a 150Kg Billy goat was not a great plan, unfortunately that was the rifle in my hands at the time.

Round 2 - I returned to the same location a month later, this time with the 257 loaded with 110 grain ELDX projectiles. My first encounter was a Large billy at 200m. A solid neck shot and DRT. I managed another shot at the dissapearing mob and rear ended another Billy, that dropped and needed finishing off. Pretty fair outcome.

Round 3 - Same area later that day 257 in hand. Stalked to about 150m from a different mob and sized up a large Billy Bang Thud. Followed up with a second shot into the swirling dissapearing mob - Bang Thud. Closed the 150m gap - no Goat. Checking the area and a large Billy burst out of the scrub 50 feet away, smashed him in the shoulder with an ELDX, and he kept going, followed up with another and he finally dropped, bright red blood in the nostrils indicating lung damage. Pretty sure there is another goat out there with a 257 sized hole in him !

I was stunned - I am belting these Billys with heavy for calibre projectiles, with plenty of velocity.

Q 1 - are 150 Kg Billy goats bullet proof ??
Q 2 - Are the Hornady ELDX projectiles any good (they group well 3/4 MOA) ?
Q 3 - Is 3200 fps at short range too fast for these projectiles and they are fragmenting - not penetrating ? I wasn't keen to cut up a rotten stinking Billy to find out !
Q 4 - Any suggestions for another projectile in the 110 to 120 Grain range that may penetrate ? (But still expand)
Q 5 - should I just use the 308 ?




8
Around the Campfire (General Discussion) / Re: 257 Ideas please !!!
« on: June 10, 2020, 01:18:56 AM »
Hey Flyinstroke,

That is really interesting 131 BlackJack Ace sound exactly what I would be looking for.
Not sure if they are available in Australia yet - I will ask around.

Most of our Local game is small and thin skinned - so the 85 Grain Bt's are plenty for that job in the 257.

I do have an eye on heading to the NT, where there are large Pigs and Buffalo.
The 2 choices of fire stick for that trip are the trusty 308 for which there are plenty of large game projectile options, or the 257 with a well constructed heavy projectile.

Not sure where the 131 BlackJack Ace sits with construction, but the weight is good and the BC is great for longer ranges - should at least give the pigs a hard time !

How do you think it would go in the 9 twist ????


9
Around the Campfire (General Discussion) / Re: 257 Ideas please !!!
« on: June 01, 2020, 10:08:47 PM »
Hey Guys,

Yes it has been a long time - Unfortunately it takes a long time to get work done on rifles over here.
After a lot of consideration -  I went with a re-Barrel in 257-Roy
Alan Swan did a really nice job of recreating the original barrel profile and Bluing so the MK 5 looks very original.

I went with a 1 in 9 twist, as I have an eye on heavier projectiles - still waiting for the mythical 25 cal, 130 Grain ELDX from Hornady.

I am in the process of developing some loads and had some good results with 85 grain Nosler BTs and 117 Grain Hornady SST's. Managed to get some 3/4 MOA groups.

Still work to be done, but very happy with where things are going - nearly time to take it out into the field.



10
Around the Campfire (General Discussion) / Re: 257 Ideas please !!!
« on: July 15, 2019, 02:10:17 AM »
 I have been a bit quiet on this for the last month or so as I have been doing alot of research !
The 7mm Rem Mag was where I was headed until I re read all your comments !

The Mark V is a very nice hunting rifle. I have decided to keep it that way and not try to make it a crossover rife with a heavy barrel etc.

I am packing her up and posting it to Allan Swan gunsmithing. Allan specialises in barrel making and re-barrelling rifles.
Reading up on his work Allan seems to have a  quite a few happy customers that have re-barrelled hunting rifles with excellent results. Fingers crossed I will get the same outcome with the .257.

I have asked for a 1 in 9 twist, as i would like to throw some heavier projectiles around - anyone have any experience with the .257 Wm in a 1 in 8 twist or 1 in 9 twist ??? it is currently a 1 in 10 twist.

Now to wait the 8 weeks for the job to be done !!!!



