Another 257 roberts ack improved question

Jack Merrill · January 23, 2012, 03:16 PM

I have also acquired a 257 roberts ack imp rifle. I have fireformed the brass. I adapted a cartridge to use a lock and load gauge. I am a little concerned about the fact that loaded at the reccomended OAL of 2.770" I have .213" of freebore. Seated to touch the rifling, my cartridges measure .2.983 OAL. Do I need two have the rifle rechambered? That seems like a dangerous amount of freebore. I have been impressed with the knowledge of the users of this forum, and would appreciated some feedback. Thanks

mrawesome22 · January 23, 2012, 03:31 PM

Perfectly fine. Load some to 2.953, work up a good powder charge, then tinker with the oal again.

Catfish · January 24, 2012, 10:04 PM

I never pay any attention to the max. oal lenth. I have loaded bullets that were barily in the case just to get close to the rifleings. When I load AR ammo I seat the bullets just deep enough to get them in my mags. Seat your bullets where you get the best accuracy, or it you feeding from a mag. as close as you can get and still feed.

HiBC · January 25, 2012, 06:10 AM

I think what you are up against is some .257 R rifles were apparently made in short,.308 length actions,so 2.770,or 2.800,will load in a 308 length magazine.
However,this cartridge is older than the .308 and was derived from necking a 7x57 down to .257.My .257 AI is built on a Mexican Mauser.It has a longer box,and I can ,and do,load longer.

Try this.Look at the bullet.See the corner where the bullet goes from full diameter to boat tail?Seat that at the base of the neck.That is full support,with no cylindrical bullet stuffed down in the case.You might make a couple no-primer,no powder dummies and see if the work OK in your rifle.If they do,put them in your die box to speed setup.

Thats how I load mine.

January 23, 2012, 03:16 PM	#1
Jack Merrill Junior Member Join Date: November 17, 2011 Posts: 7	Another 257 roberts ack improved question I have also acquired a 257 roberts ack imp rifle. I have fireformed the brass. I adapted a cartridge to use a lock and load gauge. I am a little concerned about the fact that loaded at the reccomended OAL of 2.770" I have .213" of freebore. Seated to touch the rifling, my cartridges measure .2.983 OAL. Do I need two have the rifle rechambered? That seems like a dangerous amount of freebore. I have been impressed with the knowledge of the users of this forum, and would appreciated some feedback. Thanks

January 23, 2012, 03:31 PM	#2
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Perfectly fine. Load some to 2.953, work up a good powder charge, then tinker with the oal again.

January 24, 2012, 10:04 PM	#3
Catfish Member Join Date: November 30, 2010 Posts: 71	I never pay any attention to the max. oal lenth. I have loaded bullets that were barily in the case just to get close to the rifleings. When I load AR ammo I seat the bullets just deep enough to get them in my mags. Seat your bullets where you get the best accuracy, or it you feeding from a mag. as close as you can get and still feed.

January 25, 2012, 06:10 AM	#4
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 3,057	I think what you are up against is some .257 R rifles were apparently made in short,.308 length actions,so 2.770,or 2.800,will load in a 308 length magazine. However,this cartridge is older than the .308 and was derived from necking a 7x57 down to .257.My .257 AI is built on a Mexican Mauser.It has a longer box,and I can ,and do,load longer. Try this.Look at the bullet.See the corner where the bullet goes from full diameter to boat tail?Seat that at the base of the neck.That is full support,with no cylindrical bullet stuffed down in the case.You might make a couple no-primer,no powder dummies and see if the work OK in your rifle.If they do,put them in your die box to speed setup. Thats how I load mine.