.257 Caliber Pros and Cons

[KnifeMaker]

I have one downside for .257, availability of suitable and reasonably priced barrel liners outside the USA. TJ makes suitable liners but can't export them. LW has barrels but they are real blanks with 30mm something in diameter. Custom barrel makers are big $$$.

So there you have it. The biggest disadvantage is living in the EU. Here on the other hand, Woo-Hoo!!!

[etnhunter]

What would be some disadvantages of the .257 over the .30 cal and vice versa.  I'm trying to decide between the two on a Raptor.  I really don't need anything extremely long-range since I hunt in heavy cover.  100 yards tops for yotes, coons, turkeys and bobcats mainly.  Deer and hogs will be treated to a .357 in the 275 FPE range.

The reason I did not even consider .30 cal is in TN, AG hunting regulations state .25 cal and smaller for small game and .35 cal and larger for big game.  So, .30 cal isn't legal for anything other that paper punching.  Go figure, got to love law makers.

[etnhunter]

I seem to get the best accuracy with the 14 to 1 twist TJ's between 880 adn just a hair over a grand. It is very forgiving! 


Solid for heavier game. Hp for med. game, and my modded HP's for vermin. Relly no downside I can see.


Once you start casting, and using bullet traps, the lead is recycled, so shooting eventually becomes virtually free. Kinda hard to beat a combo like that!

Thanks for the info.  Once I get the Raptor, I intend to play around with various speeds and bullets and you have provided the blueprint for me.  I haven't cast anything, yet . . .

[raford]

I am new to big bore shooting. I have a Texan LSS in .257. The furthest target I can place in my backyard is 75 yards. Can hit that quite consistently. The rifle is zeroed for 52 yards on a hanging steel silhouette chicken so it is a matter holdover to hit the 75 yard steel turkey. The one thing I noticed is that the gun shoots harder as it approaches 110 bar from a 200 bar fill. The ammo it prefers is H&N Barracudas and both JSB pellets. I have not tried any slugs yet. Any suggestions on slugs? I was thinking any weight from 55 to 87 grains.

[etnhunter]

I am new to big bore shooting. I have a Texan LSS in .257. The furthest target I can place in my backyard is 75 yards. Can hit that quite consistently. The rifle is zeroed for 52 yards on a hanging steel silhouette chicken so it is a matter holdover to hit the 75 yard steel turkey. The one thing I noticed is that the gun shoots harder as it approaches 110 bar from a 200 bar fill. The ammo it prefers is H&N Barracudas and both JSB pellets. I have not tried any slugs yet. Any suggestions on slugs? I was thinking any weight from 55 to 87 grains.

I have no experience with a .257 yet but Nielsen Specialty Ammo has several different slugs in this caliber and their products are superb.  I won't likely shoot any pellets in mine after I receive it.

[PCPhack]

Those NSA .257 boat tails are awesome!

[Kinetic45^]

Posted in another thread but heres a picture I took yesterday at the range

OK, went to the range again and this time took a pic
5 shot groups, 50 yards
Note the flyer on the left group was when the guy beside me let off a shot unexpectedly with a centerfire rifle just as I was pulling the trigger on mine.
The red dot is .750, the right group is .550 top to bottom (outside to outside)

Pulled valve spring, hammer set at 3/4 adjustment, fill to 3000.
Had fire-lapped the barrel by loading up the grooves on some cast bullets with JB Non-embedding Bore cleaner and shooting 40 shots. Wiped with Ballistol damp patches before shooting.... bore was mirror clean at end of 100 round shooting session.
NSA 85gr BTHP were coated with Rooster Jacket and let dry (a water soluble wax that dries in-soluble)

[Hobbyman2007]

I am new to big bore shooting. I have a Texan LSS in .257. The furthest target I can place in my backyard is 75 yards. Can hit that quite consistently. The rifle is zeroed for 52 yards on a hanging steel silhouette chicken so it is a matter holdover to hit the 75 yard steel turkey. The one thing I noticed is that the gun shoots harder as it approaches 110 bar from a 200 bar fill. The ammo it prefers is H&N Barracudas and both JSB pellets. I have not tried any slugs yet. Any suggestions on slugs? I was thinking any weight from 55 to 87 grains.

