257 weatherby without freebore

[bubbadoyle]

I just had a 257 weatherby built without the freebore and with the neck section shortened to the length the cases come out to when sizing 7mm mag brass down (should also make it so factory weatherby ammo cannot chamber) What I am wondering is if someone knows about what percentage I should drop my loads down from actual weatherby load data. I would think that I should be able to start with starting loads and then work up but I just want to be careful. Hoping that someone here has some experience with weatherby chambers without freebore.

[Grumulkin]

Start with starting loads and work up and you should be fine.

In a strong bolt action, I believe the alleged hazzards of shooting factory ammo are a bit overblown.

[Lone Star]

I use 4 to 6 grains less powder in my no-freebore .257 versus my factory .257 rifle.


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[jstevens]

As hot as Wby factory ammo is, I'd hate to touch one off in a rifle with no freebore.   I think building one w/o freebore is a wasted effort as most of them shoot very good with the freebore.  Then you end with a rifle that is basically a wildcat, or even worse in my book a factory cartridge that is dangerous to use with factory ammo.  It would be quite difficult to resell and offers no advantage.  My factory Mk V .257 will shoot into one hole, and I have never seen an inaccurate .300 Wby although I'm sure they exist.

[Lone Star]

I think building one w/o freebore is a wasted effort as most of them shoot very good with the freebore...

An interesting opinion, but how does it help the OP?  He's already built the rifle.  I suggest you stay away from custom rifles, apparently you don't need them.   



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[yooper77]

I feel you have made a smart decision since the 257 Weatherby Magnum brass is so expensive and now you can use 7mm Remington Magnum or 264 Winchester Magnum brass.

Starting from the minimum and working up will be fine, just stay at least 5 or so grains off the max charge.
-Also use a very slow burning powder like IMR-7828 which will fill up the case before its a problem.

yooper77

[bubbadoyle]

Thanks to all who replied, I asked this on a couple of other forums and got little to no help.  I appreciate the answers you gave.

As hot as Wby factory ammo is, I'd hate to touch one off in a rifle with no freebore.   I think building one w/o freebore is a wasted effort as most of them shoot very good with the freebore.  Then you end with a rifle that is basically a wildcat, or even worse in my book a factory cartridge that is dangerous to use with factory ammo.  It would be quite difficult to resell and offers no advantage.  My factory Mk V .257 will shoot into one hole, and I have never seen an inaccurate .300 Wby although I'm sure they exist.

I have not tried it yet but I am pretty sure that factory 257 Weatherby ammo would not chamber with the shortened neck in my chamber.  If you had bothered to read the whole first sentence in my original post you would have realized this.   Also, I never intend to resell.  I believe Weatherby cartridges can be accurate with the freebore, but I doubt there are many on this site that would not argue that a small jump to the lands is not generally more accurate than a lengthy freebore.  So you are right, I might not have a 257 Weatherby, it is essentially a wildcat cartridge loaded using 257 Weatherby dies and 7mm mag brass, but what is wrong with that.