Posted this in Reloading, but no response yet. I figured this may be a better place to ask. Here goes:

Gentlemen, I am looking for some help with a new project.

I just received a new 257 JDJ carbine barrel and am looking for loads other than what JDJ sends with the barrel. This is a 22" barrel, and I think the loads that come with the barrel are mainly for 14-15" barrels. I would think other powders would be in order for a longer barrel.

I am specifically interested in loads in the 75-87gr range with powders like H335, H4895 or whatever powders you may have found best in this caliber. Mostly this barrel will be used for target work and woodchuck hunting.

Have fire-formed a hundred cases with WW748 and done some prelimenary testing with that powder also. Any experiences and information would be appreciated. Thanks!

Re-15 will give you the best overall velocity with 85, 87 and 100 grain bullets. With those bullets, you can start around 34 grains and work up a half-grain at a time.

I too have recently aquired a 257jdj. Mine's a 14". I don't have JD's info, but have found a few load recomendations on the board here.

What I need to now is the case length. Does it use the full length 225 case or does it need to be trimmed to length. Also would like to know what is recommended fire forming load.

Thanks,
Jim

VA Jim, I got JDJ's suggested load sheet, but it did not have maximum case length or suggested fireform load.

I trimmed the cases to 1.90 just so they would be uniform to start with.

For fireform I used 120gr sierra's and 31.0 gr of WW748. I read a review of the 257JDJ by Greybeard that JDJ suggested 117gr, so I figured that was close enough. He did not mention the exact powder load though. JDJ lists these loads:

117 gr sierra spitzer #1630 29.0 IMR 4320 @ 2056
117 gr sierra spitzer #1630 30.0 IMR 4320 @ 2126
117 gr sierra spitzer #1630 33.0 IMR 4350 @ 2058
117 gr sierra spitzer #1630 34.0 IMR 4350 @ 2141
117 gr sierra spitzer #1630 35.0 IMR 4350 @ 2194
117 gr sierra spitzer #1630 36.0 IMR 4350 @ 2293

He also has loads for 75gr, 87gr, and 100gr. Let me know if you want those posted. Powders listed were H4895, H322, and WW748 - which I had on hand.

Good luck with your load development.


Good luck developing loads.

JD Recommends the 85 grain ballistic tip for deer! I have killed a blackbuck antelope and a whitetail doe with my 257......got about 18" of penetration on the blackbuck (quartering to me) and complete penetration on the whitetail (slightly quartering to me). The recovered bullet from the blackbuck retained about 1/2 it's starting weight, the wound channel was substantial on both animals.

I have quite a bit of data on the 257, so let me know what you are interested in and I'll see if I can help. The "best" powder in almost all the data is AA 2520.

Thanks to everyone for your help. I would appreciate any load info that you would like to share. It will make my load development time go quicker. You can e-mail me or post here with the info. I'll be loading some 117gr sierra's for forming. I also want to try 75gr. and 87gr. bullets.

Thanks,
Jim

VA Jim, Here are JDJ's suggested loads for 75 and 87gr for the 257:

75gr Hornady H.P. 2520 33.0 gr H4895 @ 2430
75gr Hornady H.P. 2520 29.0 gr H322 @ 2209
75gr Hornady H.P. 2520 30.0 gr H322 @ 2308
75gr Hornady H.P. 2520 31.0 gr H322 @ 2504
75gr Hornady H.P. 2520 36.0 gr WW748 @ 2565
75gr Hornady H.P. 2520 37.0 gr WW748 @ 2646
75gr Hornady H.P. 2520 38.0 gr WW748 @ 2721
87gr Speer Spt 1241 29.0 gr H322 @ 2195
87gr Speer Spt 1241 30.0 gr H322 @ 2278
87gr Speer Spt 1241 31.0 gr H4895 @ 2299
87gr Speer Spt 1241 32.0 gr H4895 @ 2426
87gr Speer Spt 1241 35.0 gr WW748 @ 2405
87gr Speer Spt 1241 36.0 gr WW748 @ 2514
87gr Speer Spt 1241 37.0 gr WW748 @ 2591

As I test different loads and get good results I will post them if you want, let me know.

Good Luck...

Thanks bchan7,

I'll try some of these. Keep me posted on your results and I'll do the same. Also going to try the Re-15 that Bobby suggested, since I have a pound of that on hand.

I do not have RE15 or AA2520 on hand, went looking yesterday, but did not find any. I believe I can get some RE15 on Monday, so I can try some on the next range session. I am interested in accuracy first, velocity second.

Will be trying the H4895, WW748 and H335 next time out, and the RE15 if I get any loads worked up.

There are not too many places around here that you can shoot over 200 yds that I have access to - yet. The range I belong to only has a 100 yard rifle distance. Will be looking for more places to shoot chucks around here.

Any more input on the min/max case length issue?

Thanks for the input and advice.

The only thing in my reloading manual is the 6.5jdj which is listed at 1.900 max. length and 1.890 trim to length.

The .225 win. has a max length of 1.930 and trim to length of 1.920.

My new 225win. cases measure 1.924 to 1.928 before sizing and 1.908 to 1.912 after sizing in the 257 die. Think I'm going to fire them this way and then check length, because I'm sure they will loose some length when fireforming.

If you have access to a chronograph I would be interested in velocity increase over the 14" pistol length barrels. I'm in the process of having a carbine barrel built in 6.5 JDJ and was wondering how much more velocity to expect.

Any chance you have gotten any velocity data yet? Anybody have any idea how much velocity gain you might get from a 20 or 22 inch barrel?

How does the 22 inch barrel balance on the contender? Like I said before I'm about to get a barrel built in 6.5 JDJ and can't decide on length.

I do not have a chronograph, so I cannot help there. I may be able to borrow one in the next few weeks, but not right away.

As far as balance, I have (2) 22" full bull Contender carbine barrels and I like the way they feel. I had an 18" and I thought it was too short. 22" seems about right to me - IMHO.

If I can get velocity data I will post it as soon as possible.

I am sure many others here can give you very close approximates of the velocity gain. Generally I have seen around 100 fps per inch on most posts I have read.

I don't have a chronograph either, so can't help there. I do have a 22in. 7-30 bull barrel and really like the way it balances.

That settles it then 22"! Two post is pretty much a consensus to me! And if I don't like it I can always cut it shorter, but it sure is hard to make them grow! My other carbine barrel is 20" (.375 JDJ) so once I get a stock I should be able to tell if I like the shorter one better.