[Clipper]

...Comparing factory ballistics, I see that with a zero 2" high @ 100 yards, both 100gr .243 and 120gr +P Bob are 0 @ 200, and the .243 is 8" low @300, with the Bob 9" low. I currently have a BSA Sweet .243 on a Handi-Rifle, and was thinking about mounting it on the Bob, but the scope calibrates from a 100 yard zero. I don't think it would make any difference, but I can't help but wonder if this would make any difference...I know scope snobs don't like BSA scopes, but the six I have have done everything I need of them, and 300 yards is likely to never come up, as where I hunt, 150 is a long shot, so lets just stick to the trajectory question please.

Thanks.

[dakotasin]

if 150 is a long shot, then trajectory is mostly moot. but, to answer your question, your scope will be close enough that it wouldn't make any difference from typical hunting rests.

if you wanted to really get closer, then try hornady's light mags in the bob. dunno if factory 100 grain loads are available, but i run 100 grain sierras in my bob and it will also match trajectory of the 243.

anyway, long way of saying a scope calibrated for a 243 that is going on a hunting rifle to be used in hunting situation will work just fine on the 257...

[Clipper]

Kinda what I figured, but it always feels good to be corroberated by another knowledgeable shooter...

Thanks.

[GooseGestapo]

FWIW; For the ranges you're talking about, you wouldn't even want or need to touch the turrets to alter the zero.

I sight my .257Roberts to hit 2" high at 100yds. Zero is at ~200yds, and drop is as you noted around 8-10" at 300yds.

My longest shot with a "Bob" was in Montana on a large muley doe. Range was estimated at 350yds. Later was determined to have been 370-378yds. I was using the Nosler 85gr BallisticTip (not my first choice, but a long story...). I held on the top of the deer's back and broke the spine, dropping the deer where it stood. Zero was at 300yds for shooting prararie dogs.... about 3.5" high at 100yds. (Handload chrono'd at 3,350fps).

If the current selection of bullets and wide availability of inexpensive chronographs had been available in the 1950's, the .243 and 6mmRem might not have ever gotten off the ground against the .257Robt and .250Savage....

I say just forget the target turrents and focus on sight alignment and trigger squeeze......... I've got a BSA contender 4-16x on my Remington M700 in .22-250, and I just use the mil-dots to compute adjust holdover. Works for me....

[MCgunner]

What the Roberts will do with what is available as factory ammo and what it will do with a good handload are two different things. Here's my favorite handload:

Bullet...100gr Sierra Game King
Powder charge....51.0 grains H4831
Aprox ballistic coefficient.... 0.388
Mean muzzle velocity 5 shot string....3147.6 fps
Mean energy....2199.7 ft lbs
Velocity Standard Deviation....18.72
Accuracy is a consistent 3/4 MOA from a cold barrel

range

100 200 300 400 500

Velocity fps

2893 2648 2412 2190 1985

Energy ft lbs

1858 1557 1291 1064 875


Trajectory 250 yard zero in inches Max height 2.71" at 150 yards

+2.31 +1.97 -3.30 -14.7 -33.3



I agree with Goose on the turrets. I have a range elevation turret on my gun and just leave it set on 250 and hold over if I have to, but I rarely get a shot that far. Longest shot, lasered 380 yards on a coyote. Hit him right where I wanted to. The thing is accurate. It's an old M722 Remington, 4x12x40 Bushnell for glass. The only thing I use that turret for is to set it back to 100 yards when our club has an informal bench rest match. I've cleaned their clocks with this rifle, before. :D

[blackbearaddict]

what 243 bullets are you using and im assuming that your shooting nosler partitions out of you 257?

[MCgunner]

BTW, thanks for your opinion on BSA scopes. I have a friend that loves 'em, but of course the net seems to hate anything cheap. I bought a Ruger Mk2 a while back at a gun show which had a BSA LER on it and thought I'd sell the scope and mount, but after using it, I was impressed and kept it. :D I know they don't have the crystal clear optics of a Schmidt and Bender, but then some of us don't have the crystal clear wallets that an expensive scope requires. I've found the Bushnell Trophy to be a great little scope at around 100 bucks and the Weavers to be excellent at around 200. I've not completely made up my mind on BSA. I'm leery of TOO cheap scopes after a certain Simmons Whitetail POS I bought on the hype. :D At least the BSAs are affordable.

[Art Eatman]

Another vote for "not enough difference to worry about". :) Certainly, not inside of 250 yards, anyhow...

[Clipper]

MCgunner, my dad has a 721 with an old 4X Weaver that's one of the most accurate rifles I've ever fired, even with the 50 year-old 117gr Core-Lokt ammo he's still got several boxes of. Mine's a custom sporter on a FN Mauser action with a 21" #1 taper barrel, with a very nicely done float job on the Bishop stock and an adjustable trigger. It is (sorta unfortunately) chambered for the AI version, and I'm currently shooting factory Winchester +P to fireform the cases, but it's shooting 3/4" groups, so I'm happy as a clam, expecting handloads to improve on even that.

As for the BSAs I have there's the Sweet .22 (2-7) and 243 (2-10), 2 3-9X50s (Which is what's on the Bob now) with the illuminated dot reticle, a 3-12X44 illuminated mil dot (on my wife's 99 Savage .300, (yeah I know it's too much scope for hunting, but she has a hard time with target shooting without the higher magnification), and a couple red dots. All have given very good service.

[MCgunner]

Long ago, I'd considered getting mine bored for the AI. My first reloading handbook, my grandpas I'd inherited, was a PO Ackley reloader's manual. Well, you can imagine how THAT bood lauded the AI. LOL But, I never did it, wanted to keep it as is as it's an inheritance and I shot my first buck at age 11 with it. I refinished the stock and had it reblued some time ago and have had other scopes on it since the original Weaver 3-5KV lost its N2 and fogged up. I kinda want a 2x10 Weaver on it just because it had a Weaver on it originally.

I doubt the AI can shoot a lot better than my loads, but it does give you more powder space so has to help a bit. I'm pushing pretty much max pressure and any more H4831 and I wouldn't be able to pack it in. It's a compressed load needless to say. I'm kinda glad I never had the chamber done to AI 'cause it shoots just fine the way it is. I might get 150 fps more out of it if I did, but what's 150 fps? I doubt a deer or hog could tell the difference.

[Clipper]

Well, I bought the gun used, and so had no say in the chambering. However, I understand the AI reduces bolt thrust because of the straighter body taper, but after all, how hard is the Bob gonna be on the bolt anyway? Heck, a 721 in Bob goes for $900.00 around here and this one had a pristine barrel for $400.00. I plan to pretty much duplicate factory Roberts loads anyway, since I don't need the extra oomph around here, and I like the low noise and mild manner. Shoot, my .243 Handi has more recoil and muzzle blast than the Bob. Got a cut-down 91/30 for noise if I feel the need.

I shot my first deer with that 721 too...