257 Roberts AI - What can I expect?

[bozo699]

Ackman,
No problem, heck I am usually wrong about 300 times a day, just ask my wife
if this small insignificant mistake was your only one today, then your way ahead of me or behind me depending on how you look at it
Wayne.

 

[KDX]

The two cartridges that benefit the most from being Ackley Improved are the 6mm Rem and the 257 Bob.
You'll find they're also a great deer cartridges. Please do let us know how your new 257AI shoots.

RJ

Sorry for the late reply. I was going to start some load development for 100gr bullets with this rifle and came across this old thread. I ended up developing a 75gr V-Max load that averages 3735fps with 45gr of XBR and Winchester magnum primers (mistakenly bought and decided to use anyway). Here's a pic of a 3 shot group @ 114 yards.

I've only shot one coyote with it so far and it messed it up pretty good. It does what I intended.

 

[bozo699]

The two cartridges that benefit the most from being Ackley Improved are the 6mm Rem and the 257 Bob.
You'll find they're also a great deer cartridges. Please do let us know how your new 257AI shoots.

RJ

Sorry for the late reply. I was going to start some load development for 100gr bullets with this rifle and came across this old thread. I ended up developing a 75gr V-Max load that averages 3735fps with 45gr of XBR and Winchester magnum primers (mistakenly bought and decided to use anyway). Here's a pic of a 3 shot group @ 114 yards.

I've only shot one coyote with it so far and it messed it up pretty good. It does what I intended.

Well done KDX,...thanks for sharing!
Wayne.

 

[RJinTexas]

KDX, very impressive, please post a picture of your rifle. You should be extremely happy with the performance your getting.

Congrats!
RJ

 

[KDX]

This is what it started out as, a Model 111 270.

Sitting on my messy bench.

I went with the long action just in case I wanted to swap barrels down the road and needed one. I haven't had any feeding issues so I guess it's OK.

I hit this coyote a little low at about 175-200 yards.

 

[gotcha]

OUCH! I'll have to try that load in my "Bob". Not to be a PIA but, rather to forward the AI conversation. The best improvement in velocity in an AI cartridge is the 250-3000 based, 250AI. May be tied w/ the 30/30 AI. Haven't looked at the data lately so I'm not sure 250AI is best impr. but pretty darned close, at least velocity wise. Being primarily a varmint hunter, I wouldn't be without a muzzle break as others have alluded. Very nice groups KDX! You're off to a great start. Watch for pressure signs VERY closely. The AI's have a tendency to go over pressure with very little warning. Remember, this cartridge has next to zero bolt thrust. when it goes over pressure it happens REAL quick. Good luck & keep us posted.

 

[gotcha]

OOPS! My bad. All time best velocity increase over factory for AI is 25-35WCF, 2nd best .30-40 Krag, 3rd best 250-3000 w/ 17% gain over factory velocity. Also interesting to note, KDX is already exceding 25-06 velocities w/ 75 grn bullet and he's just fire-forming. Get them poor 'yotes some Kevlar. :

 

[bozo699]

OOPS! My bad. All time best velocity increase over factory for AI is 25-35WCF, 2nd best .30-40 Krag, 3rd best 250-3000 w/ 17% gain over factory velocity. Also interesting to note, KDX is already exceding 25-06 velocities w/ 75 grn bullet and he's just fire-forming. Get them poor 'yotes some Kevlar. :

And where did you get these stats if you don't mind sharing please.
Wayne.

 

[40X Guy]

KDX, awesome hit on the yote! Looks like those 75 A-Max's get it done!

Frank

 

[JRS]

OOPS! My bad. All time best velocity increase over factory for AI is 25-35WCF, 2nd best .30-40 Krag, 3rd best 250-3000 w/ 17% gain over factory velocity. Also interesting to note, KDX is already exceding 25-06 velocities w/ 75 grn bullet and he's just fire-forming. Get them poor 'yotes some Kevlar. :

And where did you get these stats if you don't mind sharing please.
Wayne.