A .257 Texan was not made to shoot pellets . To start , the bore size is completely wrong and second the velocity even tuned down is way too fast for pellets . Sure there are exceptions where the barrel will shoot some pellets alright , but not in the same catergory as a well designed bullet . Get yourself some NSA bullets . Do yourself the favour .

[etnhunter]

Posted in another thread but heres a picture I took yesterday at the range

OK, went to the range again and this time took a pic
5 shot groups, 50 yards
Note the flyer on the left group was when the guy beside me let off a shot unexpectedly with a centerfire rifle just as I was pulling the trigger on mine.
The red dot is .750, the right group is .550 top to bottom (outside to outside)

Impressive groups!  My .45 Texan is lucky to put 5 inside one of those grey boxes at 50 yards.  I bought some .457, 220 grain NSA slugs to try out this weekend.  I have not been happy at all with any of the Air Venturi slugs I have been shooting. 

[Kinetic45^]

Air Venturi slugs are A) just too hard to shoot well B) usually not very consistent in weight with voids and poor fillout which leads to larger groups.

My .457 Texan, off the bench on sandbags will group 1-1/2" at 100 with several NSA slugs and some of my cast slugs if the weight is between 250 and 320gr.
Doug Noble valve, one of his hammer springs, snug fit barrel bushings and a sized to fit exactly in the action to center the valve spinloc valve collar

[etnhunter]

Air Venturi slugs are A) just too hard to shoot well B) usually not very consistent in weight with voids and poor fillout which leads to larger groups.

My .457 Texan, off the bench on sandbags will group 1-1/2" at 100 with several NSA slugs and some of my cast slugs if the weight is between 250 and 320gr.
Doug Noble valve, one of his hammer springs, snug fit barrel bushings and a sized to fit exactly in the action to center the valve spinloc valve collar

Good to know.  I really haven't fooled with my Texan in a couple years due to an air leak.  I finally sent it to AF for repair two months ago and had it returned about a week ago.  I haven't modded mine any, except for the Mad Dog Stock.

[Kinetic45^]

Not to hi-jack the thread but try these
https://nielsenspecialtyammo.com/collections/45-cal/products/254-grain-hollow-point-air-rifle-pellets-45-caliber-best-texan-all-slug-swaged

And I get sub-MOA groups with my Accurate 46-364B bullets at 327gr (see pic) {Yes, I asked Bob to design me a bullet then had Accurate make the mold THEN sent it to http://www.hollowpointmold.com/ to make a massive HP for hogs n deer hunting... the sound it makes when it hits is such a KaWHOP!!!}

[etnhunter]

Once you start casting, and using bullet traps, the lead is recycled, so shooting eventually becomes virtually free. Kinda hard to beat a combo like that!

I will probably start casting after I get the Raptor.  What starter kit can you recommend?  Also, what molds?

[Hobbyman2007]

Once you start casting, and using bullet traps, the lead is recycled, so shooting eventually becomes virtually free. Kinda hard to beat a combo like that!

I will probably start casting after I get the Raptor.  What starter kit can you recommend?  Also, what molds?

I myself put a kit together , Lee bottom pour ten pound pot , an ingot mold , a good quality thermometer and use a big stainless spoon for mixing the lead in the pot . As for molds , I beleive the Raptor mags are close to .550 “ in length so you’ll be somewhat limited in bullet lengths . I’ve had really good luck with the NOE 260-63 FNGC mold and it should fit the magazine. With that being said , you’re going to want to size bullets . For this you need a press , again I use a cheap Lee press , and then the sizing system from NOE . That consists of a die body , a push pin for the caliber and a variety of sizing dies. All together if you’re frugal and look for deals can be had for less than 300$ and probably closer to 200 $ if you buy some items used from eBay and the likes .


