257 wby bad on brass?

[B Man]

I talked to a smith earlier about a 257 wby build and he started warning me about it bad to blow primers on new and once fired brass. Is this true? I'm about to build one for my daddy for a Christmas present reading a lot of good things on it bit this got me concerned.

If there is any bad negatives on let me know please. I know ammo is high and barrel life is short but it a hunting rifle so those two are not a concern.

Thanks

 

[RTH1800]

Re: 257 wby bad on brass?

Norma brass is soft. Your smith is correct. You can get other brass or make it, so no reason to avoid the great CTG. If you are a bit expiremental, I think the best solution is to use the 300 Win Lapua brass or even chamber for the 300 Win/257 cal. Best of all worlds. You might also consider the .264 Win as is.
JMO

 

[B Man]

Re: 257 wby bad on brass?

I went to mid way looking at components to reload it.

Nosler has brass $60 per 50 pieces of brass

Also hornady has just released but not for sale just yet two loadings for the wby. Only $40 per box thats as good as 20 pieces of brass and would have hornady brass to reload.


Thanks for replying back and leting me know about the weakness of the brass. I will just bypass reloading the factory weatherby norma brass.

 

[30378]

Re: 257 wby bad on brass?

Wby brass is soft and with full house loads about 4 reloads and it's done. Try using Winchester 264 brass necked down to 257 Wby. It works really well. Necks end up a little short but if they are all consistent that is what your looking to achieve.

 

[Grumulkin]

Re: 257 wby bad on brass?

1. I've never blown a primer with mine in firing probably 250 rounds.

2. Norma brass is what I use in a 257 Weatherby, a 300 Weatherby, a 375 H&H Magnum and a 378 Weatherby Magnum. I've not found it to be soft and, as a matter of fact, in a test done for Handloader magazine a couple of years ago, beat out Nosler, Federal, Hornady, Remington, Winchester and Lapua when brass life was tested.

 

[RTH1800]

Re: 257 wby bad on brass?

Grum,
That may be your expirence, but I think you are not running top of the book loads. Norma is always soft and I have used it for over 40 years. Loaded thousnads of rounds with it and likely 100,000s + with other brass. I like it for uniformity, not mag use with hot loads. I have seen many Weatherby factory loads ruin the Primer Pocket on the first firing.

 

[Grumulkin]

Re: 257 wby bad on brass?

I load for accuracy and, it turns out, my Weatherby loads are at the upper end of the recommended loads. I specifically went to Norma brass after having Remington brass fail after a few firings. Also, the Handloader magazine article I mentioned found Norma brass to tolerate more reloadings than any other brand they tested which would seem to contradict the allegation that it's soft.