John Barnsness , .257 Bore article.

[tjRoberts]

The July issue of guns magazine contains a very good article , by john barnesness ,( darn good writer that one !) called Quarter Bore heaven.
If any of you guy's are quarter bore nuts like I am , or if you just happen to have a single .257 caliber rifle you load for you should check it out.
He loads for the 25/35 , 250/3000 .257 roberts 25,06 and the .257 weatherby magnum.
I have exchanged PMs with John , on the Roberts and the wetherby mag, on a few ocaisions.
The data that intrests me in particular, is in The Roberts. (duh , I do call myself TJ Roberts). He shows a load using 50 grains of Ramshot magnum , pushing a 120 grain Partition at 2890 FPS , with a group of .66 from a 24 inch barrel.
One thing I like is that john is using his own rifles on most if not all the testing.
Another load I realy like using ramshot hunter , with a charge of47 grains putting a 100 grain barnes tripple shock into.67 and a muzzle velocity of 3153 24 inch tube.
FYI, I get about the same results with H-414 and I use 46 grains.
My velocity is just a shade less, but I shoot a 20 inch barreld ruger RL.
I will post pictures of my Roberts rifles if I can, just to add a little color to my post.
If any body thinks the Roberts is to light for a big mule deer , have a look at that load with a 120 grain Partition at just under 2900 FPS.
That will drop even the biggest mule deer , and probably be just fine on a caribu too.
...tj3006

 

[tjRoberts]

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[tjRoberts]

 

[tjRoberts]

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[tjRoberts]

The 1st 2 pictures are my Custom 03 springfield, Built by H&K gunsmithing in forest grove oregon.
It has a 24 inch Douglas barrel, and a VX2 Leupold 3X9.
The 2nd Picture is just to show the excelent checkering job.
The rifle is very accurate. I think I might just hunt with her this year.
the 3rd Picture is the one I call little Robbie.
Its a ruger RLMK2. its a little fussy , It shoots most anything well up to about 2750 FPS , But the only load I have got it to shoot well up fast is 46 grains of H-414 over the 100 grain barnes tripple shock. That one does 3140 and around .75 for 3 at 100.
It's been free floated and had a timney trigger added and has a great scope. A VX3 2.5X8.
The thing is light as a feather, and one of my favorite deer rifles.
...tj3006

 

[JD338]

Ya just got to love the 257 Roberts. I have a M700 Classic in the Bob and she is a shooter.
I let my buddy use her when we went Caribou hunting. He took two nice bulls with it using the 115 gr BT.

JD338

 

[cloverleaf]

Will have to check that out. Being the self appointed champion of the 250-3000 Sav. I like to see stuff about THE caliber. :wink: .
Since TJ opened the ball here a pic of mine although now it wears a leupold.
My Pronghorn

With the new Leuy

4 shot group

 

[Bruce Mc]

I've read several Barsness articles on the .257 Roberts and other .25s over the past couple of years. I wish he'd been writing those articles back in 1982 when I bought my then new model 700 Classic. But the old "Bob" wasn't too popular back then. My go to load for the "Bob" currently is 110 AccuBond in front of 49.5grs of Reloder 22 for 3050fps. This past christmas my wife got me a model 700 25-06 so now I've got two quarters. I'll be taking the 06 out of a test drive this week for the first time with hand loads and the new bedding job. I've got some 110 accubonds and Reloder 22 range ready

 

[tjRoberts]

I have The 2 roberts listed above, as well as a Roberts improved
and a reminton 700, in the weatherby mag.
I hate to say this here on the nosler page, but try though I may ,I can't get that 110 grain acubond to shoot worth a darn.
I don't think I have tried it in the weatherby.
I was glad to see that John got sub MOA with it in his nula .257 weatherby.
I had a bunch of them I bought as seconds from the pro shop , and when I bought my custom springfield and I started with a light charge of IMR-4350 and it was shooting very accurate , I kept increasing my charge weight , and it was good up to about 2650 FPS , But at any speed faster than thn that it just would not do.
But its done very well with 100 and 120 grain partitions.
Nice lope cloverleaf 1
...tj3006

 

[Guy Miner]

Dad shoots a .257 Wby mag and I really enjoy my .25-06, so we're both among the fans of the .25 cal rifle! :grin:

tjr - that custom Springfield of yours is a great looking rifle!!!