Be sure to check with JSAR on the bullet length before buying molds .

[Kinetic45^]

The NOE 260-63-FN-AR4 in GC is a fine shooter for me too but there aren't any in stock right now.
[Sorry, I bought the last one as a birthday gift]

You could contact Al there and request one be made (maybe) and if so try to get the HP version.

I also have these molds and they shoot well in unchoked .257
NOE 260-63-WFN-GC
NOE 257-64-FNBT

[etnhunter]

Once you start casting, and using bullet traps, the lead is recycled, so shooting eventually becomes virtually free. Kinda hard to beat a combo like that!

I will probably start casting after I get the Raptor.  What starter kit can you recommend?  Also, what molds?

I myself put a kit together , Lee bottom pour ten pound pot , an ingot mold , a good quality thermometer and use a big stainless spoon for mixing the lead in the pot . As for molds , I beleive the Raptor mags are close to .550 “ in length so you’ll be somewhat limited in bullet lengths . I’ve had really good luck with the NOE 260-63 FNGC mold and it should fit the magazine. With that being said , you’re going to want to size bullets . For this you need a press , again I use a cheap Lee press , and then the sizing system from NOE . That consists of a die body , a push pin for the caliber and a variety of sizing dies. All together if you’re frugal and look for deals can be had for less than 300$ and probably closer to 200 $ if you buy some items used from eBay and the likes .


Be sure to check with JSAR on the bullet length before buying molds .

Sounds like a lot to learn.  I have a friend that lives nearby who casts .38 for his revolver PB.  He told me he would cast for me if I provided the mold.  So, I may just start with the mold and watch how he does it and then I should know how to move forward.  Thanks for all the advice.

[Loren]

A little .257 shooting this evening at 100 yards.
Shooting my cast 86gr bullets.

[Rescue35]

Sounds like a lot to learn.  I have a friend that lives nearby who casts .38 for his revolver PB.  He told me he would cast for me if I provided the mold.  So, I may just start with the mold and watch how he does it and then I should know how to move forward.  Thanks for all the advice.

Im happy to help if I can. Im just down the road in Sweetwater and I've been casting for awhile. I need to finish up my .257 build. Im building it for the same reason, in Tennessee you cant hunt coyote with anything larger than .25. That and I have the room to shoot further now that I am back in the country.

[triggertreat]

Sounds like a lot to learn.  I have a friend that lives nearby who casts .38 for his revolver PB.  He told me he would cast for me if I provided the mold.  So, I may just start with the mold and watch how he does it and then I should know how to move forward.  Thanks for all the advice.

Im happy to help if I can. Im just down the road in Sweetwater and I've been casting for awhile. I need to finish up my .257 build. Im building it for the same reason, in Tennessee you cant hunt coyote with anything larger than .25. That and I have the room to shoot further now that I am back in the country.

+1 Me too, but I haven't been casting long, but do feel I've got the jest of it.

I want to say I have been to Sweetwater when I took my wife to the Lost Sea cave.  We hopped in a glass bottom boat and traveled out to feed some large fish way down in there.  Pretty neat adventure.

[KnifeMaker]

I don't know just why so many people carry the AV slugs. Some of the worst bullets money can but.


However, NSA, and Varmint Knockers are excellent.


I've been casting for the .257 form what,8+ years now. Maybe longer. At my age, everything is just the other day. LOL!


Muine will print consistently at 1/2 moa at 100 yards all day long in fairly good conditions. It is a true laser.


The spire point will go under 3/8 the 1/4". amazing accuracy. Tofazfou on youtube has the same results, as has Doug Noble, (Dyotat100) and  RoachCreek. (Lani52)


My barrel is tight, and wil shoot pellets well. But that is the exception rather than the ruled. They are not designed as pellet shooters.


However, with the factory AF .257's who nows. They have completely ignored what works and what doesn't in barrel twist and bore dimensions.  A shame! They have a long reputation of blissful- arrogant- ignorance. They prefer to put their money in clueless celebs rather than research. Even when it has already been done for them.