Is anyone using a Lyman .257418 Mold?

[257 Shooter]

I am starting to cast for my .257 Roberts M77 Ruger w/tang safety. I saw the mold listed in an article on CastPics. If you have used it, what results have you acheived? Powders and velocity info also.

Thanks,

[Bret4207]

I've used both the 355 and 418 in the 25/35. They shot surprisingly well but the 25/35 has that lovely long neck to help keep things straight. IMO with any boolits of that shape where you don't have a lot of nose support, getting the boolit seated with absolute minimum runout is vitally important. With a boolit like that the common "problem" of a very short to non-existent leade can be a help. It all comes down to fitting the boolit to the gun.

[Ben]

I shoot the 257312 with 12.0 grs. 2400 in my old model 77, 257 Roberts with great accuracy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/257312/PICT0002.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/257312/PICT0005.jpg

[257 Shooter]

Ben, You take great pictures! Those look interesting. Do you know the velocity of the 12.0 grs. 2400 load?

[Ben]

No I don't know the velocity, but that load is worth trying with your bullet in the 257 Roberts.

I got that load from Deputy AL, it shoots real good out of my rifle.

Ben

[georgewxxx]

257418 & Herters 25100 are twins as far as I'm concerned. After looking at my log book some of the cast load entries go back to 1992 before I had a chronograph. These are all just test loads not final developed loads. Plus they're shot from a Ruger #1 & a Rem. 722. I've always experimented using what ever sizing die I had on hand. So there would be some boolits sized .257" and some .258". The best high velocity loads always worked out better using the smaller die. Testing with the 257418 came to a standstill when I decided to use one of my guns for a cast deer gun. Then I started working with flat and round nose boolits. So here goes with what load I have tried.
22gr BLc2 = 2.5"
12gr 5744= 8"
24gr 4895= 8"
16gr 4759= 2"
23gr 3031+ 5"
22gr Varget+ 1.5"

After switching to hunting load mode, I found the best powders were all on the slow side like 4831SC & Rl19. You might try one of those at 33 to 35gr and see what you come up with for accuracy....Geo

[257 Shooter]

George, I read your article on the cast pic site and was really excited. I have found that H-4831 with a Nosler BT j-word bullet to give the best velocities and accuracy. How did your hunting bullets turn out? I am thinking about trying a LBT LFN and a spitzer in 100 and 115 grains.

[beagle]

That 257312 that Ben's excited about has always shot good for me in my M722. Either solid or HP and the HP's plenty good for varmints.

The 257418 does real well for me too...especially in the HP version./beagle

[257 Shooter]

Beagle, how did you hollow point that sharp tip?

[georgewxxx]

If your really intent on hunting with a cast boolit, you might change your group size criteria. 1" groups are fine for plinking and target work, but I have shot too many deer with lead slugs made out of only wheel weights to be offended by a 4" group. I do insist on at least a round nose or something with a fair sized meplat. It took me a long time to feel at home with a single shot rifle while hunting. 2 years ago I filled my deer tag using a 257325HP chugging along at 2200fps In my #1. They averaged 2.75" at 100 yds. The booit I kind of wanted to use was a very old 25/35 Winchester type 257306 using 28gr BLc2. Too many choices isn't always good either in that case, but don't pass up a mould thinking it was meant for some other cartridge. The 257464 would work fine too, just use a nose pouch that'll flatten out the nose a bit and keep trying. Mine will do 1820fps with 30gr of 4350 and still get 2'. 1700 to 1800fps is still good deer medicine. ....Geo

[beagle]

Carried it to my shooting partner and he did it on his CBC mill. Has a .090" HP and he hit it right on. Looks wicked and opens pretty good but the 257312 shoots better or more accurately.

Sharp points are no problem. The 311413HP is one of my favorites in the .30/06 too./beagle


Beagle, how did you hollow point that sharp tip?

[257 Shooter]

George and Beagle, Thanks for the info. I am not hung up on 1" groups. 2-3" at 100' will be fine for where I hunt. I appreciate all the information. It is much better to have a starting point on a new project instead of starting blind.

[primersp]

257 shooter what accuracy have you with your ruger ,i have one 77 tang safety
i try with rcbs 100-fn gc size 258 at 100m 2/3 inches with flyers
i have a bunch of hornady jsp 87 grs and get no more good groups
i bed the rifle full floating ,try with pressure on forearm it's worst
i don't know wath doing with this rifle
on a forum somebody say in this date of manufacture ruger don't make his barrels you can find good or bad

[257 Shooter]

Primersp, I have a 1986 M77 w/tang safety. I use 51 grn H4831 and the 100 Nosler Balistic Tip ( this is over max in the books but I have no signs of pressure in my gun) you might start with 46 Grns and the 100 Gr. BT. I am getting 3/4"goups or better when I do my part. I have not shot cast in it yet. I am getting every thing together to try. I will let you know. My barrel is not free floated. It does have fore end pressure.

[beagle]

Now, beleive it or not, my favorite bullet for the .257 is a RCBS 25-120-SP HP. The other's are for plinking and varmints.

Shoots all right in my M722 and does carry some hitting power on the other end with all that weight. The 25-100-FNHP RCBS is not bad either. Plenty of good .25 bullets out there./beagle

[Curtis44]

257 Shooter, I use the 257418 in my 25/35 Ackley and 250 Ackley with 9-10 gr of Unique. It shoots very well in both. I would like to get it hollow pointed, it should make a good groundhog load.

[257 Shooter]

Beagle, I will look into thse two RCSB moulds. Thanks!