Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Nosler Reloading Guide #7

New to reloading, but looking at the Nosler #7 manual and the 257 Roberts Data. No indication if that's for +P or not, is it?

If it's for the standard loads, where would a person start out at if looking at the same data for +P loads?

I believe I've got a load for a rifle I bought that calls for 46g of H4831 & 120g partitions. But that's 3.5g over max according to that book.

Thanks for any help.

No clue on the Nosler #7 but I'm shooting 47.5grs H4831 with the 120 Partition from my Ruger Ultralight 257 Roberts with no signs or symptoms and great case life.

Do yourself a huge favor, start low and work up, buy a chronograph and see what your specific set of variables is actually doing!

I can point to a "book" load that is several grains beyond safe and was subsequently lowered in later additions.

Mike

FWIW,

http://www.shootersforum.com/handloading-procedures-practices/49657-257-roberts-p-brass.html

I've loaded 257 Roberts Ackley Improved in both the RP and Winchester +P brass out of the Nosler #5 manual with no problems encountered



Your mileage may vary.

Best,

GWB

Nosler #5 shows a max load of H4831SC at 50.5 gr. for a case fill percentage of 89% using the 120 gr. Partitions in th 250 AI chambering.


as ready on the right states, be careful.

Best,

GWB

I'd predict one can't get enough 4831SC in a Roberts case to overpressurize it.... on another Site, one of Nosler's Ballisticians came on and said you couldn't get enough 4831SC in an 06 case to over pressurize it or exceed SAAMI specs...

Thanks for the replies. Nosler has IMR and I'm looking at H 4831 and not 4831sc.

I presumed the IMR & H 4831's were the same, like the 4350's I believe?

Cal,

IMR and H powders, while often carry the same numerical designation, are not the same powder and have different burn rates albeit they are close. In my experience the IMR versions are on the faster side compared to the H version (for the cases of 4350 and 4831) but variations in production lots can move that differential around.

H4831 and H4831SC (short cut) are interchangeable in terms of load data from my experience.

Cal,
You know what is said about assuming,
it makes an azz out of u and me.

you are correct the nosler manual does not list both Hodgdon and IMR 4831 powders for 120 gr. partition

for the swede,(6.5 x 55) loading a 140 gr. bullet they list

for H4831 min of 43, max of 47

for IMR4831 40.5 to 44.5 gr.


Based on burn rate, I do believe IMR is faster.


http://www.shootersforum.com/handloading-procedures-practices/54415-imr-4831-vs-h4831.html

As you are using H-4831, the slower of the two, you should be fine at 46 gr.

Once more, Nosler #5 shows the 257AI and 120 gr. partitons with volumes from 46.5 gr. (your load) up to 50.5 grains of H4831sc

You could always drop down two grains and work up in 1/2 gr. increments.

If you needed more velocity, one could always do the AI or the 25-06 or even 257 Roy.

Best,

GWB

I'd PM John Barsness, Mule Deer on this site under gunwriters and ask him, he wrote the forward for the .257 Roberts in Nosler #6 and has probably used that combo before.

Mike

Thanks again for the info people, in regards to more velocity. Not looking to set any speed records, actually sold a 257 Roy for this Roberts and it's a proven shooter. Would like to take a cow elk with it though.



If I need more speed, or heavier loads I have other options. Wanted something a little sexier than the rest and think I got it.

Cal,

That is a nice looking rifle. I am sure you will enjoy it.

Your load with a 117/120 gr bullet of 46 gr of H-4831 is a +P load that should give about 2750 fps in your 22" barrel, (2800 max in 24"). That is a max load.

Especially as a new handloader you should work up from about 43 grs in half grain increments and stop when you get to 2750 fps or 46 grs, whichever comes first.

As a beginner, stay conservative. A chronograph is essential to this operation. If you don't already have one, I recommend the Pro-Chrono at about $100.