11
Around the Campfire (General Discussion) / Re: 257 Ideas please !!!
« on: June 20, 2019, 10:52:12 PM »
Thanks guys - a bit of an update -

The smith quoted Krieger 4 groove barrels in Number 5 Profile.
Carbon steel with 1 in 10 twist or Stainless steel in 1 in 9 twist
Agreed the $1050 is pretty fair, but + more $ for blueing or Cerakote.

I have also had a chat to another smith who has a number of barrel options - Maddco is one amongst a couple of locally manufactured barrels - Allen Swan & TSE were mentioned. Similar pricing was discussed, so I guess the discussion is now more about which barrel and why.

What should I be looking for in a barrel, or am I starting to overthink this ?






12
Around the Campfire (General Discussion) / Re: 257 Ideas please !!!
« on: June 18, 2019, 11:13:42 PM »
Hey Guys,

Really appreciate the quick replies, I wasn't expecting so much support ! Some really useful opinions here.

I would love the opportunity to send it back to Weatherby for a re-barrel, however the freight and import / export issues take this option off the table. Second hand Weatherby parts - like a good barrel do not exist here, and are a big problem to import.

As far as legal requirements are concerned here, leaving it in .257 WM is the easiest path.

The smith has quoted $1050 AUS (about $750 USD) for a Stainless barrel (fitted) with a 1 in 9 twist, he also has a carbon steel 25 cal barrel in 1 in 10 twist, but this will be dearer as it will need to be blued.
Both options were a profile or 2 heavier than the standard Weatherby barrel - not sure if that helps with heat dissipation ?
I need to check what brand barrels these 2 options are ! PS - I love the bluing on the old barrel !

As the barrel was shot out before I got it, I cant comment on how it was treated or how many rounds it may have seen.
The smith advised that the first approx 6"of rifling were basically gone, and there were large pits and copper fouling issues. The current accuracy is approx 6"groups at 100 yards. Occasionally it shoots an ok group, 1.5" but this is not repeatable.

Going by the serial number it is a mid 1980's Japanese made rifle.

After understanding the issues with this barrel, and having done some load testing, I can see how important heat management and copper removal are in this calibre.

I am reloading, and have invested in 257 dies and brass, with this calibre in WA there is no factory load option.

You are giving me some more confidence in the .257 decision (there is a lot of love out there for the .257 roy), comments like this are the real world info i was looking for -

"I've got well over 1000 rounds in mine and still shoots good,  It's not a match barrel so I'm not comparing  the accuracy to a bench rest rifle but rather a normal hunting rifle,  it still shoots 1/2 " @ 100 yds" :)

As for game here - it is normally on the smaller side - Goats, Pigs small deer etc. But occasionally we may get onto Donkeys and Camels - that is where a flat shooting hard hitting calibre is really handy.

I do take your point - I am not looking for a range rifle. The range is just a good place to get a hunting rifle zeroed !

Keen for comments on the barrels - stainless or carbon steel - twist rate - profile ????

13
Around the Campfire (General Discussion) / 257 Ideas please !!!
« on: June 18, 2019, 01:44:44 AM »
Hey guys,

Please be gentle with me this is my first post !

I have been working with my .257 Mark V for about 12 months and today received the news that the barrel is indeed dead. A sad day as I bought the rifle second hand ,I have therefore not had the joy of this high performance calibre.

I live at the end of the world as far as shooting is concerned  - Western Australia, where most firearms parts almost impossible to get !.

I have found a smith that will replace the barrel in 257, but advised that barrel life would probably only be around 600 rounds, before accuracy would be affected.

As a re barrel is required, I am considering what other calibres I could easily convert this rifle to that would have a better barrel life expectation. An easy conversion needs to involve a bit of machining but no parts. Has anyone re-calibred a 257 WM ?? If so to what calibre ?

The 6.5/300 is interesting, but the smith does not have a reamer! If i change calibre. I am probably looking at a more traditional calibre - 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 300 H&H.

I have a 308 and 22.250, so somewhere to 6.5 to 7 mm is of most interest.

Just putting it out there - what are your thoughts.




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