Anybody like the 257 Roberts?

[Hntndad]

My favorite rifle in my collection. Back in southwestern PA., growing up, it was a very popular cartridge. If I didn't have other rifles and could only pick one. That'll do. From chucks to black bear. We used 87 Sierra for groundhogs. 3300fps was not a problem. 117 gr Sierra boattails for whitetail. 2980 fps avg. A little explosive under 100 yards, wonderful out to 400. Sierra 117 gr flat base spitzer holds together a bit better for short work.
Winchester +p brass is no different in thickness from their WW brass or super speed brass. I have brass dating back to 1952. Same as my win +p brass. Heard of that rumor myself. Will gladly go into more detail if you or anyone would like clarification. If you need brass I may be of some help. Although, necking down 7x57 Norma brass is easy enough.
I wouldn't be without my 257 robts.

 

[stacy]

HAD 2 257 ROBERTS AND THEY SERVED ME WELL DID WHAT EVER NEEDED TO BE DONE HERE IN NC

 

[long40shot]

Wow! Thank you fire the input and wonderful stories! Please keep it coming. I also have a bit of nostalgic interest in the Roberts. My dad had a Bob for several years and then was convinced to trade it away. He always said that was a foolish mistake. The rifle that's peaked my interest, is a Ruger no 1 international. Please keep your stories coming!

Matt

 

[CaptainMal]

On my third "Bob". Used my first in the 50's - 70's to take lots of deer and hogs in Pennsylvania. Then bought an outstanding raised solid rib Mauser in "Bob" that was a bit too fancy to hunt with. Still took nice deer to 400 yards with it but only on nice days. Gave that rifle to my son who lives in Pa. today.

Gave it to him because it's such a classic rifle that you almost hate to use it. Bought a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in 257 Roberts and quickly killed this 14 pt. with it.



In just the few years since this one I have taken multiple 8 - 10 pts to 540 yards using 115 Nosler Ballistic Tips. The cartridge just makes it so much fun to hunt and shoot you wish it was hunting season all year. All three of my rifles have easily been sub MOA with proper bedding and reloading.

Even though I have multiple other calibers in different rifles, my "Bob's" have always been and still are my favorite.

 

[Oklahoma Jim]

I have a Ruger #1B in 257 Roberts. I love the rifle and the caliber. It's an almost perfect deer cartridge IMO.

I shoot bench rest .22s now and I haven't shot the #1 in several years. I might be persuaded to send it to a new home.

 

[Hntndad]

I have a Ruger #1B in 257 Roberts. I love the rifle and the caliber. It's a perfect deer cartridge IMO.

There ya go Jim, I fixed that for you

 

[Boyd L.]

My first deer was taken with a 1982 vintage 700 Classic. My oldest son used a rebarreled '93 Mauser to take his first. I'm pretty sure the number of eastern groundhogs I took with the '93 exceeds 100 and probably 150 using 75 grain Sierras over 4064.

Haven't shot either in years, but I have no intention to part with either of them.

 

[butchlambert]

In 1956 I had switch barrels all based on the 257 case. I had 6MM X 257, 257 Roberts and 6.5X 257. They were all HVY Varmint taper from the same barrel maker, same twist chambered by the same smith for a single shot Mauser action. They were fed various weights of custom made bullets.

Bottom line all three shot very small groups. But of the three, 6.5 shot just a little tighter, but I'd hate to have to live on the difference. Followed by the 6MM and the 257. These tests, though not scientific, pointed me in the direction of which caliber bullet do I want to end up making. But I don't think I would have made a mistake with either of the other two. There were no 6.5 match quality jackets available then, I had to use 25 caliber jackets to make 6.5's. Talk about "necessity being the mother of invention". I was surprised the bullets even grouped, but I did bring the 25 cal core seated jackets up to .2638" and the point up die brought them to .2641"

I'm dating myself, but the bullet making dies were made by my friend Fred Huntington of RCBS which stood for "Rock Chuck Bullet Swage".

You know, I have some of those old bullet dies.
I also have a 257 in a Hyper Single. I have Mike Walker's personal 257 in a 722 Remington. Mike w2as able to pick out beautiful wood from the custom shop wood box.

