257 Roberts Featherweight Project: Choosing A Load

[@hammerheadms]

"I love a boring bullet... You shoot the deer, you get the deer, you go home..." Tom, as usual, your logic is undeniable. That's some of the wisest advice one could receive. There isn't anything very fancy about a clean, fast kill, and with whitetail we fortunately don't need to put a whole lot of thought as to how we accomplish that. Put your bullet in the right place, and God will sort out the rest. That's how I try to approach my hunts.

[@halspencer6613]

Model 70 Winchester Featherweight in .257 Roberts caliber - loading an 87 grain Sierra PSP at about 3200 FPS - excellent round for groundhogs at more than 100 yards. Try it sometime.

[@robertfree1908]

Many of the ball powders you want to use magnum primers due to difficult ignition. Even after all this time there is still a misconception that “magnum” primers are for magnum cartridges. Stringer primers are simply for powders that are more difficult to ignite. Whether by composition or volume or a combination of the two

[@BigT27295]

Thank Tom love your channel. Have a blessed Sunday..

[@MrTurkeyshoot]

Federal has a 7MM-08 and 7X57 Mauser load with Speer Hot Core Bullets.

[@txhuntsman]

I am loving this .257 project. I also like a “boring bullet”. Get the job done. That’s what I am looking for.

[@darreldwalton8763]

IMR 4350 has been my go to powder for the "Bob" with the 120 Hornady HP flat base, with Federal 210 primers in WW cases for many, many years. The combination has taken antelope, mule deer, smaller critters, and won more than it's share of wagers, to boot.

[@floridagunrat1625]

I love your stance on Hornady and your name for Canada as Trudeauestan!

[@leeadams5941]

Well, ya got me sitting on the edge of my seat, looking fwd to seeing how they shoot. I had not given much thought as to where stuff is made, but I am now....I suspect eventually, you will see companies move to states that are favorable to work in, as several rifle companies have already done. I also wonder just how long it will take our neighbors to the North to change leadership, or move South....I suppose if I were a company and gonna move I would wait until the US got better leadership ....hopefully all that comes together in the next few years....Good video and God Bless

[@gizmocarr3093]

Hope to see your choices work out the way you want.

[@willbyrd3445]

Great round!!! Good then and now days

[@Sourdough444]

Solid logic. I agree 100% about the Speer HotCor bullets.

[@PC-uh6hk]

I've always liked IMR 4350 for my 257 Roberts and I've always used CCI primers. With reloading supplies hard to get since COVID-19, I'll be working up new loads with different powders and primers and projectiles.

[@tomjoseph1444]

During the drought we just had I lucked into an RCBS set of dies which allows me to make 257 Roberts brass out of 30-06. I can also make 7x57, 6mm Rem and 243. 30-06 brass was never in short supply and I was able to get 1000 Remington 30-06 new brass for $300. This has me set for most of the calibers I shoot.

[@j.d.freshour733]

Since you reload, you can “make” 257 Roberts brass by using 7x57 Mauser brass and necking them down to 257. 7x57 is the parent case for 257 Roberts.

[@Minoan1977]

Yes you can. You can also make them from 8x57 or anything in the "06 family such as 30/06 or 270 win.

[@terryhenry8243]

@@Minoan1977 How do you make 257 Roberts brass from 30-06 or .270 brass? Seems like a stretch!!

[@Minoan1977]

@@terryhenry8243 Firstly, I don't own a 257 Roberts but do have a rifle in 7x57. I have reformed 30/06 brass to make brass for it. This is how I do it. Cut the brass shorter using a dremel. Anneal. Form the brass using 7x57 full length sizing die. Anneal again. Trim to length. Hope this helps.

[@terryhenry8243]

@@Minoan1977 WOW, that process seems like a ton of work. In the case of going clear down to 257 one might also have to turn the necks to reduce excessive brass in that area. Anyway, interesting food for thought. Seems it would be so much easier to just aquire the correct brass to start with. Oh I know, some of this stuff is hard to come by, especially now as it seems the manufacturers build only what they sell the most of. Shelves are full if you shoot 308, 30-06, 7 mag, or 300 Winchester. You must be quite a industrious guy to go to all that prep but hey, more power to you. I was really curious as to how to even go about that project. Seems like you got it down. Take care and thanks for the schooling.

[@craiglacount89]

I just went through the same process with the 257 Roberts. In my load development I shot the Barnes TSX FB 115 grain, hornady interlock 117 grain BT, and hornady interlock round nose FB. I also settled on IMR 4350 (for the same reason you did) and I used federal 210 primers and Remington brass because that was all I could get. I truly believe the flat base bullets are a much better choice for this caliber since it’s a relatively short range caliber, 200 yards and in. The boat tails generally don’t stabilize in flight until they’re down range and are usually less accurate at close range. I’ll be interested in how the hot cores preform since I was able to find a box and I too think they’ll be great in the quarter Bob. My best loads were the Hornady 117 grain round nose but these bullets are almost impossible to find. Velocities were right at 2750 FPS. I’ll stay tuned.

