Author Topic: Your “go to” bullet in .257 (Read 4148 times))

Hobbyman2007 · « **on:** September 19, 2018, 08:14:06 PM »

I haven’t done a whole lot of testing and as a matter of fact I’ve only shot the 257420 on paper. I have another which is the 257388 spire point mould but really only shot them over the chrony . I’ve got two rifles in that caliber one is capable of 140fpe as it is now and the other is good to about 160 fpe ( Cothran valve in it ) so it should be capable of quite a bit more ,both have a 1:14” twist TJ’s barrels . Right now the 257420 is my go to bullet and have been shooting them as cast due to size . My barrels are a little on the big side at .2583” and the 257420 drops at .2578 “.I have placed an order for a 63 gr mould from NOE. Like to see what others are using .

PCPhack · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2018, 08:35:12 PM »

Nielsen Specialty Ammo (NSA) 85gr boattail.

rkr · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2018, 03:06:17 AM »

I've been wondering, does anyone have the BC numbers for 257420 and 257388? One bullet that was mentioned in TAG threads as accurate one in 14" twist barrels is 92 grain "Noble" http://arsenalmolds.com/products?product_id=93

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2018, 03:50:17 AM »

The Noble is a lengthened 257420. A genuine Lyman 257420 drops at .260. The copy from Arsenal is much smaller. Odd on the barrel size, Mine is .2573".

I have found the .257420, NOE 84 Ranchdog, and the Lyman 388 to all be extremely accurate.

I modified a Spire point mold from NOE, (slight flat meplat) and it is the most accurate bullet I have. Under 1/4" AT 80 Yards Regularly. Well under 1/2" at 100, and often right at 3/8". Need to HP it for game. Too tapered for good impact. Just like the 388, punches needle holes in game. Just a wee bit better.

Knife

rintafile · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2018, 03:52:25 AM »

I have couple old Ideal molds which if i remember correctly was accurate. Those are molds which i think Tofazfou and Dough(?) used earlier tests for .257 Ideal 257388 80 grains and other was same but 90 grains. Sadly i haven't got time or changes to test my self those bullets.

http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

Other that 90 grain bullet isn't that list or do i missing something.. Molds are probably way older than my self but cast's perfectly.

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2018, 03:58:44 AM »

The 338 is extremely hard to find. Even on the bay, the price skyrockets! And sadly, most if not all are single cavity, and hard to see in the pics when offered, the condition they are in.

this es exactly why I modded the NOE Spire Point bullet in .257 by decking the mold, which brought it down from 110 gr. to an 80 grain bullet.

Knife

rintafile · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2018, 04:50:08 AM »

Yeah i know. But still i had good luck with those purchases. Taking risk to get those Ideal molds from ebay and those where top condition. 1- cativy dosen't bother me im not in hurry when casting. And what comes price...I kind collecting those molds and Ideal,Ohaus,Winchester etc. are treasures for me so. And i got few of those molds very reasonable price. Only had one bad quality mold from ebay. And seller offers money back but i keep it. It was painted so i removed paint off and its fine now.

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2018, 05:16:47 AM »

This shows the 80 gr HOE RD Hollow point by Eric of Hollow Point Mold services, and the Spire Point modded to 80 grains, Shoots very similar to the Ideal/ Lyman 338

Cast thes when I was first learning to cast. LOL

Knife

Hobbyman2007 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2018, 08:26:48 AM »

Knife , that HP looks great . I’ve got the 388 from arsenal that I’ve been on the fence sending to Erik. They are a little heavy for both my guns . I think I’ll be sending him two molds this week .

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2018, 08:51:34 PM »

Eric sure doed fine work Denis!

Knife

Hobbyman2007 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2018, 09:05:33 PM »

From what I’ve seen and read Erik is about the only place I’d send a mold to HP. It sure would be nice if Al at Noe would make his molds available that way right from the start . I would pay a premium and I’d still save from shipping back and forth . I’d also like to find a 257420 in .260 “ so I could size them down to bore size . I’m shooting mine as cast and have a feeling they would do better ( not that their bad ) properly sized for my barrel.

rsterne · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2018, 10:42:28 PM »

I have heard that the Lyman 257420 FN solid 73 gr. has a BC of about 0.14.... It has an SD of 0.157, and flat-based bullets with a decent Meplat often have a Form Factor of about 1.1-1.15, so that makes sense.... If the BC is 0.14, the FF is (0.157 / 1.14) = 1.12.... The HP version should therefore have a lower BC in proportion to its lower weight.... If it is 66 gr. (like the one I have), with an SD of 0.143, you would expect the BC to be between 0.125-0.130.... just a bit better than a .22LR bullet....

