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

There have been some here on the Fire advocating RL-26 with heavier 257R bullets. I know, it's probably too slow for the .257R, but you can get 48 gr. in a case and up to the shoulder, not in the neck. I loaded some with Rem 9 1/2 primers and 115 NBT's. I didn't set up the chrono, wanted to see if they would group. Reportedly that combo is 3K fps, QL shows RL-26 as top performer with 115's in the Roberts.

Well, they weren't accurate in my Brux/700LA, a half inch gun. I had three in an inch or so, others out of the group, probably 3" or better overall. RL-26 is a dense, high performance powder. Maybe in my 7RM, not in my .257R.

File that in the "what it's worth" department...

DF

Things don't always work out as predicted. Usually expect slower powders match heavier bullets. Don't bet on it! In the .257, my best powder with 100s is H4831, with 110 grain ABs RL 22, and with 120s (several brands) H414. Theory gives a good place to start but empirical data wins every time.

Tom

That's for sure.

I think there must have been powder residue from the RL-26 test. After a half dozen shots, I couldn't chamber a round. After I got back to the shop, no problem. Whatever was blocking a round being chambered must have fallen out. Everything was OK thru the Hawkeye. Bore was pretty dirty, worse than usual.

I think I can find better 257R powder.

DF

I have been shooting a 257 of some sort since the '70's and have concluded any bullet 100 grains on up is great for deer and antelope providing the rifle likes it.

Don't know much about bullets under 100 grains due to not trying them on deer. For varmints I do like the Hornady 75 grain V-max. It seems as though all of my Roberts have shot that bullet extremely well over H4895.

I currently have a pair of Roberts, both with 1-9" Brux barrels. One is on a 98 FN action from the 1950's housed in a Bansner stock while the other is on a C-prefix 700 LA bedded into a Ti stock. Both like the same load with 110 AB's over H4350. The 700 is one of those rifles that puts all bullet weights into the same POI. As a result, I have loaded some Hornady 117 RN's and the rifle puts them and the 110's into 3/4". I sight in with the 110's and can slip the 117's in when I wish to do so in the brush here.

Seems you like LA .257R 700's in Ti stocks...

Maybe even a BDL converted Ti stock?

DF

Yep, the best way to go here in the North Woods !!

Nope. Just a factory issue......

If my 257R would shoot the 110gr Accubonds in tighter groups I,d use those over the 115gr partitions I
use now. I think the partitions over penetrate a little.

Early in Dec. tried RL 26 in my custom Mauser 257 Roberts. The rifle apparently has a tight chamber based on how it acts with many commonly suggested loads and some factory ammo. Tried 45-48 grains in 1/2 grain increments, two shots at each increment, CCI 250 primers WW brass and Sierra 117 grain flat base Pro Hunter bullets that had been pulled.

Results: 45 g. = 2732, 2732 fps; 45.5 g. = 2749, 2749 fps; 46 g. = 2775, 2795 fps; 46.5 g. = 2807, 2807 fps, 47 g. = 2836, 2830 fps; 47.5 g. = 2879, 2867 fps, 48 g. = 2892, 2896 fps.

Stopped at 48 grains of RL 26 because that is where DF stopped. Did not shoot for accuracy as I was using bullets that had been previously loaded for a different 257 Roberts. No signs of pressure (i.e. easy bolt lift, primers all look the same, no marks on brass - examined each case head with a 10X hand lens). Temperature at time of shooting was about 30 degrees.

As DF states the powder at 48 grains is just to base of neck. My rifle appears throated for 3" with the 120 grain Nosler Partition bullet. It is shorter than that with other bullets I have tried. This batch was seated to 2.89" COL.

I was surprised at how consistent velocities were at most increments, more so than any other similar sequence of loads that I have done with this and other rifles and loads. Need to wait to test for signs of pressure at higher temperatures before doing any more work with RL 26 in my rifle. After that will check for accuracy {given my rudimentary shooting skills}.

In the 25-06 my bread & butter load is the Hornaday 117 BTSP the BT work well too. For coyotes I would try the 115 Bergers or the SST if you have enough twist for the Bergers 1 in 10 I think depends on altitude and maybe velocity or individual barrel preference. Both of these would work well on deer at longer ranges. In 25 caliber it is difficult to find a bad bullet for deer with anything 80 to 120 grains as the bullets were designed for the medium 25s with a nod to the Weatherby most function well at middle velocities.

R26 is doing well for me in the 243 & 25-06 and soon the 6AI so I would give it a try in the Bob too if I had one.