[@jaybailleaux630]

I've been happy with Sierra Pro Hunter flat base bullets in many rifles they are a little tougher bullet than Gamekings. Sierra's have given best accuracy on average. I love the Speer hot core. My favorite bullet in the 30-30 is the 150gr Speer Hot core. Bonus with the hot core beside the simi -bonded core is they are normally less expensive than other brands.

[@randylong8156]

I'm a 257 fan but the brush hunting your talking about the old 3030 is hard to beat. But as far as Bullets go Hotcor bullets are good bullets.

[@RogerSnell]

Love this! Can't wait to see those groups!

[@easttexan2933]

Looking forward to seeing the group shots. Should be interesting. For accuracy, I have found over the last few years that I need more magnification. I am now at 14x max on my scope that is mounted on the 6.5 Swede. I find that is the lowest power I can use to aim at a 1" orange dot and the cross hair not cover the whole dot (100yds). If your cross hair intersection completely covers the 1" dot then you won't ever realize the best that rifle / load can do. Of course, that's just me.

[@ryanstines9748]

I recently bought a new 25-06 Sav 110. Granted I have not tried hand loading it, but it only likes 100 grain length so far (like 1.75 to 4 inch groups) They publish it as a 1-10 twist, but so far no luck with 117 interlock or 120 core-lokt. Have you seen any 25-06 like this? The more I read about it, the more common it seems with 25-06. I’m well aware that each individual rifles has preferences, but these large groups withb117 and 120 are frustrating. I also owned an Axis 25-06, which I sold as I was hoping this one would like that size better. It doesn’t. Oh well. Good luck with you project!

[@johnpekarski5030]

I love a hot core bullet I use them in 270 also 2506 ! Work great

[@rmatteson3142]

This is my Dad's pet load for his 257 Roberts AI. 115 Grain Nosler powered by 48.5 Grains of 4350 with a CCI primer. He favored Winchester Brass but would also used Norma. That was a very accurate load in a Model 98 Mauser with a 24" Douglas supreme Barrel. It was a deer slayer of the highest magnitude. I believe he always used IMR instead of Hogdon. I always used IMR in my 6MM Remington. I used 44.5 Grains of the stuff for a 100 Grain Sierra Boatail.

[@beestoe993]

That 48.5 gn load is way over maximum. I dont even load my improved 257 that hot. Speer shows that as a maximum 25-06 load with a 120 gn.

[@rmatteson3142]

@@beestoe993 Hey, my Dad was a Rocket Scientist! Never had a problem with it! He had a need for speed. He always said the 257 Roberts AI was more efficient than the 25-06. But Dad used that load from the early 60's until about around the early 90's when his eyesight got to where he had to stop shooting. I have his rifle now, and some of his cartidges, his loading dies, and his loading notes. He was a big fan of P.O. Ackley!

[@rmatteson3142]

The Hogdon site has 49.5 Grains of Accurate 4350 with a 115 Grain bullet as their max load. 3051 FPS Muzzle at 60,200 PSI. Check it out. For the 257 Roberts AI

[@jeffreywilson690]

Try hybrid v100

[@danray9744]

I have tried Speer , Sierra , Hornady but my Best Groups have come from Nosler Bullets

[@jk-kr8jt]

Speer "Hot-Cor" ? I'll be, I didn't know the were still made. I recall the ads for them in the 70s, it was a grizzly charging down the gravel bar.

[@scottscheuerman6170]

I have used the hot core bullets in the 30-06 and they worked on elk before and they shot well I have tried the Sierra bullets and they were accurate but I didn’t have good results with the bullets holding together on the penetration end of things with elk anyhow

[@jemsietrotter]

Looking forward to seeing the results 👍

[@michaelwilson9986]

Good choice of powder. IMR 4831 n recently Win 6.5 StaBall with 110gr ABs

[@CircleBrewery]

Use the Speer hot core in .308 … I believe they are popular cause they’re difficult to find and buy … I like bonded bullets too … cup and core bullets take game as well … I guess it’s personal preference 😊

[@kentowens2179]

Nosler partition bullets perform really well in a .257 Roberts. I have a friend who's killed a lot of big bucks with them. Not the most accurate, but adequate.

[@trapdoorspringfieldmodel1888]

When it comes to things such as primers CCI and Federal are owned by the same company. Therefore, I think Federal issues are more internal company issues rather than what state they have facilities located in. It also doesn't help that Putin decided to have a war that diverts or disrupts materials that go into making things such as primers or ammo. To me a "boring bullet" as you say is a good bullet. It does the job and it does it well. That bullet can vary from firearm to firearm depending upon what the gun likes, but I like to go with Nosler bullets such as Accubonds or Partitions. They do the job and that is all I ask. It also doesn't hurt that my main hunting rifle in .338 Winmag likes Accubonds, and will do sub 3/4 moa groups all day long so long as the shooter can handle the recoil.

