257 roberts /257 roberts ackley???

[Bronsin]

Unless you just really want something different, I would just go with the .25-06. If getting brass is a pain, dies are expensive, having to use a long action anyway, and still not having the capacity to run with the .25-06, I'm not sure why building one would be a good idea.

 

[Barlow]

I just sized a 30-06 case down to 257 Roberts by running it thru a 7x57 fl die and then a 257 Roberts die. It worked well. Neck was thick, but would give .003 clearance in my rifle. I have some new 7x57 cases and to reform to 257 Roberts would be an easy do. Barlow

 

[MildBill]

thanks for all the replies,

upon more investigation I think I will move in a different direction.

not 100% sure what yet. maybe a 260 or something along those lines

then I can run the 6.5 bullets.

 

[Changeling]

AckleymanII and Dusty covered the subject about as well as it can be covered so I won't expound on the subject.
What I do think though, because of the brass situation. You would be hard pressed to find a better caliber then the 25-06 . You could get/build a 25-06 (AI not needed) without worrying about brass and buying custom dies. Velocities would be Awesome for hunting and the partitions are unbeatable as hunting bullets. Wall Mart carries loaded rounds so you can get it anywhere in the USA or world. A good 2506 is also a very accurate cartridge.
As for a 6.5 caliber, the 6.5-06 would be equally as good with better bullet availability and the ability to use heavier bullets if desired.

I'm not knocking the 257 AI at all either, great cartridge/round that is well known for it's accuracy. However the brass situation kinda puts it in a situation of being/becoming a big problem!

Good luck witch ever way you go, it will be a win/win situation, and you can't get better then that

 

[AckleymanII]

I just sized a 30-06 case down to 257 Roberts by running it thru a 7x57 fl die and then a 257 Roberts die. It worked well. Neck was thick, but would give .003 clearance in my rifle. I have some new 7x57 cases and to reform to 257 Roberts would be an easy do. Barlow

Redding bushing die with the proper bushing and you are in business!

 

[Barlow]

I tried Redding bushing dies twice and had more runout than I started with. I know others use them, but I'll live without them. Barlow

 

[CaptainMal]

Enjoy your 6.5.

I have a 260 AI. It was hard tuning and the results have been mixed for me. Too small a sampling on deer though and I got bummed at it and have quit using the thing. The 140 gr. Hornady bullets shoot well but deer just seem to walk or run away and I had to track down three of the four I shot. Nuts to it.

My 257 Roberts rules.

 

[MildBill]

25-06 is intriguing, but I think I would just get a factory rifle in that.

not sure which factory rifle, I been soured on Rems, so would not be that, and I would want at least a 24" barrel on it. I wonder if Winchester has any respectable model 70 offerings in that caliber?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

According to what you consider respectable. Id go with a tikka

 

[FN in MT]

I fell into an original pre 64 Winchester barrel marked .257 Roberts. It ended up being cut for the AI. Installed it on a never used .30-06 M-70 and it has become one of my favorite antelope/deer rifles yet.

Basically .25-06 ballistics. With 120 partitions I even killed a cow elk cleanly.

Brass can be tough to get but I have seen it lately even out here in MT. When You see it...buy 100.

 

[JRS]

I fell into an original pre 64 Winchester barrel marked .257 Roberts. It ended up being cut for the AI. Installed it on a never used .30-06 M-70 and it has become one of my favorite antelope/deer rifles yet.

Basically .25-06 ballistics. With 120 partitions I even killed a cow elk cleanly.

Brass can be tough to get but I have seen it lately even out here in MT. When You see it...buy 100.

bullets.com has it.

 

[Changeling]

Enjoy your 6.5.

I have a 260 AI. It was hard tuning and the results have been mixed for me. Too small a sampling on deer though and I got bummed at it and have quit using the thing. The 140 gr. Hornady bullets shoot well but deer just seem to walk or run away and I had to track down three of the four I shot. Nuts to it.

My 257 Roberts rules.

Hi CaptainMal. Use a Nosler Partition in your 260, stick it behind the leg/shoulder. You will not be tracking anymore deer.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

what is the consensus on any new design/make 25 cal bullets coming to market any time soon?

 

[Doug Casner]

My old 257 roberts is an old model 70 so naturally its a long action. Doug

 

[257ack]

I shot a 257ack for many years. Still hate selling it. Mine was only used for deer hunting, It was on a short action with a 1-10 twist. It shot Sierra 100 gr. real well. When fire forming I had to seat the bullets in the lands to push the primer back against the bolt. I did not hunt with brass that was not fireformed. With fireform brass, I got good accuracy with the bullets seated just long enough to fit in the mag. and thats what I hunted with. I had no trouble finding 257 brass back then. I cannot speak as far as lighter bullets for varmints

 

[Ackman]

I had a .257AI for many years. It was on a 700 short action and worked fine. But it was used with a single shot block. My reamer had 0 freebore and 87TNT's seated .05" short loaded just fine singly but were a bit too long for the magazine. Fired cases ejected fine but again, loaded rounds were a bit too long to eject without a little help. A long action would have been better. The thing had a long heavy no taper barrel and weighed about 20lbs or so. Don't remember velocity but it was very accurate and those TNT's were pure nasty on chucks, turned them into big lumps of hair and guts. The .257AI is a good one. As was stated before, .257 brass was available back then. Doing it again I'd probably go with a .250AI (which isn't the equal) or 25-06, or maybe 25-06AI if there is such a thing. A .25 on a .243 Improved case would be rreal good.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I have a 257AI - not yet fired it! Sort of inheritied it. Should be interesting and it came with a fair bit of brass and loaded ammo, which I will unload... some is marked H4895, which may be a bit fast but I don't know the bullet weight. Not really my thing and I'll probably end up selling it on.

 

[dryhumor]

I had 4 at one time. I think I still have dies and odds and ends on hand. I was pretty hard on the brass, loosened many a primer pocket…. Accurate though.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

What is the 243 improved (30 degree) called these days? It gets very little play these days, at least by that name.

 

[kochie]

You can usually find the 7x57 brass at HDS. Most often times they have Norma and RWS in stock.

Bullets.com has 257 Roberts +P in stock. They also have 7x57 in stock.

Your google machine can find many things

You could also neck down that 7x 57 and make a 6 mm ackley lots of good 6 mm bullets