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Need help with .257 Roberts

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06 October 2012, 19:00
BigNate
Need help with .257 Roberts
I'm in need of some data on using RL22 & the 115gr Nosler PT in my Roberts.

I have loaded 120's and 117's that were leaded, and tried some Barnes 100's and I think some 115gr XLC's in it, but not any of them with RL22. Rumor has it the Roberts shines brighter yet with 115's & up when pushed with RL22 but I've collected only one recipe and it was not a published source.

Anyone else care to share a secret recipe?
07 October 2012, 02:28
Rusty
I have two 257 Bobs. Both love Nosler 110 Grain Accubonds over 37 grains of Norma 203B or RL-15 with Federal 210 match primers.
My daughters rifle a Ruger Hawkeye just shoots great groups.


Rusty
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07 October 2012, 03:17
Cliff Lyle
I see data for RL15 and RL19 but none for RL22.
07 October 2012, 06:11
BigNate
I found a recommendation for 48gr of RL22 under the 115gr NP but don't have a quickload or other reference.
07 October 2012, 06:46
Lamar
i got to rl-19 and the hornady 120's and just stopped there.
in some cartridges rl-22 data is right close to rl-19 but...
07 October 2012, 07:09
SmokinJ
Alliant's online data lists a 120 grain Speer boat tail load of 43 grains of RL22 so interpolating a 115 should be safe there as long as it doesn't have more bearing surface then that Speer 120 grain. Velocity of that 120 grain by the was was 2635 fps.
07 October 2012, 07:09
Peter
I have found that the 257R is quite sensitive to bullet weight. Mine (Ruger Ultralight) does NOT shoot as well with the 120 gr bullets as with the lighter bullets. YMMV
Peter.


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07 October 2012, 07:36
rnovi
43.0 gr. H4350
117 SGK.

good for 2850 fps and sub 3/4" groups. I'd try that load with the 115 nosler and see what happens.


Regards,

Robert

******************************
H4350! It stays crunchy in milk longer!
07 October 2012, 07:54
craigster
quote:
Originally posted by rnovi:
43.0 gr. H4350
117 SGK.

good for 2850 fps and sub 3/4" groups. I'd try that load with the 115 nosler and see what happens.


41.5 of the same and the 117 SGKs, right @ 2700 and good accuracy in my rifle.
07 October 2012, 17:53
tom ga hunter
I have tried a bunch of powders in my 3 257 Roberts but always come back to 4350. I now mostly use 43.0-45.0 gr of H4350 with a 115-120 bullet. 43.0 gr = 2,850..45.0 = 2,900 in a 24" 3 grove Lilja barrel. It has also ben my experience with many 257 Roberst that if they won't shoot 117 Sierra Game Kings they won't shoot anything.
07 October 2012, 18:29
Cliff Lyle
I have heard on multiple occasions that the 117gr is superior in accuracy to the 115 or 120.
07 October 2012, 20:12
rnovi
quote:
Originally posted by Cliff Lyle:
I have heard on multiple occasions that the 117gr is superior in accuracy to the 115 or 120.


Well, those two or three grains really make all the difference, right?

Smiler


Regards,

Robert

******************************
H4350! It stays crunchy in milk longer!
07 October 2012, 22:13
the jigger
look at www.alliantpowder.com it will give you a RL22 load for 120's.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!


IF YOU'RE GONNA GET OLD,YOU BETTER BE TOUGH!! GETTIN' OLD AIN'T FOR SISSIES!!
08 October 2012, 03:47
Cliff Lyle
quote:
Originally posted by rnovi:
quote:
Originally posted by Cliff Lyle:
I have heard on multiple occasions that the 117gr is superior in accuracy to the 115 or 120.


Well, those two or three grains really make all the difference, right?

Smiler

Evidently so. I was a little surprised that 2 grains could make that much difference. Smiler
08 October 2012, 17:02
scottfromdallas
Like others have mentioned, I pretty much use 42.5 of H4350 for all 115-120 grain bullets. H4350 gives really low standard deviation and is very temp stable.



10 October 2012, 09:44
BigNate
Thanks guys. I have IMR 4350 & 7828 on hand, as well as H4831 & 4831sc, and lots of RL22 as I bought a big jug of it not to long ago. I just had such good results with it in bigger cases that I started down with it. First was a 7RM then a .338WM, then down to the .25-06 and it has done very good for me so thought I'd try it on the next endevour for the Roberts which just happens to be with 115gr Nosler partitions.

I have had good accuracy from 100gr and it did ok with 117SST's, pretty good with Barnes XLC's in 115, even some 75gr HP's. It's no tack driver but it does at least as well as many production rifles. Just looking for a new flavor.
10 October 2012, 10:41
ColoradoMatt
quote:
Originally posted by tom ga hunter:
I have tried a bunch of powders in my 3 257 Roberts but always come back to 4350. I now mostly use 43.0-45.0 gr of H4350 with a 115-120 bullet. 43.0 gr = 2,850..45.0 = 2,900 in a 24" 3 grove Lilja barrel. It has also ben my experience with many 257 Roberst that if they won't shoot 117 Sierra Game Kings they won't shoot anything.
tu2

I agree with this post. I will also add that I believe that the extra speed you get with 24" + barrels, and/or super smooth barrels, helps stabilize long and heavy bullets in the Bob. I wish that factory Bobs came with 1 in 9" twist barrels.


Matt
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15 October 2012, 19:20
Snellstrom
I can't really say anything new here just re affirm whats already been stated but my .257 with a 23" barrel really shoots 117 Sierra's SPBT's right at 2800 fps load is 41.5 IMR 4350.
I can't get it to like 100 grain bullets at all but it shoots the 117's so well why should i bother. On the other hand my sons Ruger Ultra Light 20" barrel really likes 100 grain Sierra's but doesn't care for the same 117 load that mine shoots go figure.
By the way the 117 Sierra is a stone cold killer in my Roberts, never found a bullet in an animal yet and on a large mature Mule deer I got nearly 30" of penetration and an exit on a 200 yard shot.