Without a chrono you have little clue what your actual velocity/ pressure is, and I would stop at 44 grs if all seemed well and not worry about it, and just go out and kill stuff, as many of the Campfire members like to say.

Enjoy that nice rifle.

"Would like to take a cow elk with it though."

Can't be done. Those 25 caliber bullets just bounce off.

A guy in Rifle magazine, back in 1978 said so, concerning the .25-06. OK, what he said was that the caliber was "marginal" for caribou. Funny thing is, I'd just had more than 20 bang flops with it during the prior 3 years, out to 500 yards or more.

So you need at least a .26

I'm right fond of my light wt, beat-up, ugly Rem 725 in .260 Rem., which has taken a cow elk at 150, and several caribou from 200 to about 400 yards. After a thorough disassembly and cleaning and replacing a weak, mushy (original?) striker spring with a new Wolff, I had to test fire it before caribou migration gets here, tho there are a few strays around. Across the handlebars of the ATV as rest, it put 3 140 gr. factory Core-lokts into 2 1/8" at 200 yards.

That 8 inches off to the right was easily corrected, with a one shot confirmation.
I left it at 8 inches high, giving me a 300 yard zero - a practical zero for this country. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on moose at reasonable range.

Don't let anyone tell you that .257 is too light for elk, with good shot placement. I would use premiums tho.

That's a real pretty rifle.

Come to think of it, it is really too nice to go elk hunting. Yet. You should send it to me to use for a year....

"Would like to take a cow elk"

OK.....where you taking her?

Ted,
Get your mind out of the gutter.

Hey, that is a nice looking rifle.

Cal,

Did you draw a SD elk tag??? They're so few and far between.

cal74 �

That is a very nice looking rifle � I love the wood.

My .257 Roberts was a serendipitous act of good fortune � I had sold a .22-250 with a shot-out barrel at a gun show and was leaving to buy a new Ruger .25-06 at Sportsman�s Warehouse. On my way out I literally bumped into a guy that had a Ruger M77 hanging on his shoulder with a �For Sale� sign on it. I inquired and discovered it was a .257 Roberts. The rifle looked new with no scratches in the bluing under the slide safety, even though it was 15 years old. I got the rifle and the Leupold M8 4x that was in the rings for $400. This was early 2004. I had purchased an identical scope a month or so prior for $100 so I figured the rifle cost me $300.

That rifle quickly became my favorite. Last year Daughter #1 took her first animal ever with it, a WY doe antelope. She was busting clay pigeons at 300 with it last weekend. In 4 weeks she will try for a repeat on WY antelope.

Since getting the Roberts I�ve not felt a need for a faster .25. Instead I went up a step in caliber to a 6.5-06AI. Might use that for antelope again this year since my Roberts will be in use.

I did, cashed in three years of preference pts for my cow tag as I unfortunately have to switch my residency to MN. This will be my fifth tag in 13 years though. Got lucky and drew 2 different left over cow tags over the years.

So far I'm batting 75% success rate on my elk, plus I've taken one other one.

I've been a part of four other punched elk tags in the hills and including my own three punched tags the longest shot has probably been 100 yards, most about 60 and my first bull I took at 14 yards as he was walking right towards me out of the timber opening morning at first light.

I'll be bringing this Roberts and my Kimber Montana .280ai a combo I think even Boxer would approve of.

Previously I've used a 7mm mag and have punched two tags with a 7mm-08.

Cal,

As mentioned above, buy a chronograph. Looking at the Hodgdon website, Speer #14, and Nosler #7. Speer #14 is explicitly 257 Roberts +P. Even tho the max powder charges vary by source, all three sources agree that 2800 fps (+/-) is the top end for 120gr NPT's in a .257 Roberts with I4831. FWIW, within a given powder, the Nosler #7 max velocities are same/similar to the Speer #14 max velocities for +P loads.

Start low. Work up. Be safe. Best wishes for a memorable hunt !