I have a selection of bullets that I am going to begin working up accuracy loads for. What are Bob shooters' favorite powders?

Varget, H414 BLc2 jn that order.
with 100gr bullets. slower powders work best.
imr 4895 worked best on lighter bullets I use mostly sierra.
Dave

4350 works very well in my rifle with the heavier bullets.

I switched to Hodgdon Hybrid 100V about 4 years ago. It's the best I've used in 40 years of Bob loading. High velocities and accuracy with 100 gr mono-metal and 115gr. cup-cores.

With 115gr. partition I get 3075 fps and 3/8" 3 shot groups from a Kimber Montana.

quote:

Originally posted by craigster:
4350 works very well in my rifle with the heavier bullets.

+ 1. I pretty much settled on it for both 257R and 6.5x55. Easy to find, good velocities and extremely temp sensitive.

When I finished my Roberts I tried four powders with 100gr bullets; Varget, IMR4064, RL15, and IMR4831. Varget was hands-down the most accurate in my rifle.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING !!!!!

Mine is of the AI variation. But it likes 4350 as well.

quote:

+ 1. I pretty much settled on it for both 257R and 6.5x55. Easy to find, good velocities and extremely temp sensitive .

That's a typo - it's extremely temp insensitive.

quote:

Originally posted by 303Guy:

quote:

+ 1. I pretty much settled on it for both 257R and 6.5x55. Easy to find, good velocities and extremely temp sensitive .

That's a typo - it's extremely temp insensitive.

Yes! Thank you.

I have had really good luck with Ramshot Hunter and the 100 grain TSX.

4350 with 120s and 4320 with 100s; My Ruger has a very long throat so I seat them way out and load like it was a 25-06. Which it does give velocities of, and more.. I also have a custom M70 which does not allow me to do that.

i go a titch slower than the 4350 and use Rl-19.
i easily get 2850 with a 120 gr bullet and excelent accuracy.
if i want 3-k i use the same bullet and Rl-19 again in the 25-06.
same primer too come to think of it, the fed 210.

H4831 for my Bob.

There is a 'published' load for a 120gr Sierra over 46.5gr Reloder-22 producing 2945fps. It's indicated as a max load. There is another for a 120gr Nosler over 49.5gr Reloder-22 producing 300fps. Also a max load. I'd be cautious about that one. The 2945 one would still be doing 2100 or more fps at 300m. What's not to like about the 257 Roberts?

One Rl-19 load I found is a 100gr Nosler over 51.5gr Rl-19 producing 3234fps. Also a max load. Once again, what's not to like?

Anyway, Rl-19 has the highest charge weight and velocity for 100gr bullets and Rl-22 for 120gr bullets. H4350 is next for 100 grainers. It seems like Rl-22 and Rl-19 are top contenders for 120 grainers followed by Winchester New-WMR.

I can't help wondering how the 243 managed to push out the Roberts. Higher pressure loads maybe? No longer relevant. You know, the 257-303 equals the 243 but does lose out a little at longer range. The 257 surpasses the 243 but does consume more powder if one wants top end loads.

My favorite 257 Bob powder is Norma 203B/RL-15.
37 grains of 203B. My daughter's Ruger Hawkeye piles 110 grain Accubonds right on top of each other.

IMR4350 + 100 gn BT. =

quote:

Originally posted by Clem:
IMR4350 + 100 gn BT. =

This is a favorite combination of mine reliably giving 3000+ f/s all day long. It's also accurate and kills with authority that belies its size.

Back when I had a .257 Roberts and when I also had lots of Surplus 4831, the combination worked very well with everything from 90 to 117 grain bullets. No need for anything faster until you drop bullet weight below 87 grains.

I've tried quite a few over the years I've had mine, partly due to different bullet weights. I settled on IMR4064 with 75grHP's for yotes, IMR4350 for 100's, and have been playing with different powders & heavier bullets out of it as of late. H4831sc worked well with 120's but have started looking at RL22.

IMR-4350 for 117 grain Sierra's is incredibly accurate in my rifle and goes 2825 fps.
My sons 257 loves RL 17 and 100 grain bullets although IMR 4064 with 100 grain bullets works well too.

IMR 4350 in my AI as well.