 

[gotcha]

My favorite rifle in my collection. Back in southwestern PA., growing up, it was a very popular cartridge. If I didn't have other rifles and could only pick one. That'll do. From chucks to black bear. We used 87 Sierra for groundhogs. 3300fps was not a problem. 117 gr Sierra boattails for whitetail. 2980 fps avg. A little explosive under 100 yards, wonderful out to 400. Sierra 117 gr flat base spitzer holds together a bit better for short work.
Winchester +p brass is no different in thickness from their WW brass or super speed brass. I have brass dating back to 1952. Same as my win +p brass. Heard of that rumor myself. Will gladly go into more detail if you or anyone would like clarification. If you need brass I may be of some help. Although, necking down 7x57 Norma brass is easy enough.
I wouldn't be without my 257 robts.

Hi Hntndad! O.K. we're all Roberts lovers here. I've never been one to pass on knowingly erroneous info. My data comes from Hornady 7th edition manual. Since Hornady's load data is formulated exclusively for +P brass it leads me to believe there's a difference and therefore isn't "just a rumor". ....... However, I'm open to your thinking since if it's true it might benefit readers of this thread as well as myself............... So, fire away. P.S. I've never actually compared weight or CC'd the two different head stamps but while I wait for your answer you can bet I will

 

[BOBC]

You know, I have some of those old bullet dies.
I also have a 257 in a Hyper Single. I have Mike Walker's personal 257 in a 722 Remington. Mike w2as able to pick out beautiful wood from the custom shop wood box.

Butch I'd say you have collector's items with those old RCBS bullet dies. Surprising, they did make pretty good bullets. Bullet making has sure come a long way since then.

 

[Outrider27]

I have a 257 Roberts in a lightweight, mountain rifle configuration - the best way I can describe it is think of it as an .8 size rifle. Of all my hunting rifles, this is the one I wouldn't let go for anything. It always gets the job done, and done well, and, in spite of its light weight, it doesn't even think about beating you up.

 

[GaryD]

I have a 257 Roberts ai and have been developing loads. 100 g Sierra gameking and imr 4350 at 3244 fps my clover leaf load. Also was able to find Norma ph loads for fire forming giving me 3/4 inch groups. Plan on taking it antelope hunting next month and the guide said he believes that is the perfect round for speed goats.

 

[FN in MT]

I've got a circa 1958 M-70 Sporter, rebarreled with a matching taper to original, HART SS bbl. Had it built with deer/antelope in mind versus varmints. IIRC I went with a 1 in 9" twist, maybe a 1 in ten? And min eis also an AI Roberts.

Shoots 115/120 Nosler partition's into sub 3/4" five shot groups at 100....all any hunter needs. Killed a few whitetail bucks and a rag horn and a cow elk. Four shots.....four animals.

 

[pahoghunter]

I have owned a 25-06 since about 1972. It is fast flat and accurate. The only way it could be better would be a .257 so the barrel lasts a little longer.
Right now I have about 6 inches of rough throat that requires a little extra cleaning. My rifle has about 500 rounds through it.

I shot one for years in a 725 Rem. 100 gr for Whitetails & 75 gr for chucks, little recoil, you will like it.

 

[butchlambert]

Butch I'd say you have collector's items with those old RCBS bullet dies. Surprising, they did make pretty good bullets. Bullet making has sure come a long way since then.

I talked to RCBS and Huntingtons about the old dies. Everybody is new at both places and haven't heard about them.

 

[BOBC]

I talked to RCBS and Huntingtons about the. Everybody is new and haven't heard about them.

Only the older shooters knew of Fred's bullet dies. This is a piece of shooting history.
Only those who lived in that era remember. Fred also made 22 cal rim fire case deheading dies so we could make 22 cal jackets out of fired 22 RF cases. Because copper jackets were practically non existent during those times. I think I still have one of those deheading dies in my cabinet.

 

[Lapua40X]

Back in the day it was a kick in the butt gun
I don't think it shouldn't still be . Larry

My thought exactly. Did some squirrel hunting with one circa 1962 and it proved to be one of the best in the field.

 

[long40shot]

What length barrels you guys using. The No 1 is only a 20 inch barrel.

Matt

 

[Boyd L.]

You don't need "many" when you can buy the best hand swaged 1/4 bore bullets on the planet

I guess the definition of "best" is guided by their use.
My .257 AI would really like to be a long range (600 +) performer but the effect of wind on the BC of my .257 bullets usually keeps me chasing the 6.5 guys I shoot with.
Does anyone make a .257 bullet with a BC of .500 or higher?

 

[JRS]

I guess the definition of "best" is guided by their use.
My .257 AI would really like to be a long range (600 +) performer but the effect of wind on the BC of my .257 bullets usually keeps me chasing the 6.5 guys I shoot with.
Does anyone make a .257 bullet with a BC of .500 or higher?

Randy (RG) Robinett.