In December, I picked up a very nice Kimber 84M Montana in 257 Roberts from a friend of mine for a steal!!! I finally got around to a little load development with the 120 Partition, Nosler +p cases, CCI 200 primers and a little IMR 4350. The new VX-3i 2.5-8x36 with B&C reticle showed up Friday and I mounted it that evening in light weight Talley aluminum ring/mounts. I then shot 15 rounds through it Saterday am, testing OAL in .040" increments, shooting 3-shot groups at 100 yds; got a decent 100 yd zero too. It liked 2 OAL's so I moved forward with my standard method Ladder method. Since this is not a long range rifle, I moved a new 4'x4' plywood up on the property behind my house, 300 yds distant from my shooting position. My normal long range ladder target is 600 yds. This rifle, with scope and mounts only weighs 6 lb 4 oz. Quite light so the barrel needs cooling between shots; early AM temps, Frogg Togg Chill Pad draped over the barrel between shots and time to cool. I checked my impact at 300 and started my ladder. Ten shots with a couple of apparent nodes. I went for the upper, last shot, number 10, which gave me 2740 fps. I then loaded 3 rounds, which turned into a 4th shot due to a flyer; upper left target. I remembered it liked 2 different OAL's so I seated 3 out .020" further and shot the left, middle row. Took the pic through the Zeiss spotter, liked what I saw and loaded 2 more, so that last, 2.75"/.91 moa group is 5-shots. ES of 7. Didn't get the SD but i'm pretty sure it's less than the SD. This means I found my final load with 9 OAL shots and 19 ladder shots. How's that for barrel life and component savings?













I bought the rifle, not only because of the great price but I had sent several of my favorite loads to the owner the year before and he sent this back.

You gotta love a slim and trim 257 Roberts that shoots!
Looks like you have a keeper.
I like your method of wringing it out, lot's of fun you are having there.
My son and I both have lightweight 257's and to be honest they are almost boring, they are so accurate and effective on Whitetails, Mule Deer and Antelope. 4350 seems to be the magic dust for the Roberts and 117-120 projectiles.
Good shooting!

Looks like a real shooter. The man likes his Bob's. Is that Tooele County by chance?

I love the Bob.
100 grain Barnes tsx over H 414 gives me .75 at 100 , and 3100 fps
...tj3006

Looks like it could be UT County to me? But enough of that, those are some very nice groups for 300 yards. One of the folks I used to know who worked at Barnes used the lighter 80 grain TTSX in a 25-06. He said it shot like a lazer beam and killed in their tracks. It might be worth a try?

I,'ve got one of those wee beasties, first time out I knew I wanted more Montana's..