257 Roberts Powder Choice

[nodout]

Just finished load development for my .257 Bob yesterday. I wanted a lead free varmint load for here in Komifornia so I went with Barnes 80 gr.tts-bt. Varget I only had luke warm success, 1 moa. Tried out H4350 and at a little over max load it came into .46 moa and 3400 fps with no pressure signs.

I have been developing a load with 110 gr eld-x in my Roberts. Jump is .055 in my Ruger 77 long action. Just changed to H4350 44.5 gr. I neck size only using FL die. Shoots .50 moa. Have heard 47 gr has been chronied at 3091 f/s. but no accuracy level stated

 

[jasophil1]

I have real good results in 257 ai with 115 nosler btbt vv n160 .

 

[DocDoc]

std7mag
111. Accurate Arms 2700
112. IMR, Co IMR 4350
113. Hodgdon H4350
114. Alliant Reloder 17
These are the burn rates from the chart I have.

 

[Orr89rocz]

For my roberts i am using reloder 19. I am using winchester + p brass, hornady btsp 117 grains, loaded .010” off lands, cci 200 primers and 47 grains which seems high compared to load data i have seen but i have no pressure signs.
im seeing 2800 fps from my 20” barrel and has shot 3 in a thumbnail at 100. My deer hunting gun Under 200 yards

 

[riverside jeep]

Am I out of luck trying to find Hornady .257 +P brass? I've tried all the usual places.

 

[ncageneral]

Am I out of luck trying to find Hornady .257 +P brass? I've tried all the usual places.

Found a fresh 50 today. 32.00 out the door. I've never seen them at that location before .

 

[sandwarrior]

You'd possibly imagine incorrectly, as the burn rates are not the same.
The H4350 may work well with up towards 90gr bullets.
The IMR 4350 would do well with the heavier bullets as the burn rate is slower.
And i see RL15 on your list.
I can understand wanting an accurate load. Believe me, i can.
But for a cartridge aimed at hunting, why not have an accurate load that's fast too?
Only increases your energy on game, and extends the distance the bullet will reliably expand.

So, I may have misread/misunderstood this,or you may have edited, but you can work up good loads with all four versions of 4350 ... H4350/H4350 Extreme and Old IMR 4350/New IMR 4350 (Enduron technology).

They all work. You just have to work up a load that works for you. Mid-burn powders will work with the heaviest of bullets. You will just have more case space when you've got them loaded. Slower powders will probably work better. But, {to quote the Stones} we can't always get what we want, but if you look real hard we can get what we need.

BTW, I've had great success with RE-19 as well.

 

[searcher]

They commented how STOOOPUD it is to pick up brass and reload when you can get such awesome accuracy with Hornady ammo

I'm beginning to feel that way about reloading certain calibers that are cheap, high-volume affairs where accuracy matters little when slamming metal - like 9mm, .223, etc. Figure - for 9mm, I can buy a box of ammo for around $12.00-$14.00 (when available). Primers $1.75, cheap bullets $6.00, powder a buck or two. So your time becomes worth pretty darn little. HOWEVER, for ammo that requires accuracy - that whole notion of not being worthwhile is only spoken by those who haven't figured out how to properly tune a load and they have resorted to compromise. That or they are crack heads (they really are everywhere).

 

[R2surfdaddy]

I am running H100V in my Roberts. I dont have alot of experience with it but it is working very well. I tried everything in a Hawkeye with lousy results. The one I am shooting now is a rebarreled A Bolt with a Bartlein 5R . It was alot more consistent than I had thought it would be too. 300 yds it printed the attached target. I had one flyer that I blame on little green men. Speer 120 gr SPBT, CCI 200 , H100V, PPU reformed 7mm Mauser brass.

What is the twist rate on The Bartlein barrel??? nice ragged hole for 300,,,

 

[biggun2869]

I thought they discontinued 4064 last year?

