Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 257 Roberts AI!

If you're talking about POA, he has been dead for awhile and most folks generally agree that his loading data was often beyond what is considered a safe maximum these days. But you're the guy behind the trigger and if a case seperated because you're push the ceiling of safe loading technique, you're the guy who suffers. It's like driving fast with bad tires or brakes, if you keep doing it, eventually it's likely to catch up with you and the outcome might not be so good.

Without a chronograph, it is pretty hard to judge how hot a particular load, in a particular firearm, is, as the conventional signs of high pressure often don't show themselves until the pressure is well beyond what is generally considered the safe maximum these days.

Jeff

Just when I was getting excited about the numbers! Damn Sure sounded nice.

19 months?

Otis,

Thanks for your service!

I fulfilled the dream of a 257 AI on a Mauser action a few years ago and have been loving it ever since.

It sounds to me like your conclusions were the same as those of us (I just saw your initial report and read through the thread) who looked at your load and were a bit concerned about things. When we have a fine solder who has served the cause of freedom in the field, I hope you'll excuse us if we don't want you to get your face blown off state-side. I totally understand the brain-fart though... I actually had a more dangerous one back when I first "discovered" Ramshot powders and confused a load for Hunter (similar to 4350) with a load for Big Game (similar to RL-15/Varget). That is, I loaded the Big Game using Hunter numbers. I knew I'd done something dumb first shot... first time I'd ever had a sticky bolt, and the primer pocket was toast. Now I keep my load info right in front of me when on the bench...

As to the original topic, mine really seems to love 50.5 gr of IMR-4350 topped with a 100 gr Speer HP at about 3330 fps (chrono'd), and a half-grain less of the same powder under a Hornady Interlock of the same size for 3300 fps even.

Thanks again for your service, and I hope that rifle continues to serve you well!

The man did all this in a time when chronographs were crude and the powders were probably a little different in the burn rate dept.
OTIS just use your head and go Hunting,Have Fun you deserve it.
You may not know i,but there are folks that don't like to run them fast at all. GOOD LUCK to you SIR
PS;I have 3 of PO's improved rifles now and look forward to trying more.

Just found where I started this thread as I have been to Hawaii and Colorado, Mississippi, Texas, and now headed to train Seals in VA. Someone posted to use a set of calipers to measure the brass and the web before and after shooting, on Ackley cases only, no more than a .001 growth. Anything more is considered too hot. I did this and had to drop one grain to stay within the limitations. Have purchased a chronoy, and its at the house. Just don't know when I'll get there to use it and work on some more loads. Thanks for all the concerns. I too, read more than I need sometimes! Go by what you do, if the Wright Bros. would have listened to public opinion we would still be sailing to the far away lands too! I train the military all over the world, I'll probably get killed by a little bastage, who never even learned to read or wipe his azz, or shot by a jealous husband while crawling out a window! PS no offense, but Marines are called Marines for a reason! Semper Fi!We are not Soldiers, they are in the Army!

Bluedraeux, I didn't get the 19 mos reference!

Otis are you going to Little Creek?
If you are look up wolfman in group 20. He is my son and he has been training folks in the deep south for the last year.
Good Luck

Been 19 months since the last post on this thread until yesterday

Oh, I had to go to my post to see where I was with 24cf. I thought it had run its course too! Everybody love to worry about me. My Mother said of all her kids, if someone was handing out tickets to the moon, I would be in line! She's right. The reason I went in the Marine Corps was everyone in my family were Sailors! I wanted more adventure! I think if you don't think out side the box, you end up in one at a nice quiet cemetary!
Yes I am going there, can't wait, I used to launch our boat at the seal base marina when I was a kid with my Dad. He was the one who got me started. Never let fear keep you from doing something everyone dreams about!

Pushing the envelope has its risks and sometimes you pay the price. If you think that the risk is worth the reward, its your choice.

For me, I'm willing to risk money, since I can always get more, while I am very unwilling to risk my eyes, since once your sight is gone, it is gone forever.

Jeff

I'd much rather 25-284,instead of 257Better Bob............

I have both, no meaningful difference between the 2, all other factors being equal.

Jeff

Greater capacity,shorter trim length and incredibly robust brass of exceptional quality...if only for starters.........

Yes, there is quite a bit more case capacity, 13.79% if you assume 58 grains for the 257 AI and 66 for the 25-284, but that doesn't translate to a lot more velocity. Given the 1 to 4 rule of thumb, a 13.79% increase in capacity should generate about 3.45% more velocity, all other factors being equal. A 3.45% increase on a 3,000 fps starting point adds about 103 fps.

Shorter trim length is just 2mm or 0.0787", assuming that the 257 AI case is 57mm long and the 25-284 case is 55mm long.

I think that Winchester/Olin 284 brass is great stuff, but I've never had a case failure with any of the hundreds of Winchester/Olin 257 Roberts cases that I've fire formed into 257 AI.

Jeff

My initial 25-284,was first a 257Bob,then a Better Bob and finally 25-284...via the same tube.

You couldn't run fast enough to catch me,in order to hand me a free 25Mouser.............

In case you are wonderin',100's went faster at every stop up the ladder............(grin)

I had a 257 AI and didn't much care for it. Would have just as soon had a 25-06 for all the trouble.

You need to screw that tube on a WSSM action, then you'll be rockin...

I'll take the existing 100X's at 3400fps+ and their bugholes...........