If anyone has a favorite load with 100-120gr. bullets for the 257 Rob. AI, I would love to see them! I have been trying to work a load with 100gr. BT's and have confidence with it for antelope but for the big Colo. muleys I'm not sure if it would be enough bullet!? Maybe the 115gr. BT or the 117gr. Hornady SPBT? Has Hornady developed a 117gr. SST yet?

[This message has been edited by Elk Country (edited 03-26-2002).]

A friend loads for this all the time. I'll run him down in the next couple of days and get his loadings for you. However, I do know that he loads the old Nosler Solid Base bullets that are no longer made. He uses Reloader 19 & 22 and gets 3100 fps.

P H Barker,
Thanks for replying so soon. I look forward to his info. and any tips he has for the round.

Elk Country,
Got with my buddy this morning, and his load for the 257AI is:
120 gr Nosler Solid Base
WW brass
Fed 210M Primer
53.0 gr Reloader 22
(gets a little under 3100 fps)
(gets 3100 fps with 54.0 gr, but suggests using the 53.0 gr loading).

Gets 3050 fps with 53.0 gr Rel 22 in Remington brass.

P H,
Thanks for the load from your buddy.
Is this load a deer load or has he taken anything bigger with it? I have some RL22 around the gun room so I'll try it out. I will be shooting 115-117gr. bullets so the 54gr. load may work with the slightly lighter bullets but I will work my way up to it!
So many loads.....so little time at the range!

I don't think he has hunted anything larger than South Texas whitetails and hogs. I do know that he said he has never recovered a bullet. Also, he said he has quite a few boxes of those solid base bullets (these are the old "red box" Noslers) and he would probably be willing to sell some if you are interested.

I personally load for 257 Roberts (not AI). I have always been pleased with the 117 BTSP Hornady on whitetails. Always get full penetration, good blood trail, with a dead deer within 75 yards. It's the gun all my kids have been raised on, so they don't let me shoot it much.

P H,
I think I will try a few of the bullets I have before I try your friends Noslers. I will definately keep those in mind if I can't get an acceptable load with either the 117gr. Hornady SPBT or the new SST. I have heard great things about the SST so I am excited to try them. I may try the Nos. 115gr. BT also.

I have a couple of young girls around my house and I think the 257ack. will be a great gun for them when they are a little older. If they like it that will give me the excuse to go out and buy another rifle. I wish they would grow up soon, but...not too soon because dad wants to play with the new toy first!

Randy

.25 Cal is no problem for Mulies They will drop like a rock. 120 gr.Speer Grand Slams or 100 gr.Barnes X bullet. It's all about the bullet. and shot placement.

My deer loads are as follows
48.5gr IMR 430
Rem cases
Fed 210 primer
115 gr Ballistic Tip

49.5gr R-19
100 gr Ballistic Tip
all componets the same as above.

For varmints 51.0gr W760 and the 85 gr Ballistic tip.

I like the ballistic tips for deer hunting and haven't had a deer take a step.
ed 210 primer