[@beestoe993]

I have used IMR 4350 as my go to powder in my 257 AI. It performs great. But like you I have recently bought a LB of AA 4350 to try, never tried it before, but that is what was available. When I get my Standard 257 done I plan on trying some other powders. My go to powder for my 7X57 is W-760. I once did some testing with the magnum primer thing and I found that I actually got better velocity with W-760 and CCI #200 then the Magnum primers. Guess which one I use? ;) Looking forward to your accuracy report. My guess is that you will find best accuracy somewhere close to max load.

[@bobd8553]

Looking forward to the results. My BOB, a ruger 77 hawkeye likes hotcores the best, but in 100gr with h4350 around 3050fps.

[@TomRiverSimpleLiving]

Bob, that's my XTR Featherweight's favorite load also.

[@dimebag6982]

Hey Tom, I believe federal blue box has loaded the Speer hot cores from time to time

[@josephg.9658]

I keep watching this particular video over and over since I recently acquired a Remington 700 .257 Roberts. My question after having shot this wonderful caliber ( it is a sweet shooter). What can .257 Roberts do that the 30-06 can’t do just as effectively or more effectively with regards to taking Deer sized game? I am simply asking to get a better understanding of why you chose this caliber for your far in, public land hunts. Why not your 30-06 with 165 grain or even 150 grain projectiles?

[@dimebag6982]

Federal blue box typically load hot core

[@cbsbass4142]

Speer Makes good bullets. My first box for the .25-06 from (Tom's gun shop) about 1/4 mile from my house (R. I. P., Tom Medlock) were 87 Grain Hot Cors. Have a few boxes of them and Boat Tail Soft Points for the .243, .260 Remington and .270 as well. Can't wait to see the rifle stretch it's legs. Sad thing with me for primers was looking at my oldest primers and seeing $35 price tag for 1000. I can remember paying about $2.25 for a hundred.

[@floridagunrat1625]

Back in the '80s, think I paid $1 for a tray of $100 primers in about $7 for a box of 1,000! I guess that's a sign I'm getting a little old!

[@cbsbass4142]

@@floridagunrat1625 It's enough to make you cry what they are going for now.

[@floridagunrat1625]

@@cbsbass4142 Ain't that the truth!

[@rmatteson3142]

I expect all of your loads will shoot MOA to sub MOA. So, if thats the case, choose the least recoil because the velocity and foot pounds of energy will be nil to a Whitetail.

[@leonharris1329]

Ttsx bullets even in the lighter weights mushroom and penetrate like none other. They retain 100 percent of their weight. The slow powders with heavy bullets is still better even with a slightly shorter barrel. I get my best groups with 4831 short cut with the 6.5 140 gr and 22 inch barrel.

[@gordonrizzuti6048]

Tom, I appreciate the way you got the consensus on powders from different manuals to try to get appropriate velocity. What seating depth did you use and how much jump to the lands? Do you find this affects your MOA? Thanks.

[@BuckIt00]

Can't wait.

[@rmatteson3142]

Drop that down to about 44.5 to 45 with your 4350 pushing a 115-117, and you will be in a sweet spot!

[@mikeglaspie9056]

Mine likes the Sierra bullet with RL-22

[@WayStedYou]

I though federal used hot cor in a few of their power shok lines

[@rmatteson3142]

BTW my Dad turns 101 Tuesday. He is a retired Aerospace Propulsion Engineer. He taught me how to handload when I was about 5!

[@hammerheadms]

Outstanding! God bless him. My Grandma has since passed from a stroke, but she also made it to 101.

[@kevinstone9825]

last year I inherited a model 70 featherweight in 257 Roberts , I have been looking for ammo ever since. I am not into reloading. any advice? it's a shame being it is a nice rifle. I was hoping I could find someone that reloads that could help me out interested? I am sure there are hundreds just like me. so what do I do with the rifle? is there any way to change the ammo it takes?..crazy that I also have a 1943 Mouser and ammo is readily available. thanks for your time

[@TomRiverSimpleLiving]

Kevin, sorry but I can't help you out. I never reload for anyone else and you would probably be better off not taking reloads from anyone else. There are a lot of things that can go wrong. By not reloading for others I don't have to worry about a guilty conscience if I mess up. But I will say ammo was readily available for the 257 Roberts before this last ammo shortage. Every ammo shop around had a good selection, and they all carried the Hornady Super Performance. But don't worry it will come back. The ammo manufactures are just busy producing the more popular cartridges right now. But after they get caught up they'll start producing the less popular stuff and it seems like they are catching up.

[@kevinstone9825]

@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Thank you for the advise.

[@johnyoung3103]

You Fix this thing Yet? Set the barrel back rechamber with a quality reamer.

[@robertstump5290]

Imr 4895 powder is a good with 120 gr hp

[@TomRiverSimpleLiving]

Thanks Robert, that's good to know. I have been wondering how it would perform with the faster burning powders.

[@christopherkingsland4604]

Trudeauistan - good one !

[@codytaylor2194]

100 gr ttsx ...solid performer ...I shoot em out of my 25-06...give em a try..there death on deer