I reported the other day on the results of the first range trip with the new 257 Roberts. The group was just a tad under 7/8 inch with the federal Premium shells loaded with 120 grain Partitions. I came home and loaded a box of 115 grain Nosler ballistic tips. I loaded 43.5 grains of IMR 4831. Today I chronographed the Federal factory loads today as well They read 2674 average with onlt two fps spread in velocity. 3 shots. I next checked my hand loads which read 2649 average for five shots with a 31 fps exterme velocity spread. My OCL is 2.820. This is because the magazine box is pretty short and won,t allow me to set them out any farther I am way the heck off the rifling with that seating depth. The group with this load however was .390 center to center. Once again the wind was about 27 mph but not as gusty as the first day I was out. When I shoot a group for a hunting rifle, I shoot three shots as fast as I can get back on target. When I shoot a group for a varmit rifle I shoot five shots taking time to not let the barrel heat up. To my way of thinking that is a common sense approach to testing a rifle for its intended purpose. If its a new load I fire a three shot group and let the gun cool and repeat this for a tolal of three , three shot groups. This gun and scope seems to repeat the groups like a photo finish. I am Happy with every thing except the velocity. By looking at the brass, It looks like I can bump the load up by 1 1/2 grains and try again I would like to get to about 2700 or 2750. I have yet to try a 100 grain bullet which should give me more velocity but the 115 grain Ballistic tip will give me the same or better final trajectory than the 100 grain unless I could gain 300 fps or so. I won,t be unhappy with the velocity I am getting now with a gun capable of hitting a deer in the eye at 150 yards or better.