Took the new M03 barrel I bought from CRUSHER to the range yesterday. Brand new " After Market" barrel, wiped it down between strings. I fire formed 50 rounds of Nosler 257 Roberts brass to 257 Ackley Improved.

The load was 100 grain Nosler Hunting Ballistic Tip over 39 grains of Norma 203B, Federal GM 210M primers.

One fouling shot and the other 9 rounds together.


20 round string


Groups would have been better if I had taken more time. Needless to say, I am very impressed with the "After Market" barrel that I purchased from CRUSHER. Anxious to see how it will perform with formed brass.

Looks like you have a shooter there, Rusty.

That was fire-forming?? Either way, quite impressing grouping! You and the rifle definitely shoot better than I can.

Might have to look into one of those...

Rusty, the 257 AI has intrigued me, and a friend has one in a Dakota Alpine he wants to sell. Hmmmm :-)

Good possibilities there wonder what vel you well get

QuickLoad said that the estimated velocity is 2814 FPS with the 100 gain bullet. The bullets were seated out to engage the rifling to keep the case firmly against the bolt head and minimize stretching of the Web area of the case. I plan to use a 40.5 load for hunting that should give be a bit over 2900 FPS.

I have never been one that felt I needed to wretch a round out just for the sake of velocity. I prefer a good combination of velocity and accuracy!

Looks like that one is going to shoot. You will be happy with it's performance on deer. My youngest son has bagged 7 whitetails with his .257 Roberts and 100 grain Sierra's going under 2900 fps. All pass throughs, couple of them he shot twice even though they didn't need it, none of them went far.
With my .257 Roberts I've killed a few large bodied Mule Deer Bucks and all one shot kills with 117 Sierra's and about 2840 fps. All bullets pass through.
My son shot 3 deer this year with his .280 and exclaimed that the .257 Roberts was a better deer killer!