Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger 77 in 257 Roberts

I think they should offer a 117 gr. RN just like the original factory load and stop all this nonsense.

When I got my 257 UL I picked up a box of Superformance 117gr SST until I got a die set. My gun would barely keep them on a paper plate at 100yds.

One more data point: I bought a box last year when i left my hoadloads at home for a very accurate 257. First 3 shots went into 3 inches.

I am seeing that at least my 257 is exceptionally ammo sensitive to say the least! Guess I will be pulling the bullets and using the brass to make something usable from it.

So I pulled the 117 SST's from the remaining 17 in the box, loaded them with 42.0 grains of AA4350 and topped them with the Hornady 117 grain BTSP and went shooting. Satisfaction with three three shot groups no flyers and all under an inch.

That's impressive Rick!

With the very inconsistant factory ammo I have gotten from Pendleton, the custom loader and now Hornady I was beginning to wonder if I had gotten a bad barrel! Until I started using the ten pieces of Federal brass I was really thinking about rebarreling or selling the rifle. I mean it was shooting worse with a scope than I can usually get with iron sights. But all is good now. When I pulled the bullets from the 17 Superformance loads I measured the powder charge and it generally averaged 51.5 grains of what does look like Superformance powder, and the Hornady book max is 45.9 grains. On top of that the powder is so compressed I had to use a piece of wire to break it up to get it out of the case. Same thing with the Pendleton ammo. So it seems to me that the manufacturers are trying to kill the Roberts with crappy ammo. Another snivel arises when I try to get my reloads into the original box as they are too long. My rifle seems to prefer the bullets to be seated just off the rifling not .22 short of it like the factory ammo is loaded, imagine that.

Sounds like problem solved!

Yep, ready before the Oklahoma deer season. On the other hand I fired around 90 shots to get there so I should look at the bright side, got some trigger time!

If you ever try the factory load lottery again, look for Hornady 117 grn BTSP, in the Hornady Custom line.

It is listed as 2760fps, but my Ruger m77 loved them.

I started handloading for that rifle specifically to duplicate that factory load. 43 grns of RL19 got me there.

I have probably enough brass now to not sweat it for years to come. When I did the search for ammo there was very little choice.

Forgot all about this thread. Went hunting on my place in Oklahoma. When I got there I poured a line of corn down a trail below the stand for a possible shot of 100 yards. First day nothing but squirrels and does. Second day saw a small buck and passed him. Third and last day right before dark I shot a doe in the neck with a 117 gr. Hornady BTSP pushed with 42.0 grains of IMR4350. Needless to say my next project was getting the doe 100 yards uphill to the hanging tree. She was a bit over 100 pounds and made for some good eating. The bullet went through the neck just in front of the shoulder leaving a 2 inch exit hole with some other small holes that could have been jacket material or bone. Had to leave so after gutting her I loaded up the truck and on the way out in the dark I see a monster 12 point in the dirt road. He waited for the last second to jump into the trees for me. Good but short hunt done by myself. Wish my old hunting partner hadn't passed away. I got a bad case of the flu and wasn't able to get back before deer season ended.

I have a 1976 Ruger M77 tanger and it loves to shoot Barnes 100TTSX over Hybrid 100V.

With mine it seems I can find a good shooting load with any of the powders I have tried but I have to look for it. Mine is a fickle rifle!