Unless you have a lot of power on tap, it is pretty hard to beat the 257420.... I would consider it the "go-to" bullet for most .257s.... You need quite a bit of power (170-200 FPE) to step up to an 85-90 gr. bullet, and drive it fast enough to warrant using that, IMO....

Bob

rkr · « **Reply #12 on:** October 01, 2018, 03:22:37 AM »

Quote from: Hobbyman2007 on September 30, 2018, 09:05:33 PM

From what I’ve seen and read Erik is about the only place I’d send a mold to HP. It sure would be nice if Al at Noe would make his molds available that way right from the start . I would pay a premium and I’d still save from shipping back and forth . I’d also like to find a 257420 in .260 “ so I could size them down to bore size . I’m shooting mine as cast and have a feeling they would do better ( not that their bad ) properly sized for my barrel.

How about enlarging the mold a bit, a bullet with a shaft attached to a drill and some grinding paste? There was a video of that being done somewhere.

rintafile · « **Reply #13 on:** October 01, 2018, 05:13:43 AM »

Quote from: Hobbyman2007 on September 30, 2018, 09:05:33 PM

I’d also like to find a 257420 in .260 “ so I could size them down to bore size . I’m shooting mine as cast and have a feeling they would do better ( not that their bad ) properly sized for my barrel.

Did you ask Jared if he could do it wider? I have few molds which he make it wider when i ask about it.

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #14 on:** October 02, 2018, 05:23:48 PM »

Quote from: Hobbyman2007 on September 30, 2018, 09:05:33 PM

From what I’ve seen and read Erik is about the only place I’d send a mold to HP. It sure would be nice if Al at Noe would make his molds available that way right from the start . I would pay a premium and I’d still save from shipping back and forth . I’d also like to find a 257420 in .260 “ so I could size them down to bore size . I’m shooting mine as cast and have a feeling they would do better ( not that their bad ) properly sized for my barrel.

If your not in a hurry to cast a lot of bullets, Lyman still makes the 257420 iron mold. It's a two cavity, and throws them at 260 out of my two molds. One is a HP mold by Eric.

It is slow casting though. LOL

Knife. .

rsterne · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2018, 12:47:24 AM »

Pretty sure Jared at Arsenal can make the 257420 larger....

Bob

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #16 on:** October 05, 2018, 10:19:27 PM »

Sure easier than making it smaller!

Hobbyman2007 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 06, 2018, 11:57:35 AM »

I’m still waiting to get a 63 grain mold from NOE. If these shoot well I won’t be concerned with the slightly undersized 257420. I’ve looked at the Lyman but just can’t get myself to hit the buy button on a 2 cavity mold .

rintafile · « **Reply #18 on:** October 06, 2018, 11:02:56 PM »

Nothing wrong with 2 cavity.... You can cast fast and longer because it wont get so hot on small calibers. I actually like 2 cavity molds for those reasons. Have 2 cavity RCBS .30 cal mold and can drop 500-1000 bullets with out any problem. It is very fast casting...

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2018, 12:03:58 AM »

Quote from: Hobbyman2007 on October 06, 2018, 11:57:35 AM

I’m still waiting to get a 63 grain mold from NOE. If these shoot well I won’t be concerned with the slightly undersized 257420. I’ve looked at the Lyman but just can’t get myself to hit the buy button on a 2 cavity mold .

Not to mention the Lyman is heavy for a 2 cavity. For whatever reason, is can't cast as nice as a NOE, or Arsinel mold.

I have several lyman molds, and one is hp'd by Eric. It too is the lyman 257420, and deadly accurate.

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Your “go to” bullet in .257

Author Topic: Your “go to” bullet in .257 (Read 4148 times))