257 Roberts and 300WSM range day

[tddeangelo]

Roberts was shooting 110gr AB's and IMR4350.

39.gr - didn't bother to measure the group

40.0gr- 1.25-ish

41.0gr- 1.25-ish

I'll take pics and more precise measurements later. Crunched for time at the moment.

Velocities were decent with some spread, but most in the hight 2400's (for 39.0gr) up to mid-2600's for the higher charges.

I did recover one 257 AB bullet...found in the dirt and shale behind my target. Weight was 53.0gr and it's a perfect mushroom. Shedding 50% mass isn't exciting, but it was in some hard shale, so I can't complain. It's shape is PERFECT.


300 is still needing to settle in. Shot H4350 with Fed 210 primers, 180gr Accubonds and charges of 63.5 and 64.5 grains. Velocities were mid-2800's to mid 2900's across both charges. About what I expected.

Accuracy....eh......1.5 or so. Not stellar, but I have to clean out the copper (about 15 rounds between cleaning now) and maybe work on seat depth. That barrel is at exactly 70 rounds, and my dad's FN M70 took 100-200 before it really calmed down.

Pics/details later. Gotta run.

 

[Bruce Mc]

Looks like things are going well with the Bob. I've found that the AB shoots best a tad off the lands, mine settled in around 0.010 off. Mine would shoot those 1+ moa groups when they were seated up close but they tightened up as I move out a bit. And the Bob can really scream with Reloder 22.

 

[JD338]

Nice shooting. You are almost there.
My 257 Roberts does well with the 110 gr AB and IMR 4350 for 2874 fps and sub MOA accuracy.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

I need to rework my Bob. The accuracy is so-so. I'm convinced it is capable of far better, but I haven't found the magic spot just yet. Yours is giving you better accuracy than mine, Tom. Your 300 WSM will deliver shortly.

 

[ROVERT]

Wow, Tom. Scotty really did get into your head. Last I heard the Roberts was destined for GMXs.

 

[tddeangelo]

Wow, Tom. Scotty really did get into your head. Last I heard the Roberts was destined for GMXs.

lol

I was concerned about ENOUGH expansion with the GMX, plus the AB was cheaper to try.

The recovered bullet is impressive. If they shoot a touch better, I'm sold.

I might try RL22, but I don't want to run it too hard. My daughter may hunt this year or next, and these loads had little recoil.

 

[tddeangelo]

Bullet pic:

Started out life as a 110gr Nosler AccuBond (.257-caliber).

Measurements now put it at 53.0gr and widest outside diameter as 0.558", having been recovered from very rocky (shale) dirt behind the backstop. Velocity is unknown, as I don't know which of the 10 rounds I shot this came from. It would be anywhere from high 2400's to mid-2600's at the muzzle.

 

[SJB358]

I need to rework my Bob. The accuracy is so-so. I'm convinced it is capable of far better, but I haven't found the magic spot just yet. Yours is giving you better accuracy than mine, Tom. Your 300 WSM will deliver shortly.

Mike, first off, I think you will get much better accuracy out of your 257 Roberts when you magically turn it into a M70!!! Sorry, I just had to say that!

Tom, seems like a great first round with the 257 if you ask me, and honestly, if it is going to be for your daughter to shoot deer with, I think you are about there. Might mess with seating a bit, but in all reality, you have a rifle capable of shooting to 300 yards on deer without issues right now.

That AB looks perfect to me! Honestly, 50%+ weight retention shot into gravel! Last I saw, WT's are never going to have shale for armor plates, so I can't see any WT stopping one of them! That bullet is meant and designed to shed and retain 60-70% so I would say your torture test proved that out, really well.

I would imagine your 300WSM is going to turn a corner pretty quickly Tom. I think a change of powder might bring it around some as well. It will at least tell you if it is a little picky about what powder your using. Overall, it seems to be shooting pretty well to me. I was just thinking, is the recoil lug bedded in the aluminum block, or does it just float there? With my B&C it just sits in the recoil lug area. I haven't thought of bedding mine just yet, but really, for .25 of material it isn't going to hurt anything and can only help solidify things.

