Just ordered a Ruger hawkeye lightweight in 257 Roberts.Any suggestion for a good load for this caliber?I own a .243,260 and a 7-08 so I really don't know why I bought this gun.Just never owned one.Anybody else shoot a .257 Robert ?

quote:

Originally posted by mojave:
Just ordered a Ruger hawkeye lightweight in 257 Roberts.Any suggestion for a good load for this caliber?I own a .243,260 and a 7-08 so I really don't know why I bought this gun.Just never owned one.Anybody else shoot a .257 Robert ?

a load fro what? varmints, coyotes, deer, hogs, elk, plinking, targets?? need more data to make an informed suggestoin.

Just do a search (Find) for 257 Roberts & 257 Bob loads, on this site and you find plenty of info

Lots & lots of us shot the Bob & Bob AI, you will enjoy it

My deer load is 38gr of Varget under a Sierra 100gr SBT. Excellent accuracy out to 300yds.
my suggestion is to back off 1.5gr and work up.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

Thanks to all for the reply.My wife going to use this gun for blacktail deer.My favorite powder has been IMR4350 powder but think it's to slow of a powder for a 20" barrel.My primary source of loading data is Ken Waters pet load book but have been told it's dated.I guess I'm dated too.All these new powders these days it's hard to choose from.

imr4350 is a good powder but i ve used h414 @43 grains with a hornady 117 grain bullet for many years in three rifles 20 22 & 24 barrels

my wifes uncle killed a train load of mule deer and elk with a mod 70 257 roberts.and his grandson is carring on his legacy with that rifle.Great choice.

Mojave,
I find that IMR4064 works very well with Hornady or Sierra 100gr. bullets. I have a M77 MkII Ultra Light so I also shoot the 20" bbl. Varget and IMR4064 have almost the same burn rate so you can take your choice. My rifle seems to have a slight preference for the IMR powder.

I seat the bullets about .020 off the lands and use a Lee factory crimp die for best accuracy.

Have patience when working with the pencil thin barrel on the Ruger Ultralight. I find that waiting several minutes with the action open between shots on even three shot groups will help tighten up the groups. These barrels heat up pretty quickly and the POI tends to wander with increasing heat in the barrel.

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Anybody else shoot a .257 Robert ?

I just bagged a nice mulie with a .257 Roberts shooting a 117 grain SST from Hornady. Distance a bit over 250 yards.

One shot and dead deer!

I've used a .25-06 for years but the Bob stands toe to toe with it!

quote:

Originally posted by mojave:
My primary source of loading data is Ken Waters pet load book but have been told it's dated. I guess I'm dated too. ...

You may find "newer" starting data, but you won't find any better starting data - anywhere!

Welcome Aboard!

mojave wrote:

quote:

My favorite powder has been IMR4350 powder but think it's to slow of a powder for a 20"

That's simply a myth and is not true. For example, in a 6.5x.308 (aka .260 Rem) XP with a 14" barrel, the powder which gave me the best velocity and accuracy with 120 grain BTs was H4350 -- the very same powder that gave me the best velocity and accuracy in a 26" Rem VLS.

IMR4350 is a terrific powder for the Roberts. Don't overlook it.

quote:

IMR4350 is a terrific powder for the Roberts. Don't overlook it.

+1...mine shoots great with IMR and 100 NBT, 100 TSX & 120 Gamekings. IMR is a great powder.

Bob Shooters?
I load 45 gr. H4350, 100 gr nosler ballistic tips in the bobs.

my "go to" load in the ruger hawkeye in 257 bob is 110 gr. accubonds and 43 gr. H414.
Shoots good groups. +/- 2800 fps velocity,
kills stuff dead





Although I do not consider myself to be a "bob" nut, a couple more have followed me home.
GWB


Rem 700 CDL, SF, 75 Anniversary edition
Custom heavy barreled Sako L579

+1 for H414, I love the way ball powders meter