257 roberts loads

[brstevns]

Posting this for a relative, does anyone load cast for the 257 roberts or the 257 improved?

[longbow]

I don't but this fellow does:

http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ByCaliber/Cast%20in%20the%20.257%20Roberts.pdf

[brstevns]

I don't but this fellow does:

http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ByCaliber/Cast%20in%20the%20.257%20Roberts.pdf

Thanks good reading and information. I will pass it on. I think my cousin is going to make himself a paper patch mould to try.

[brstevns]

Does not look as if this guy loads to Deer hunting loads for the 257 roberts.

[NHlever]

I have shot only cast in one .257 but have not shot much yet. I do think that any 25 caliber is too small to consider using for deer hunting, or similar game for that matter. Stay with .30 and above for that, and you will be much happier.

[DIRT Farmer]

I posted some imfo on a short workup in aMdl 70 featherweight 257 Roberts using the RCBS 120 and IMR 4227. The load was book, and was an instant good load. It worked well as a trainer for my Grand daughters, which was it's intended use. The oldest shot her deer with a J and hit where my son had sighted it. The deer had a lot of meat damage.Several here did not think the load was up to deer hunting, We may find out next year.

[NHlever]

The .257 Roberts is a fine deer round with J-word bullets, but they kill in a different manner than cast boolits do. My last deer was shot with a .257, and it was a very clean, and quick kill with little meat damage. It was a double high lung shot with a Hornady 117 RN of all things, but I got good expansion, and the deer went about 60 feet, and dropped. A cast boolit in the same place would have likely resulted in a long trailing job, and possibly a lost deer.

[brstevns]

My relative is planning on using a 120gr paper Patch. He is a great shot and does not take any risky shots. He has already taken a couple of small whitetail with the 223 rem each was a one shot kill.

[303Guy]

... planning on using a 120gr paper Patch.I started developing a 120gr paper patch boolit and load for my 25-303. I extrapolated between the 250 Savage and the 257. I used AR2209/H4350 I think. I'll have to find the data. The boolit is quite long. It was so hard to make those small boolits that I put it on back burner and went with my Pig Gun project. Starting loads for the 257 may be a little high for a patched boolit. My concern was to figure out how low I could go safely for a starting load. For your relative, starting loads for j-words would be about right but the Hodgdon manual only list max loads for 120gr j-words and then only IMR powders. Stil, H4350 range powders seem to be the ones to consider for paper patched 120's.

[6.5 mike]

303 Guy, I was wondering if you had still been working on your 25/303, hadn't seen any mention of it in a while. I'm in on the g/b for the 25 cal NOE mould, figure it should work in my 1-14" .250 sav & the 1-10" .257 roberts. with one each 85gr, 100 gr, & 120 gr cavities I should bout cover all my 25 cal needs. Plus it drops at .260 (specs) & may make a good pp core for my 6.5 guns. 100 gr pp'ed in a 6.5 x 55 should make a great fun load. 8-)

[303Guy]

I've been eyeing the 25. Those 120gr smooth sides are actually long enough to handle but a bit skinny so I devised a pair of tools that I could insert first one end then the other to make it easier for myself. It's actually not bad but I wouldn't want to go smaller. I would expect velocities of around 26-2700 fps with 120gr PP for the Roberts. Too brittle an alloy may make it shatter on deer and too soft an alloy may over-expand and break apart anyway. A tough but malleable alloy might work just fine. I think choice of alloy will be important for game hunting. I have the same challenge still to come.

[brstevns]

Thanks guys, I hope my cousin is up to the task. He is a quick learner and I think he will do well. I am glad it is him and not me that has to wrap those little guys. I tried some 22cal and gave up, fingers do not work that good for me.