Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles One powder for 257 Roberts

I've never reloaded before but with the help and use of a buddies equipment I'd like to put together some loads for my 257 Roberts (Remington Model 722). I'd like to try bullets of both the 100 and 120 grain variety (probably accubonds and partitions).

So if I was to buy one powder to start off with, what would you recommend?

Lots of good choices, but my choice would be 4350. It provides pretty high loading density and it generally produces good accuracy and velocity. This is a powder that has withstood the test of time.

H4350 is a good choice as well as IMR 4350,4895, and RL17 They have all worked well for me.

Another vote for H4350.

My experiance with the 257R shows H4350 to be real hard to beat.

I'm not sure you'll find one powder that works for both. .257s seem a little fussy. I've had 4 so far.

2 of the 4 never were satisfactory with 100 grain bullets. The other two worked best with 47-48 grains of H4831.

I've had much more consistent luck with 120s. Work up to 43 grains of H414. It's worked in every .257 I've tried it in.

FWIW, I've only shot the 110 grain accubond in one .257. It liked RL22. For the light bullets, 75 - 90 grains, I usually have best luck with IMR 4064.

Remember that I'm most inclined to try things in a new gun that worked in a past one, so ... previous success could be coloring future tests, it may not be a level playing field.

Tom

My .257 likes H4350

I like RL-19, it about beats all the rest with most weight bullets..RL-15 and RL-22, are best with 117 to 120 gr. bullets.

I really like the RL Hercules Powders as they meter so well, very accurate to measure, high velocity, and accuracy has been superb in my 257..

Today I loaded 100 257s with 85 Gr. GS Custom HP monolithics at 3400 FPS..and another 100 Hornady 100 gr. SP's at 3100 plus both with RL-19..and 60 120 gr. Speer GS's at 2800 FPS with RL-15. I like the .257 and I shoot it quit a bit year around. I chose RL-15 over RL-22 as it gives you more room for your bullet, no compaction and you only loose about 50 or so FPS over RL-22...

H4350, for 75-120's.

I tried all the recommended powders (IMR 4350, IMR 4064, H 4831, H 4350, WIN 760 and Re22) in my Ruger M77MKII with 100 grain bullets and could not be happy with the results (1 1/2" to 1 3/4" three shot groups). Read an article in Handloader a few years back by John Barsness (Mule Deer here on the forum) where he recommended the Barnes 100 TSX with 47 grains of Ramshot Hunter in the Bob - BINGO - finally a powder that would shoot a 100 grain bullet in MY cantankerous .257 RBTS (1" or less consistently). I tweaked the load and ended up with a COL of 2.800" using the Barnes 100 TSX, 46.5 grains of Hunter, GM210M primers and R-P brass - clocks 2900 fps in my 22" barrel. If the other recommendation don't work give this load a try.

Looks like I'll try the H4350 to start. As a noob I want to keep it simple to start.

Hopefully I find a satisfactory combo.

H4350 in mine is superb.

H-4350 is tough to beat, RL15 is good too; RL17 should be good but I've not tried it yet.

MM

You can't go wrong with H4350 with the weight bullets you are planning to load.

IMR4350 is "the" powder in my rifle. H-445350 is an OK second choice but IMR4350 is the one accross the bullet weights.

In my 4 Roberts IMR4350 seems to be the most consistant with H4831SC coming in second. I've only tried H4350 with 100 gr BT's in my Ruger #1. It didn't like the combination. Verdict still out on the others rifles.

H4350 in the Roberts is like the Partition as the most likely of all-purpose big game bullets. There may be others which are infinitesimally better in some ways, but few that are more likely to be successful in just about any application.

I think 4350, 4831, H-414, Rl-19 and 22 are all about equal in the Robts..I use them all in mine..The Robts is like the 30-06 in that a lot of powders work well in it.

My AI likes H-380 for 75s and IMR-4350 for 100s. I haven't tried the H-4350 but I'm sure that'd do well also.

If you really want to keep it simple go RL-15 which is my "go to" powder in nearly every cartridge I load. I've run it under 75s, 87s, 100s, 115s in my AI but gotten better speed from other powders.

As these guys mentioned, theres lots of good choices...I load for my wifes .257 in a Rem 722 and we use 4985 with 100 gr. boolits...
Ingwe