Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 257 bob deer bullets

Nice shootin DF, and yes, men, that's a hell of a barn burner load for the 257R, and too me, no farther than I'd shoot a bullet with that low of a b.c., powder temp stability is not as critical, I hit a big heavy 8pt buck through both shoulders at 200+ yards a couple three years ago, he looked like a bucking horse at the county rodeo for a split second before he reared on backwards to fall for good on his back.

The 117 grain Hornady Round Nose is all I use in my Roberts. Years ago I used it exclusively in my 25.06 as well.

I haven't hand loaded in years but I still have all I need loaded and ready. Really good performance on deer sized game and more than acceptably accurate.

I have used the Hornady 117 gr SST bullet in my 250 Savage with no complaints and it's moving 200 feet per second slower than a .257Bob.

I bought some H100V awhile back after reading some of the positive results in the 257R some of you have posted previously. My initial load work was a bit disappointing due to poor accuracy so I aborted before spending much effort on it. I might need to give it another go...

Double post...

If you're shooting the 100 TTSX, jump is a big issue. Those do like to jump and I'd tweak that load accordingly. When in doubt with a Mono, increase the jump.

With the H100V/100 TTSX load posted earlier, Gunner had traded his .257R, if IIRC, for a .280AI. Anyway, he ended up with surplus ammo, so I was able to buy what he had. Generally I don't shoot other people's reloads, but in this case, no problem.

DF

Are these loads you developed yourself or did they come from a published source?

Good point on bullet jump - I don't recall off hand specifically which bullets I tried with H100V, but don't believe I've tried the 100 TTSX with that powder. The 100 TTSX / RE19 load that does shoot well is loaded to the max. OAL for the Kimber short action (just over 2.8"). The magazine constraints require fairly deep seating on this one but it looks like I need to verify where bullets are in relation to the lands when seated to max. OAL before experimenting further.

This !

Same outta my 25-06 !

Dead deer.

My boy's old 700 Mnt rifle loved 100gn TSX's (pre-TTSX) ahead of 48 grn of H-4350. Can't remember the velocity. Was somewhere around 3100fps. I didn't care for how destructive PT's where in factory Fed premium ammo, so never bothered loading them. Also, not to be over-looked, but factory Rem 117 round-nose ammo worked perfectly on a number of deer. Was one of the most accurate loads too.

That's one gun I wish I had back.

Always liked the 100 gr HotCor in mine. Killed deer nicely.

Those are loads I developed myself that are based on a variety of sources. Note the "long-throated Ruger M77" stipulation. When I say "long throated", I've often joked the bullets couldn't touch the lands with a stick.

+P pressure specs for the .257 Roberts are still well below pressures for other cartridges for which the M77 is chambered, to wit:

SAAMI Pressure and Velocity Standards

See page 28 for the following SAAMI data.
SAAMI velocities are measured at 15', I measure mine at about 7'. For apples to apples you need to add about 13-14fps to the SAAMI velocities for that difference and subtract whatever for the difference between SAAMI's 24" test barrel and my 22" barrel.

.257 Roberts +P, 58,000PSI
100g = 2980fps
117g = 2920fps

.25-06, 63,000PSI
100g = 3210fps
117g = 3100fps
120g = 2975fps

.22-250 Remington, 65,000PSI
.270 Winchester, 65,000PSI

While my velocities are higher than published values, which must adhere to SAAMI standards, at 58,000PSI the SAAMI maximum pressure is still way below pressures that my (or most any modern) rifle is capable of handling. once again, so you don't have to go back and look them up, my loads are as follows:

WW +P brass, CCI 200 primer for all
100g TTSX @ 3233fps using H4350
110 AB @ 3163fps using H4350
120g A-Frame @ 2947fps using H4831SC

You will note I did not provide powder charges, but I can say none are compressed loads and bullets are seated no deeper than the case neck - which provides some clues as to the maximum powder charges i could be using for anyone desirous of working up similar loads. I"m not at home, and so can't check, but I'm fairly certain there is additional powder space available in each load. I will also say - no surprise here - that my loads are above SAAMI standard (non +P) .257 Roberts powder charges.

All of my .257 Roberts loads provide long case life and the primers are still rounded. Are they safe? They appear to be quite safe in my rifle. Can't say about other rifles.


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Here's the Ron Lampert .257R with Ti take off stock converted from ADL to BDL by me. Walker trigger tweaked to perfection by Ron.

DF

Nice looking rifle, a bit shiny in a couple of places.

The 257 really is a fine performer being able to duplicate the 25-06! If I take mine on a Wyoming Mule deer hunt I will work up to those levels. Alliant says you can get 2940 fps with a 120 grain bullet using RL22 and that should be able to do anything a 25-06 factory load can.

Yep, it has an aluminum bolt shroud and polished bolt. That's the way Ron set it up and for that reason, I'll leave it as is. I was told that Ron developed serious health issues and became disabled, so this gun is special to me and the party I got it from. It was part of a trade deal with the original owner who had the work done.

Ron was a master smith, Jim Carmichael thought a lot of him. He did work for Jim, who referred to him as "one of the countries top metal specialsits". Ron shortened a Mauser action, welding the ends such that the weld couldn't be seen. That gun became Jim's 250 Savage. He took the pieces, cut another Mauser and extended it to magnum length. That one became Jim's .375 H&H. "Very cute indeed", Jim wrote in his book, The Modern Rifle.

DF

I have been happy with the 100 grain Hornady SP in my .257 Rbts

Adding photo to show ADL to BDL conversion of the Ti takeoff. I was a bit cautious at first as it was a pretty nice stock to start experimenting with, but Ingwe said he's done ADL-BDL converstions, so I tackled it. Turned out OK.

I bet the hard part is finding the BDL bottom metal.

When I traded for this gun, it had BDL bottom metal. The Ti stock was part of the deal; I had the choice of it or the factory wood BDL stock. I took the Ti and had the choice of going ADL or converting to BDL. I chose the latter. It was my first such conversion; I’ve done it since.

DF