Wayne:
From my notes written by Bob Jourdan regarding the gains from best to worst in percentages-


.25-35 WCF- 25.6
.30-40 Krag- 19.3
.250 Savage- 17
6.5x55 BJ- 13.7
.30-30- 12.9
7x57- 12.8
.300 H&H- 11.1
.257 Roberts- 9.4
6MM Remington (worst)- 3.2

 

[Knotwild]

I think the 250 Savage AI is one that gives great increases over factory cases too. Personally, I love the AI case because it stretches less in my rifles, and would chamber for it on that basis alone.

 

[bozo699]

Thanks for the reply JRS.
Wayne.

 

[fredhorace77]

Factory Cart. Bullet Wt. Factory vel. Ackley vel. %Gain


1. .25-35 WCF 117 gr. 2230fps 2800 fps 25.6%

2. .30-40Krag 180 gr. 2430 fps 2900 fps 19.3%

3. .250Savage 100 gr. 2820 fps 3300 fps 17.0%

4. 6.5x55 Swedish 140 gr. 2550 fps 2900 fps 13.7%

5. .30-30WCF 150 gr. 2390 fps 2700 fps 12.9%

6. 7x57mm Mauser 145 gr. 2660 fps 3000 fps 12.8%

7. .300H&H 180 gr. 2880 fps 3200 fps 11.1%

8. .257Roberts 117 gr. 2650 fps 2900 fps 9.4%

9. .270Win 150 gr. 2850 fps 3100 fps 8.8%

10. .25-06 Rem 100 gr. 3230 fps 3500 fps 8.4%

11. .375H&H 300 gr. 2530 fps 2740 fps 8.3%

12. .243 Win. 100 gr. 2960 fps 3200 fps 8.1%

13. .270 Win. 130 gr. 3060 fps 3300 fps 7.8%

14. .280 Rem. 140 gr. 3000 fps 3230 fps 7.7%

15. .30-06 Springfield 180 gr. 2700 fps 2900 fps 7.4%

16. .30-06 Springfield 150 gr. 2910 fps 3100 fps 6.5%

17. .219 Zipper 55 gr. 3300 fps 3500 fps 6.0%

18. 6mm Rem. 75 gr. 3400 fps 3600 fps 5.9%

19. .220 Swift 50 gr. 3870 fps 4100 fps 5.9%

20. 7mm-08 Rem. 140 gr. 2860 fps 3030 fps 5.9%

21. .375H&H 270 gr. 2690 fps 2830 fps 5.2%

22. .22-250 Rem. 55 gr. 3680fps 3850 fps 4.6%

23. .257 Roberts+P 117 gr. 2780fps 2900 fps 4.3%

24. .260 Rem. 14 0gr. 2760 fps 2880 fps 4.3%

25. 6mm Rem. 100 gr. 3100 fps 3200 fps 3.2%

the figures were published in July 2003 issue of Percision Shooting mag by author Bob Jourdan

 

[SongdogHunter]

I haves 257 ackley but can't seem to get the velocity I think I should maybe a slow barrel. But Iam doing a 250 ackley on a ruger #1 just in case

Sdh

 

[queen_stick]

Anyone ever tried the Berger 115gr VLD's in the 257AI?

I've been curious how that combo would work at long range?

 

[hogan]

What can you expect?


Not only have you chosen an AI which raises eyebrows and will garner comments, few favorable, wherever you go or speak up about your "wonderful rifle"; you've also chosen a .25 caliber bore. Probably going to kick yourself regularly for not going 6.5mm or 7mm or maybe even for a .24 caliber...

You can expect to hardly ever find loaded ammunition or brass. Can also expect disappointment in the game fields because everyone knows a 117/120gr bullet is about the limit for pronghorn or small whitetail deer. You can also expect to be laughed out of the varmint fields and likely considered to be a bounder and a cad.

Of course, I'm only partly kidding...
Hope you have lots of fun and enough thick skin to put up a brave facade of knowledgeableness whenever hunters or shooters gather and inevitably ask whatever possessed you to choose a ctg which pseudo-clever shooters like to call a "bob". I mean really; isn't a "bob" a short woman's haircut? May as well give the gun to your wife or daughter and save what remains of your reputation....

