Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles There it is, a 115-grain from the .257 Bob at 3000+ fps

A little while ago on this forum there was a thread about the whether to choose a 6.5x55 or a .257 Roberts.

I mentioned in one of my posts on the subject that it was pretty easy to safely get 3000 fps from a 115-grain bullet in the .257, whereupon I was of course challenged. I countered this by pointing out that most .257 Roberts data is very wimpy, and newer powders have changed things.

Well, I just got my latest Hodgdon Annual Manual and was browsing through it. In the .257 Roberts data the fastest load with the 115-grain Nosler Patition is listed at 3049 fps, and the powder is Hybrid H100V, the maximum charge 46.0 grains. This is from a 24" barrel, so still should be somewhere around 3000 in a 22" barrel.

The interesting thing about this data is that it isn't even +P. On fact the pressure for the maximum load is only 46,600 CUP, not anywhere near the 50,000+ CUP most modern cartridges are loaded to.

I haven't tried this load yet but intend to soon. And no, it isn't a misprint, since the 100-grain data shows a maximum velocity of 3205 fps with H100V.

Don't know why anyone would doubt you John your knowledge and experience is better than a manuel

No fair getting the books before we do....!!

Thanks for the tips,I happen to be loadin my small bores now.Just got a # of Magnum and RL17 to try...

John,

Inspired by your writing,I went out and bought a new 257 Roberts,a Kimber Select.

It functions just fine and shoots well too.

The first factory load that I tried was the Federal Premium with the 120 grain Partitions.

Three of them will hit in a little less than an inch and the chrony said they were going 2940 fps some 10 feet from the muzzle from the 22 inch barrel.

If Federal can get close to 3000 fps with a 120 grain bullet,I'm pretty sure the rest of us can get a 115 grain bullet there too.

In fact,rounds like the 257 Roberts,280 Remington,and 30-06 which have pressure limits in commercial ammo of 50,000 cup or less,generally respond very nicely to handloads which often can safely beat factory velocites.

On the other hand,if you try to beat factory velocity with a number of cartidges which have higher saami limits,like the 243,270,308,and the WSM series,you have to run some pretty spoooky pressures to get there.

Lots of people here understand the difference,but some folks just can't wrap their mind around it.

Thanks, JB

I see Hodgdon also has that load listed in their data on their website.

I'll have to get some H 100V and try it in my .257 AI.

JB,

I have to agree with you 100%, 3000 fps with 115's was certainly safely attainable before the new Hodgdon arrived at your doorstep. It was a reality in Montana and also here in Minnesota.

ruraldoc,

Thanks for the info on the Federal 120-grain load. That's also been my experience with it, somewhere around 2900 fps depending on the rifle.

In fact, with one exception the factory loads for the .257 Roberts are pretty much up to snuff now. In fact I believe all the factory loads use bullets over 100 grains now, which may or may not be a good thing to some people.

Only the Remington "traditional" load with the 117 round-nose Core-Lokt is still loaded to old-time velocities, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. It makes a perfect "managed recoil" load for beginning hunters.

JB,

One local friend,introduced all of his kids,five girls,to hunting with a the 257 Roberts and that 117 grain Remington load.

Those girls killed a bunch of deer. The next generation of kids(my pal's grandchildren) now use the same rifle and load. It is 70s vintage Ruger M77 with a tang safety.

Here's the thing, eventhough the old Reminton 117 grain roundnose only has a muzzle velocityof 2600 fps,it kills stuff really dead.

I've not taken a look @ H 100V what's it sort of close to in terms of other powders?

Tanks

Dober

(I've a small stash of the old 117 Noz semi's, now that's an elk killing machine 4 sure..grin

"HYBRID 100V� This excellent new product is the result of combining the technologies of spherical powders and extruded propellants. The chemistry of a spherical powder is combined with the geometry of an extruded propellant, creating a smooth-metering, super short granule extruded shaped propellant with high energy. HYBRID 100V has a burn speed between H4350 and H4831, yeilding superb performance in such popular calibers as 270 Winchester, 243 Winchester Super Short Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 300 Winchester Magnum and dozens more.
"

http://www.hodgdon.com/rifle.html

Not sure why there was a doubt on this i was getting 3050FPS with 110grn accubond in a very safe load with RL17. I would have no doubts that I could push a 115grn at 3000fps in that rifle. This is in a kimber 84M montana with a 22" barrel.

That old Remington load shoots dead on the sights on my Mannlicher,kills deer well.
Since the gun now been scoped, it likes the Nosler 115
at about 2850 or so and kills cleanly as well.
I think I should try this 3000 fps in my Winchester and see how it does.
Good tips,JB

Nothin' like the facts to settle an argument.

Just came in from the range where I was working with my Ruger 77RL 257. It had a lot of carry wear when I bought it so I just had it parkerized. Got it dialed in to where it was shooting 1 - 1 1/4" at 100 yds. pretty consistently. I may start working with the 115 Noslers and the Hodgden recipe. Before I had the work done it was shooting Federal premium 120s into just over an inch. Today I was shooting Hornady 87s over 4350. It does ok for having that whippy little barrel.

Yep. Now if only one of the major manufacturers would put out a rifle so chambered that went 6-6.5lbs all up.

I believed you.

Your thoughtful posts helped convince me to buy three NOS rifles (Two Rugers M77's and a M70 XTR Featherweight) in 257 Roberts over the last few weeks. Sold my R600 and R660, both in 6.5RM to finance the deal.

Before that particular thread and your line of reasoning ( AS WELL AS A FEW OTHERS ), I was really thinking I should go ahead and buy a 6.5x55 for the "extra" juice on the 120gr slugs. I did not want to be just "good or adequate" on larger deer at ranges and different angles to 300yds or so. A 115gr at 3000 or a 120gr at 2900 will do it easliy.

I usually hunted with a R600 in 6.5RM and there was absolutely NO question of power at 300yds, but occasionally I got shots at 50 to 70 yds and there was A LOT of meat destruction.

I would often think, standing there in the woods of Idaho, I really should find a cartridge that pushes a 120gr bullet around 2900fps or so. Of course I thought of the Bob and the Swede, just took me 5 years to move everything around a little.

Can't wait to hunt this November. Thanks.

Lj

NULA: http://www.newultralight.com/

I missed the "challenge", but 3,100-3200 with a 100gr bullet has been doable since RL-22 became available.

Stop! Please stop!

I've got .257 Roberts on the brain as I've been contemplating what calibers I'd like to pick up for my boys to hunt when they are old enough (my oldest is 2 and the youngest is 1 month! LOL). The Bob is one that I just keep coming back to and you guys are not helping with this!

So... who still chambers a .257 Roberts these days? If you were to pick one up who would you go with (whether new manufacture or previous make)?

Gaaah! My wife just had a baby and I can't afford a new rifle... I need to get out of here.