 

[.405]

Interesting loading data.I have a 1952 Mannlicher Schoenauer in.257 Roberts.It is very temperamental in what it likes.It only shoots flat base 100 grain bullets accurately.I will have to try some of those loads whenever I can find powder again.Thanks for the info.

 

[tjRoberts]

I plan to try the 100 & 120 grain partitions in the next couple days with my springfield. The Ramshot web page showes data for the 100 grain Partition and a 117 grain sierra using the ramshot magnum, and it lists the preasure levels also.
I think I will load up 5 rounds with a 100 and a 120 and see if my rifle seems to show promise, with them.
I had a back operation about 10 days ago, and it's a good time to get reaquainted with the deady but mild shooting .257 roberts...tj3006

 

[257 Ackley]

TJ -
Thanks for the heads-up on the article. As you know, I am a huge fan of the Roberts as well. Have been shooting the Ackley version for deer and speed goats for years. I had to go buy the limited edition Remy as soon as I saw what caliber it was for 2009. :grin: I also bought a Tikka in a 25-06 this spring, so it will be fun to see how it compares velocity wise to the Ackley (the Tikka only has a 22 inch barrel).

I shoot the 110AB exclusivly (since they came out) in the Ackley and have a consistent 3/4 inch grouping using R19 and 210M primers. Too bad it won't shoot for you, since it seems to be a go-to bullet for just about any application that you would hunt with the "bob". I haven't tried them in the Remy yet, since i'm not sure if it is going to be a safe queen forever or will be a first rifle for a future grandson/daughter.

 

[tjRoberts]

I don't know why that AccuBond won't shoot from me.
The 160 and 140 grain 7mm and 200 and 225 in .338 as well as a few in 30 cal have done well for me.
...tj3006

 

[JD338]

I don't know why that AccuBond won't shoot from me.
The 160 and 140 grain 7mm and 200 and 225 in .338 as well as a few in 30 cal have done well for me.
...tj3006

How far off the lands are you loading your 257 Bob?

JD338

 

[Bruce Mc]

JD, I don't know about your rifle but mine is very finicky about the distance off the lands. I couldn't get the 110 gr AccuBond to shoot well in my "Bob" until they were almost touching the lands. Now the 117 Sierra's shot well off the lands.

 

[JD338]

JD, I don't know about your rifle but mine is very finicky about the distance off the lands. I couldn't get the 110 gr AccuBond to shoot well in my "Bob" until they were almost touching the lands. Now the 117 Sierra's shot well off the lands.

Yup, exactly why I was asking the question.
My M700 Classic shoots the 100 gr BT in the .5" and the 115 gr BT .5-.6".
The 110 gr AB is .7". I need to play with the COL to see if I can do better.

JD338

 

[cold_hunter]

i swear by my 25-06. its my second one, an old style savage tactical. the first was a H&R single shot that i shot till it was loose. but with a WLR and any cases that weigh the same, 52grs. of IMR4350 or 50grs. of H4350 the savage is a shooter. MV of 3350 with the IMR load, my best group to date is .134. i did install a sharp shooter trigger, and i have a VX 3 4.5-14. so nothing to fancy. With 100gr. PT my groups are around .75 but my longest kill on a deer is 604 yards standing with a monopod. Ya id say i love the 25-06, no kick just pure hunting pleasure. Someday ill get one of those fancy looking model 114's so i can have a 25-06 that doesnt weigh a ton.

 

[cloverleaf]

Just found out today that savage is making the 14 classic in 250-3000 Savage!!!! :shock: :grin: :grin: :grin: FINALLY!!! NOW I will never have the $800.00 that will take..... :x :x :x ....... Cant explain how depressed....CL