Reloading for 257 Roberts Ackley Improved

[Screamineagle]

I'm not new to reloading, but new to this particular chambering. Anyone use a 100gr Nosler BT in theirs? I have plenty of those and IMR4350 on hand. What combo have you had success with?
Steve

 

[Brians356]

What you have to hand should work just fine. It's a very flexible cartridge, and your components are right in its wheelhouse.

Have some fun!

 

[watercam]

I always used Reloader 19 with great success. No reason 4350 should not work as well. May not reach it's full potential but will be darn close.

 

[gotcha]

I built mine w/ 85 to 100 gr bullets in mind for Varminting. For an accuracy load don't overlook IMR-4064 & 85/87 bullets. I could easily find higher velocity loads but none more accurate...... BTW mine is a 10 twist bbl so no need to drive hard.

 

[Brians356]

The 100-gr BT works great in my not-too-dissimilar 250-3000 AI. Consistent 3/8 MOA from a blueprinted R-700 w/ a BlackStar barrel. I took a Nevada pronghorn with it from 330 yards, slumped right in its tracks.

I shoot 87-gr TNT for coyotes, they're a best buy - comparatively cheap but accurate - and would work great in your Roberts. Not for meat hunting, however! :

 

[ShootDots]

I'm not new to reloading, but new to this particular chambering. Anyone use a 100gr Nosler BT in theirs? I have plenty of those and IMR4350 on hand. What combo have you had success with?
Steve

I built one with a 1-12 twist to shoot 85gr Ballistic Tips for L-O-N-G range prairie dogs. I tried the 100 gr Hornady InterLock for deer and they shot awesome. In BOTH cases I used IMR 4831. It sent the 85's screaming out at 3550 and the 100grs at 3300.. I had a 26" barrel.. By the way, don't use the 100 grainers on deer. They would rain destruction down like the wrath to come and destroy lots of meat! Go with a 117 or 120>>>I am sure it would not do so much damage.

 

[Screamineagle]

Thanks Guys. I'll be reporting as I go.
Steve

 

[Screamineagle]

Any idea what speeds those BT's like to run at? Also distance to lands. I usually run my load development with the bullet jammed .010".
Steve

 

[Barlow]

Mine is an old Ruger 77 ts that's 1 in 10. 100 grain hornady's with IMR4350 at 3200 mv has killed a bunch of whitetails and coyotes. It's a great cartridge. Barlow

 

[Brians356]

Any idea what speeds those BT's like to run at? Also distance to lands. I usually run my load development with the bullet jammed .010".

Only your rifle can tell you what it prefers WRT powder load and bullet jump. But I would expect a 100-gr bullet to max out about 3300 fps (not unlike the standard 25-06). As for jump, I recommend starting at .020" jump and tuning both directions from there (see Erik's excellent thread "Long range load development at 100 yards").

 

[MagnumManiac]

I'm not new to reloading, but new to this particular chambering. Anyone use a 100gr Nosler BT in theirs? I have plenty of those and IMR4350 on hand. What combo have you had success with?
Steve

I load mine using the max loads with +P data as my starting point. I have never used IMR4350, but plenty of H4350 in mine with Nosler 100gr BT's, works extremely well on the fallow deer here, almost as good as my 25-06.
I have also found RE22 and RE25 to be very very good in both the 257AI and 25-06.

Cheers.