Trevor! Pretty soon you will be converted also. You can only resist Nosler just so long! Trust me, I tried and came right back to them. Scotty

 

[tddeangelo]

I need to rework my Bob. The accuracy is so-so. I'm convinced it is capable of far better, but I haven't found the magic spot just yet. Yours is giving you better accuracy than mine, Tom. Your 300 WSM will deliver shortly.

Mike, first off, I think you will get much better accuracy out of your 257 Roberts when you magically turn it into a M70!!! Sorry, I just had to say that!

Tom, seems like a great first round with the 257 if you ask me, and honestly, if it is going to be for your daughter to shoot deer with, I think you are about there. Might mess with seating a bit, but in all reality, you have a rifle capable of shooting to 300 yards on deer without issues right now.

That AB looks perfect to me! Honestly, 50%+ weight retention shot into gravel! Last I saw, WT's are never going to have shale for armor plates, so I can't see any WT stopping one of them! That bullet is meant and designed to shed and retain 60-70% so I would say your torture test proved that out, really well.

I would imagine your 300WSM is going to turn a corner pretty quickly Tom. I think a change of powder might bring it around some as well. It will at least tell you if it is a little picky about what powder your using. Overall, it seems to be shooting pretty well to me. I was just thinking, is the recoil lug bedded in the aluminum block, or does it just float there? With my B&C it just sits in the recoil lug area. I haven't thought of bedding mine just yet, but really, for .25 of material it isn't going to hurt anything and can only help solidify things.

Trevor! Pretty soon you will be converted also. You can only resist Nosler just so long! Trust me, I tried and came right back to them. Scotty

Scotty,

The M70 came from the factory with the lug and tang bedded, and bedded right. Only thing not done was an inch or so of the chamber, and I don't think it'll need that.

By the way, since you mentioned "B&C".....my new Leupold will have the B&C reticle, unless Doc swipes it off me.

 

[DrMike]

Doc swipes it off me.

I have my eye on your scope.

 

[tddeangelo]

Doc swipes it off me.

I have my eye on your scope.

Why am I picturing the "The Eye", as in the flaming eye of Sauron from "Lord of the Rings"????

 

[JD338]

I tried RL 22 in my 257 Roberts, it shot decent but IMR 4350 performs better.
I recovered a 110 gr AB from water jugs and it looks similar to the one recovered from shale rock.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

What percentage weight retention did you witness from the water jugs, Jim?

 

[JD338]

What percentage weight retention did you witness from the water jugs, Jim?

257 Roberts 110 gr AB recovered from water jugs at 100 yds. MV 2874 fps and recovered in the 5th jug, retained weight 72.8 grs.

JD338

 

[tddeangelo]

What is the COAL on the round in the pic?

Looks substantially longer than what mine did pressed to "book" length.

Been thinking of seating them out further.

 

[SJB358]

That bullet looks great Jim. Can't ask for better than that to be honest. At least, I can't. I am really looking to getting the next 25-06 to try out. I am sure one will be along soon enough.

Tom, I think you will like the B&C reticle a bunch. With some practice, it is easy to use and make great field hits with.

Good to know about the B&C stock. They really did them up pretty well. Again, much praise for Winchester building them right. Scotty

 

[JD338]

What is the COAL on the round in the pic?

Looks substantially longer than what mine did pressed to "book" length.

Been thinking of seating them out further.

Tom,

My COL is longer than SAAMI spec because my rifle, which is a M700 Classic, is a long action. The COL is 2.970".
I have shot a couple coyotes with the 110 gr AB and it works well. Here is one from this past winter that I called in. The exit wound from the 110 gr is right in the pocket.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

257 Roberts 110 gr AB recovered from water jugs at 100 yds. MV 2874 fps and recovered in the 5th jug, retained weight 72.8 grs.

That is pretty much what I would have expected. It is excellent performance for such a punishing test of the bullet.

 

[6mm Remington]

Jim nice photo and nice result! Tom I cannot believe you would even say GMX on here!

 

[tddeangelo]

Jim nice photo and nice result! Tom I cannot believe you would even say GMX on here!

I didn't bring it up!

And you surely noticed what bullet I posted, correct?