Browning High Power Action of .257 Roberts and Custom Stock.

[Oldtrader3]

Scotty, I bought a box (and tried to buy more) of the Nosler 110 AB factory loads. These bullets initially did not shoot well because of poor action bedding and barrel floating issues. I wanted to try them in order to get .257 Roberts Nosler cases which I can't seem to find for sale anywhere. Anyhow, yesterday I had 3 rounds left of the 110 gr factory AB's and they grouped under an inch at 100 yards. I just need to buy some 110 AB's and I am sure that I can match the 3000+ velocity of the 100 gr Partition. The Nosler AB factory load 110's chrono'ed at 3060 fps in my rifle at 15 feet.

I have been so busy 'smithing the .257 stock and developing 85 and 100 Nosler load development that I have not bought any 110 AB's nor H100V powder. I will get to it but I am so far behind the curve this summer and have to allow much more range time for all other rifles, just because all my other rifles need to be shot and checked for zero.

I can usually get the first (2) shots of the Partition groups to touch holes in nearly every group but I was not in good form with the third shot yesterday. I think that this rifle will shoot and will shoot any weight Nosler bullet that I load for it. The .257 Browning is really easy to shoot accurately and is not load fussy. Now I am the impediment to small groups and need to get back in form.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Looking good Charlie! I know you've been choreographing to get that beauty to the range for awhile. Glad to see you've made it. I like the sound of that 85NBT load. I'll have to try I-4064 in my Bob as I didn't have much luck with that bullet and 3395fps looks perfect. Migraines and rifles usually don't mix but it seems like you got some return on your range trip.

I'm positive that your barrel channel relief and bedding efforts will get you straight. Your exterior stock work is coming along splendidly.

Based upon some experiences others have had with RL-22, I'm going to try the 110gr NAB with that and see if I can get a solution. Otherwise I'm headed down the road you're on and will bed my M70. I just need to get home for more than a day or two.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I spent most of the afternoon getting my concealed carry permit in Bellingham. There were about (25) people there at 1:00 PM today when the Sheriff's office opened to process fingerprints and all. I was surprised how many people are getting that permit these days. I guess, especially here in Tinkerbell Land by I-5.

I also loaded another bunch of 100 grain Partitions for the .257 Roberts today and need to do some more 85 grain BT's as well for racoon wars this fall! This bullet with IMR 4064 is going to be a winner at that velocity! This of course, to augment using the .340 Weatherby for shooting the first racoon! Despite the Migraine, the rifle is very gratifying to shoot and is a gentle push and not too loud. I am used to the .340 Weatherby and 7mm Mag which are much louder and more recoil. This rifle is great to shoot and even with just my hearing aids in, does not make much noise with a 24 inch Douglas barrel.

I could get used to this rifle for local mini-deer. I can not imagine why I sold my Pre 64, Super Grade (1953), Model 70 Roberts, I must have been temporarily insane? It is nice also after putting in all that grunt work on this gun and having it shoot so poorly at first, to have it finally vindicate my belief in it and shoot well. The rifle still need some more work done on the forend and stuff but that is a labor of love on an accurate rifle. Scotty, the scraper works really well but is a little hard to control and keep from chattering within the wood grain. I finally got it to work properly and finished the work satisfactorily, plus sanding and sealing the barrel channel.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Well, I bought (3) boxes of 100 gr Partitions and (4) boxes of 110 gr AccuBond bullets. Plus I bought (2) more boxes of 110 gr Nosler factory loads to get the cases and the bullets for testing. I also bought a pound of Hodgdon Hybrid 100V powder for load development of the 110 AccuBond loads. This powder is highly touted to give more energy and velocity per grain than regular single based powders. We shall see? Supposedly, I can get close to 3200 fpr with the 110 AccuBond which is awfully close to the .25-06 velocities in a .257 Bob!

Like I said, we shall see!

 

[SJB358]

It does look pretty decent Charlie..


Cartridge : .257 Roberts +P+ (not SAAMI)
Bullet : .257, 110, Nosler AccuBond 53742
Useable Case Capaci: 47.636 grain H2O = 3.093 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.775 inch = 70.49 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Hodgdon Hybrid 100V

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 95 40.15 2723 1812 43329 10070 98.8 1.226
-09.0 96 40.60 2753 1851 44821 10155 99.0 1.207
-08.0 97 41.04 2783 1891 46368 10235 99.2 1.189
-07.0 98 41.49 2812 1931 47971 10310 99.4 1.170
-06.0 99 41.93 2841 1972 49634 10379 99.6 1.153
-05.0 100 42.38 2871 2013 51360 10443 99.8 1.135
-04.0 101 42.83 2900 2054 53149 10502 99.9 1.118
-03.0 102 43.27 2929 2095 55006 10555 99.9 1.101
-02.0 103 43.72 2958 2137 56928 10602 100.0 1.084 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 104 44.16 2987 2179 58913 10644 100.0 1.068 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 105 44.61 3015 2221 60964 10682 100.0 1.052 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 106 45.06 3044 2263 63090 10719 100.0 1.036 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 107 45.50 3072 2305 65293 10755 100.0 1.021 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 108 45.95 3100 2348 67579 10791 100.0 1.005 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 109 46.39 3128 2390 69949 10825 100.0 0.991 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 110 46.84 3156 2433 72409 10858 100.0 0.976 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 105 44.61 3127 2388 73718 10241 100.0 0.976 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 105 44.61 2846 1978 48864 10905 97.5 1.153

 

[Oldtrader3]

Thanks Scotty, I was at somewhat of a loss with this powder and it burning rates . The QL tables give me some grounding and a target load for this bullet of about 45.0 grains. I have a full length action and may try 45.5 since I seat 110 bullets fully up in the neck with an OAL of 2.900. Anyhow this information tells me what I need to know. and I appreciate it. I had explapolated 46.0 grains as being a maximum load but was a little off, plus this is a 60 year old rifle. I need to find my Powly Computer.

I am never the fastest guy on the block with velocity, maybe just the most optimized with stellar accuracy. So we will see how this powder stacks up against IMR 4350.