 

[RGRobinett]

I haves 257 ackley but can't seem to get the velocity I think I should maybe a slow barrel. But Iam doing a 250 ackley on a ruger #1 just in case

Sdh

My experiences with several .257 Ack. barrels, and bullet weights ranging from 85 Gr., up to 120 gr., has, at safe operating pressures, equaled, or, exceeded published .25/06 DATA. A couple of years ago, and skeptically, I tried RL17 with 110 Gr. BT and was pleasantly surprised to EASILY obtain 3300 FPS (Oehler , centered 15' from the muzzle)! ;D This was from a PacNor 1:10" twist SSM, #3 coutour, crowned at 24" from the bolt-face. My "old" pet load for that barrel was a 110 Gr. BT, or FB, case full of H-4198, at just shy of 3100 FPS, which produced 3-shot (100 Yd.) groups averaging about .4" . . . the RL17 load opend the average up to about .5" - still OK for pronghorns, mule deer, and coyotes . . . and the odd rockchuck.

Of course, using RL17 in the 25/06 may prove equally exciting . . . but then, again, perhaps not. I confess to having never owned a .25/06 - since getting my initial .257 Ack., in 1977, I've never seen the need for the '06 . . . but, have never been without a .257 Ack. RG

P.S. I really LIKE the tongue -in - cheek, by hogan . . . the gun writers of my youth, who dismissed the 25s, and those who continue that to this day, were and are IDIOTS! The step-up from the touted 6MMs (.243/6mm Rem.) is, "LARGER than it looks" . . . about like going from a .17 to a .20 cal: on game, no comparison in terminal performance.

 

[Ratchet]

My experiences with several .257 Ack. barrels, and bullet weights ranging from 85 Gr., up to 120 gr., has, at safe operating pressures, equaled, or, exceeded published .25/06 DATA. A couple of years ago, and skeptically, I tried RL17 with 110 Gr. BT and was pleasantly surprised to EASILY obtain 3300 FPS (Oehler , centered 15' from the muzzle)! ;D This was from a PacNor 1:10" twist SSM, #3 coutour, crowned at 24" from the bolt-face. My "old" pet load for that barrel was a 110 Gr. BT, or FB, case full of H-4198, at just shy of 3100 FPS, which produced 3-shot (100 Yd.) groups averaging about .4" . . . the RL17 load opend the average up to about .5" - still OK for pronghorns, mule deer, and coyotes . . . and the odd rockchuck.

Of course, using RL17 in the 25/06 may prove equally exciting . . . but then, again, perhaps not. I confess to having never owned a .25/06 - since getting my initial .257 Ack., in 1977, I've never seen the need for the '06 . . . but, have never been without a .257 Ack. RG

P.S. I really LIKE the tongue -in - cheek, by hogan . . . the gun writers of my youth, who dismissed the 25s, and those who continue that to this day, were and are IDIOTS! The step-up from the touted 6MMs (.243/6mm Rem.) is, "LARGER than it looks" . . . about like going from a .17 to a .20 cal: on game, no comparison in terminal performance. ;D

I am currently shooting berger 115 and 4831sc, very low sd and about .750 five shot groups at 2900 fps. , Look at nosler data for 115 grain and work up that load .

 

[Barlow]

My 9 twist Rock Creek loves RL17 from 87's -117's. No kick, just kill. Barlow

 

[Ratchet]

Anyone ever tried the Berger 115gr VLD's in the 257AI?

I've been curious how that combo would work at long range?

I loaded some up with 4831sc after pillar and bedding my gun wouldn't shoot my old load. Tried vld 115 's with Nosler data on 115 for .257 A.I . And now shooting about 3/4 groups of five at 100yrds. 2900+ fps. I think i will like this load. Seat to a very light touch with vld and adjust + or - depth from there . Ladder tested load all the way to 50.5 with no pressure signs with bullet touching lands. But 50.0 grains of 4831sc seemed the best. If i find time would like to teak seating. But hunting starts this saturday, and i am good for now.