It seems like most cartridges have 1-3 go to powders that perform the best.

With a 257 Roberts and 100gr bullets, what would those powders be from collective experience? I have the manuals, just looking for some real world information.

I've done one load so far, in a Winchester Featherweight with 22 inch barrel. Barnes 100 grain TSX, 46.0 grains H414. This is a half grain less than maximum, using WLR primers, and the standard load data for the earlier XFB bullet. As you are probably aware, the company says you can go up 2 grains, I assume with large cases like the .375 H&H and so on, provided head expansion isn't over .0005 inches and you don't have shiny spots on the base of the case, flattened primers and sticky bolt lift. They say to expect 50 to 150 fps velocity increase. I would chronograph your powder until you reach some 50 feet faster than standard velocity and stop, in this case 3149 fps plus 50 fps = 3200 fps more or less, which is where I stopped. I also made allowances for the two inch shorter than standard barrel, which would normally add another 50 fps or so. The Barnes manual Number 3 used Federal GM 210M primers.

I've been using H4350 with 100 grain bullets in my M70 Featherweight with excellent velocity and accuracy.

Reloader 19

H-414.....and I think you have got most of them now.

With 100 grain bullets, my top 3 would be: H4350, H4350 and H4350...

IMR 4064 With 100 gr. bullets works for my Rem 700 classic.

4350..either one.

Thanks for the info, gives me a good place to start as I have both 4350's on the shelf and none of the others.

But feel free to keep the suggestions coming.

I used H4831sc because thats what I use in my .270 and it works pretty well. 49.5 grns with a 100grn Sierra bt.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
With 100 grain bullets, my top 3 would be: H4350, H4350 and H4350...

Add another H4350... 45 grains with 100 gr Nosler Partitions is best in my Ruger 77, 257 Roberts.

Don

I don't have a .257 any more, but when I did I used H4831 with everything from 90 to 117 grains. It's hard to beat.

With 257Roberts AI I have got 3940 fps with 75 gr using H322.

I have been getting 3250 fps with H322 and 100 gr bullets, but I have not pushed it to the limit.

For non AI Roberts and 100 gr, IMR4895 would be my first choice. H414, as others have stated, would not be far behind, with 5 gr more powder and slightly less velocity for the same pressure. It is not that I am too cheap to pay for 5 gr extra powder, I just don't like the extra noise.

4350 rate is tops for this bullet weight.

You guys with the way slow powders, are you using load books for your information?

Every try making up your own loads to see if there is something better?

quote:

Originally posted by tnekkcc:
You guys with the way slow powders, are you using load books for your information?

Every try making up your own loads to see if there is something better?

When I had my 257 Roberts built, I wanted to use 100 grain bullets exclusively. I e-mailed John Barsness who writes for Wolf Pubs and asked him what powder he recommended; he's a 257 nut too, as is his wife. He suggested H-4350, using either 45 or 46 grains depending on what my rifle liked. I loaded up some of each and shot the 45 grain load first. That load prined a group measuring 9/16" for three shots at 100 yards, so I called it quits on further load testing; that is way good enough for Michigan Deer. I'm using 100 grain Nosler Partitions.
I haven't checked the manuals, but suspect some manuals may stop short of going that high with the H-4350.

Don

As an aside...
I'm using AA Data 86, which falls somewhere between 4350 and 4831. Only because I have about 12-13 pounds. Definately NOT hot loads, as the sizer barely kisses the body. Vel in the 3000fps range.
BUT,
I've been working up loads with 100gr Ballistic tips. They finally went below an inch. Just for grins, I tried a few Partitions. They grouped in the 5/8 - 3/4" range! Who'da thunk it?

No one uses IMR4320 anymore?

48gr of RL19 here....Prints around .75" average out of a factory stock Ruger RSI SS.

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Miller:
No one uses IMR4320 anymore?

Joe: my 243 loves 4320 with 100gr Nosler solid Bases!

Well my gals .257 Roberts really shoots Sierra 100 grain SPBT's with max loads of IMR-4064. Sometimes .5" 3 shot groups out of a Ruger Ultra Light.

I load for my father's Browning micro medallion in 257 Roberts. That little light weight gun with its sorry trigger and mediocre Bushnell scope shot several groups under 1/2 MOA with the smallest being .181 using a load of 43.5grs of IMR 4320 and an 87gr Nosler Ballistic tip. I have not ran it through the chronograph and I don't plan to. With accuracy like that, who gives a damn about velocity.

Joe