Suggestions for a Bob AI Load

[wunbe]

I have a custom Ruger 1 on the way in the caliber. It has a 22 inch, standard weight, barrel. it is going to see most use as an Eastern whitetail, stalking rifle. Ranges from 100 to 250 yards.

It will get here sooner than I expected so I am getting ready now to reload for it. Your suggestions re brass, powders, and bullets would be greatly appreciated.

I am leaning toward 100 gr Barnes XXTs but open to suggestions.

Thanks,
wunbe

 

[picketpin]

Wunbe: I have a semi custom "A" in 257 Ackley Improved with a 22" fluted stainless barrel that is on the same profile as the stock "A" barrel.

You can get at or nearly 3000 fps in the AI with 120s in the various AIs I have. The shorter "A' barrel won't quite get there but the #2 with a 26 barrel and a custom bolt gun with a 24 barrel will. You can get there in all three with 115 grain Nolsers, either Partitions or Ballistic Tips.

Over the summer I have been working with the Nosler 110 Accubond and will being using it next week on a 15 day trophy mule deer. Ranges should be 100- 300 yards and I anticipate it working just fine. All three rifles will shoot it under MOA for 5 shot groups at 100 yards.

The Bob AI is right on bore balance and works best with medium to medium slow powders. I tend to use IMR4350 but the Nosler accuracy load for the bullet in the 257AI uses H4831SC. If you have something else on hand with a similar burn rate it should work fine.

Primers don't seem to real critical BUT you do not need a Magnum primer with any of the loads I use. I tend to use CCI Large Rifle primers but have also used Winchester and Federals with good results.

Brass is pretty much limited to Winchester or Remington. If you use cases marked as +P come down a little and work back up. It's a bit thicker, especially below the web so pressures run a bit higher than older "standard" brass brass. I tend to use new W-W brass for hunting and move it on to the varmint rifles after the first use.

Good luck. You should enjoy and be pleased with your rifle/cartridge choice. It should work just fine for your stated purpose.

Ross

If you want any specific load data PM or e-mail me. RWT

 

[wunbe]

Thanks Ross,

Using the +P brass in Ruger #1s, does your safe accuracy load actually end up slower than wth normal cases? The strong #1 action might geive a you a bit more leeway....

wunbe

 

[roofinspector]

Guess we all are quite thankful for the gas handling capabilities of the no.1. A little wood in the hand is nothing to taking a shot of gas in eyes.

The ackley is not covered in the SAAMI specs, so everyone is on their own with loads procured. Overloading is not new in the gun world, but one certainly has to respect the possibilities.

 

[Sugar River]

The Bob Ackley, my fave deer ctg, at the moment.

IMO, 100 grains is where the 25s shine for white tails. Try the Horn 100 SP or Nosler Ballistic Tip with 51/Re19, WW case. F210 for 3315 from my 24" barrel. (Caution-max in my rifle.)

This spike didn't like the Hornady at all.

Pete

 

[picketpin]

Wunbe: No, you can load either the standard brass or the +P to the same velocity and pressure. It's just that the reduced case capacity of the +P brass requires slightly less powder to get the same velocity as standard brass with the same pressures.

Initially I just measured the case capacities and then reduced the charge in the +P cases by that difference between the two..

It isn't a lot, but it's there and I don't choose to ignore it. My loads aren't full balls to the walls or at least not by the pressure signs I normally check. I only used the strain gauges/pressure indicator with my chronograph twice. (The little buggers cost $8 each) The first time when I figured out the case capacity difference between the two kinds of brass and after working up a base line load with the same powder with each case to check that the decrease with the +P case that worked out to the same velocity.

I CAN drive them faster but I started years ago loading bullets to 3000 fps as a working velocity for hunting and simply use the heaviest bullet I can drive without undue pressure.

The 110 Nosler Accubond that I've been playing with right now seems like a really good answer to the heaviest bullet a guy can EASILY drive to 3000 fps with moderate pressures.

The 120s take a pretty stiff load with significant pressure but not outside the SAAMI for a 25-06 so I feel pretty safe firing them in most rifles, especially #1s. I don't get 3000 fps out of the 22" barrel on the semi "A" but it sure kills deer. The 24" barrel on the 98 and the 26" barrel on the #2 "B" get there easily with the same load of IMR 4350. Just by dropping to the Nosler 115, either a Partition or Ballistic Tip yeilds 3000 out of the shorter barrel of the "A".

Working with the 110 grain AccuBond makes it easy to hit 3000 fps in all the 257AIs I have regardless of barrel length and keeps pressures within reason. It looks good in ballistic media. Give me a couple of weeks and hopefully I can tell you what it does on deer.

The best

Ross

Regarding brass: I just looked and Nolser does sell Custom Grade 257 Roberts +P brass for $75 for 50 cases. ;-) Heck it's a shiny new rifle.

 

[Silent Sam]

There is no advantage to anything heavier than 100gr bullets for eastern whitetails and they don't need premium bullets either. As noted above, don't mix brass as capacity does vary.