Let's talk 257 AI

[jrpwa]

I just took one on trade Remington action Brux barrel.
What brass, dies, etc have y'all had the best luck with?
What do y'all think about the round overall?

[Cajun Blake]

I have a Cooper Varminter in 257AI ... love the round and performance

I shoot Nosler 100 gr BT's , very accurate , farthest kill is 330 yds on a doe

75 gr Vmax on coyotes is devastating

[jrpwa]

Blake do you prefer any brass over another?

[Cajun Blake]

Blake do you prefer any brass over another?

Win brass as you'll have to fire form

I've had my rifle since 1996

no clue if Nosler or anyone else currently offers 257AI factory brass

[jrpwa]

No factory offerings that I have found.
I also like Win brass but I can't seem to find any. I have a few boxes of 257 roberts Nosler factory ammo that I will form.

[Slick8]

Awesome I think it would be a great combo rifle for deer hogs and yokes if loaded with a barnes mrx 85-100 grain.

Really wanting to try the 85 grain mrx in my 240 WBY next year but the 105 berger has been poison on everything I pulled the trigger on.

[Cottonfish]

I've had two - a Ruger M77mkII long action w/Douglas 24" bbl (now owned by another TBH'r) and my current Remington 700BDL short action w/Shilen 24" bbl. The Ruger liked RL19/Hornady 117gr SST's at 3150fps, and the Remington shoots either IMR4350/Nosler 100gr Ballistic Tips at 3350fps or H4350/Nosler 110gr Accubonds at 3240fps. I've always used CCI 200 primers.

You'll have to fireform for it, I use Remington .257 Roberts brass because it's what was available when I got a bunch of it. Looks like the only commonly available brass now is Nosler, but it should be good quality. I use an RCBS die set, and I think Redding has one as well. Used to have a Redding neck die but it proved to be no good, so I full-length size now. Brass lasts a long time, even as little as 100 cases will keep you shooting for years.

The round is very efficient when compared to a .25-06 I used to have, using less propellant and offering less recoil for comparable muzzle velocities. The only downside is having to fireform brass, oh, and the endless bullet/powder combinations that you can try. My family likes .25 caliber rifles, I have the .257AI, and Dad has a .257 Roberts and .257 Weatherby. Gratuitous pic, sorry for the messy reloading table - but remember that Einstein's desk was a mess, too!



Stu

[hardtner]

I've had two - a Ruger M77mkII long action w/Douglas 24" bbl (now owned by another TBH'r) and my current Remington 700BDL short action w/Shilen 24" bbl. The Ruger liked RL19/Hornady 117gr SST's at 3150fps, and the Remington shoots either IMR4350/Nosler 100gr Ballistic Tips at 3350fps or H4350/Nosler 110gr Accubonds at 3240fps. I've always used CCI 200 primers.

You'll have to fireform for it, I use Remington .257 Roberts brass because it's what was available when I got a bunch of it. Looks like the only commonly available brass now is Nosler, but it should be good quality. I use an RCBS die set, and I think Redding has one as well. Used to have a Redding neck die but it proved to be no good, so I full-length size now. Brass lasts a long time, even as little as 100 cases will keep you shooting for years.

The round is very efficient when compared to a .25-06 I used to have, using less propellant and offering less recoil for comparable muzzle velocities. The only downside is having to fireform brass, oh, and the endless bullet/powder combinations that you can try. My family likes .25 caliber rifles, I have the .257AI, and Dad has a .257 Roberts and .257 Weatherby. Gratuitous pic, sorry for the messy reloading table - but remember that Einstein's desk was a mess, too!

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Stu

Good looking rifle Stu. That might be the stock I sold you.

[Seacoal]

No factory offerings that I have found.
I also like Win brass but I can't seem to find any. I have a few boxes of 257 roberts Nosler factory ammo that I will form.

Check Graf and sons for PRVI brass. Quality stuff. Don't know if they have it.

I hunted with my dads m77tang in .257ai for about 2 years. Shot 100 Gn TSX's, and they performed beautifully

[Cottonfish]

Good looking rifle Stu. That might be the stock I sold you.

Thanks, but that one is on a .30-06 I have, this one is a short action... I have 2 BDL's in .257AI and .30-06, and a Classic 7 Rem Mag, guess I am partial to 700's.

I forgot to add, I used the .257AI for years on the old Sabinal lease I shared with Scotty. The 7 Mag was the Big Buck gun, but everything else (does, spikes, culls, turkeys, yodel dogs, bobcats, etc.) benefitted from the tender mercies of the AI. The .257 will be my choice of rifle for an upcoming trip to Encinal in January.

Stu

[jrpwa]

What powder have yall had the best luck with? I have been reading mixed results I know they are all different but I still like to know.

[Cajun Blake]

I use N160 although H4831sc and R17 both work well


follow the reloading manuals and work up .... I highly recommend load development with a chronograph

[RR 314]

What powder have yall had the best luck with? I have been reading mixed results I know they are all different but I still like to know.

I use RL23 in my .257 STW. May yield good results in the diminutive AI.

[Kolpin10]

Built one back in 1996 that has always been my go to, best accuracy that I could get out of it was with imr 4064 for years I used the old 90 grain Barnes x when I ran out went to the 80 grains, it likes lite fast bullets. When I started I bought 500 rounds of remington brass that has held up well tossed a bunch because I was worried about the number of loads on them. Groups are opening up now but I have run 1200-1400 rounds through it and throat is pretty rough.