No, they did discontinue 4320 witch was mighty good in a .17 Remington

 

[R2surfdaddy]

Any long time shooters of the 257 Roberts, a question for you. What powders do you prefer for the heavier bullets, say 90gr-120gr I have IMR 4350, 4064, 3031, Varget , Reloader 15 and others. I know, what shoots good in your rifle may not in mine. Looking for a consensus on where to start. Thanks in advance

40 gr. of the 4350 under the 120 Nosler partition offering have been the most accurate out of my old mauser custom and IMR 4831 is very similar ay 42.5 gr in the 2800 fps ballpark cci 200 primers I think Varget would be a good one to try as well on 110 gr stuff as well. just looking at my notes RL 19 did well on 110 grain Sierras btsp <.5" MOA @2990 fps

 

[Bill K]

I have seen and heard it called 257 Bob, by many others and some very informed riflemen, for years. Not just in Commie California.

Yup!
Only the duuudes in Commiefornia call it "Bob"...

 

[Scrumbag]

I call it “The Bob” and I’m British. Interestingly here, if you tell someone you shoot a 257 Roberts, usual comment is “Gentleman’s round”

 

[ncageneral]

What is the twist rate on The Bartlein barrel??? nice ragged hole for 300,,,

1:10 twist. Thank you

 

[R2surfdaddy]

Just finished load development for my .257 Bob yesterday. I wanted a lead free varmint load for here in Komifornia so I went with Barnes 80 gr.tts-bt. Varget I only had luke warm success, 1 moa. Tried out H4350 and at a little over max load it came into .46 moa and 3400 fps with no pressure signs.

Sweet,,,, Don't you just love it when a plan comes together,,, I've had good luck w/the H4350 on the Max load of the 120 grain at 3010 fps

 

[R2surfdaddy]

.257's are great things. However, I can certainly acknowledge if the family isn't willing to go their part (pick up brass) it makes it difficult to continue on that path.

FWIW, one day at the range and I'm shooting my 6.5 Creed. A couple locals are shooting one too. They commented how STOOOPUD it is to pick up brass and reload when you can get such awesome accuracy with Hornady ammo...

Reminds of the joke. There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.

Correct,,,,,,,I believe in picking it up at the range when I can. It is most of the time once fired and just a waste when you are allowed to and pass it up. Had a guy shooting a 270 and a 6.5 creed when he left I watched him gather it all up and started walking toward the recycle bin I asked him if I could have it and he said yes... one mans trash is another mans treasure!!!

 

[wildcatter]

Am I out of luck trying to find Hornady .257 +P brass? I've tried all the usual places.

Absolutely no difference in this brass other than the normal differences from lot to lot, and the headstamp. It is just to keep people from using modern pressure loads in the old military actions and chambers that run long on head space!

I am referring to the guns built and wildcatted before it was standardized and used mostly the weaker Military surplus action, that could be dangerous.

But if you are loading your own for a rifle with proper headspace and modern actions capable of modern 60,000 cup +p or new standard 257 brass is the same, both capable of the same pressures.

Personally, Hornady is the last brass I would use, even Remington and Winchester has proven more consistent and durable for me in any caliber I've had it in.

 

[choprzrul]

My M77 has a 1:9" Bartlein shooting 115gr Partitions over RL23.

Hovers around 1/2"....more if the nut behind the trigger doesn't have his stuff in a group....

.

 

[R2surfdaddy]

Speaking of

Am I out of luck trying to find Hornady .257 +P brass? I've tried all the usual places.

Speaking of having any luck finding .257 Brass??? Period!!!! Brings to mind a question to ponder,,,,,
Anyone here have any knowledge on what it takes to neck down 7X57 Mauser to .257 Roberts brass???
Ive heard/read on another forum that some casing necks can be swedged and trimmed to do it and it sounds logical since the original parent case is the 7mmX57??? just wonder what all is involved to do it and what tools would be required???

What say ye? Pilgrims!!!

 

[choprzrul]

Speaking of

Speaking of having any luck finding .257 Brass??? Period!!!! Brings to mind a question to ponder,,,,,
Anyone here have any knowledge on what it takes to neck down 7X57 Mauser to .257 Roberts brass???
Ive heard/read on another forum that some casing necks can be swedged and trimmed to do it and it sounds logical since the original parent case is the 7mmX57??? just wonder what all is involved to do it and what tools would be required???

What say ye? Pilgrims!!!

6MM Remington is based on the 7x57 also. .244 to .257 is closer than .284 down to .257

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