I decided to build a rifle that would do double duty as a deer rifle and something for Coyotes. I was thinking of punching paper at 300 yards also. I thought of a 25-06 and someone mentioned the .257 Roberts AI and I decided I would try it out as it sounded interesting. I'm using a Savage Model 111 with detachable mag and a Shilen Select Match Grade barrel finished at 24" (1-10 twist light varmint contour). I have a Hogue Overmolded stock (with full length aluminum bedding) on order and have a Sightron SII 6.5-20x50 with mildot waiting on the bench. I also have a Timney trigger waiting here as well. This will be my first center fire bolt gun build and I'm kind of excited. Is anyone familiar with this caliber and willing to comment on what I could expect performance wise and can anyone share some load recipes also? Thanks in advance.
257 Roberts AI - What can I expect?
- Thread starter KDX
- Start date
KDX said:
I will recommend that, although your stock features a 'full length' aluminum bedding block, to get all the rig has to offer, you epoxy-bed the action to the block
I have had .257 Ackley Imps. since the mid-1970s - all have been great hunting rifles; especially for coyotes, pronghorns, and mule deer. I will not offer up and specific load data, but will say that, with this case capacity and expansion ratio, if you want velocity, RL-17 is WAY ahead of anything else I've tried. My current .257 Ack. (PacNor 1:10" twist, #3 contour, 23" long) runs 110 Gr. BTs at 3333 FPS - this without a symptom of pressure - and will AGG just under 0.6" for three-shot groups at 100Yd. My 'go to' load, prior to RL-17, has been a case-full of H-4831, driving 110 Gr. bullets at 3070 FPS, and just under .5 MOA for 3-shot groups. I've had a couple of 'better' barrels, but solid sub .6 MOA has killed everything I've shot at.
In the end, even with the old loads, it's about equal to a 25/06 - just better lookin'! You'll love it! 
RGI've been shooting one since the mid 80's and I love this round. Very accurate and a pleasure to shoot. Brass last forever also.
"....I should be able to spot my hits....."
I wouldn't count on that, unless you are going to have a brake installed.
I wouldn't count on that, unless you are going to have a brake installed.
SongdogHunter
Gold $$ Contributor
get a box of R. Robinetts 110 grain bullets you will not be sorry!
I shoot a .257Ackley and .257 x 47 Lapua with these and they are excellent.
SDH
I shoot a .257Ackley and .257 x 47 Lapua with these and they are excellent.
SDH
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
KDX,
My son has a .257AI, my best friend gave it to him on his 9th birthday, he turns 17 next month. He has shot hundreds of ground hogs, eight mule deer, at least a hundred coyotes, several black bears and several elk, and lots of water jugs. Its a old Ruger with the rear tang saftey its got a timmney trigger, factory stock and don't know the barrel make but it will shoot 75 grain v-max under 1/2" and 117 and 120 grain bullets 1/2 to 3/4 " It was used when we got it from Dave and it was used when he got it, I don't have any idea how many are down the tube but it has to be over a couple thousand and accuracy hasn't seemed to change and the cases last nearly forever. It is too light weight to see impacts regularly, but my son seems to know where to put the cross hairs because 0-400 yards ground hogs to deer are dead usually on the first shot. I have a 25-06, it probably out shoots it a little but brass life isn't even close to .257AI and when my or my sons barrel goes south we will re barrel in .257AI .
Wayne.
My son has a .257AI, my best friend gave it to him on his 9th birthday, he turns 17 next month. He has shot hundreds of ground hogs, eight mule deer, at least a hundred coyotes, several black bears and several elk, and lots of water jugs. Its a old Ruger with the rear tang saftey its got a timmney trigger, factory stock and don't know the barrel make but it will shoot 75 grain v-max under 1/2" and 117 and 120 grain bullets 1/2 to 3/4 " It was used when we got it from Dave and it was used when he got it, I don't have any idea how many are down the tube but it has to be over a couple thousand and accuracy hasn't seemed to change and the cases last nearly forever. It is too light weight to see impacts regularly, but my son seems to know where to put the cross hairs because 0-400 yards ground hogs to deer are dead usually on the first shot. I have a 25-06, it probably out shoots it a little but brass life isn't even close to .257AI and when my or my sons barrel goes south we will re barrel in .257AI .
Wayne.
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
My 257AI isn't for deer or coyotes.....it's a heavy beast of a rockchuck gun with straight 28" barrel and wide benchrest stock. Fireforming loads were 85/87gr bullets at 3775 with W760 powder. It's been several years since I shot that thing and don't remember what formed cases are doing. Chucks get completely messed up. Brass is mostly Frontier (Hornady), some Winchester. Chamber has 0 freebore, .286"nk and everything's neckturned. This cartridge has recoil and without a brake there'll be muzzle rise. You won't see hits through the scope. My rifle weighs over 20# and is braked.....the gun goes boom and just sits there, the muzzle hardly moves.
Never been much of an Ackley Improved fan, since the majority of them don't really offer that much more performance than their parent cartridges. The 257 Roberts is an exception to that rule. Significant body taper and sloping shoulders offer a dramatic increase in capacity when blown out, and the 257 steps up to a whole 'nother level of performance. Won't turn it into a 25-06, but it won't lag that far behind it, either. Great round, excellent choice!
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Kevin and RJ,
I have to disagree at least a little, I believe any tapered case will be greatly improved with a Akley or any 40* improved shoulder to straighten the walls, if nothing more than to extend case life. The 22 hornet, 22-250, and the 300H&H
just to mention a few, are greatly improved with a 40* shoulder. Where as the .300 savage, wsm's, or the .284 win, wouldn't tend to gain nearly as much, I have a 6mmAI and a 22-250AI and a 6.5-06AI, my son has the .257RobAI and we enjoy them very much, the .257 was the first and we still have some of the original brass that came with it when we got it, it just doesn't wear out. As far as fps you may be right but it is worth it for me for case life alone.
Wayne.
I have to disagree at least a little, I believe any tapered case will be greatly improved with a Akley or any 40* improved shoulder to straighten the walls, if nothing more than to extend case life. The 22 hornet, 22-250, and the 300H&H
just to mention a few, are greatly improved with a 40* shoulder. Where as the .300 savage, wsm's, or the .284 win, wouldn't tend to gain nearly as much, I have a 6mmAI and a 22-250AI and a 6.5-06AI, my son has the .257RobAI and we enjoy them very much, the .257 was the first and we still have some of the original brass that came with it when we got it, it just doesn't wear out. As far as fps you may be right but it is worth it for me for case life alone.
Wayne.
Wayne,
Extended case life (reduced stretching) is a different issue, but a perfectly valid argument in favor of the AI treatment, no question about that. You're also perfectly correct about the tapered cases (one of the reasons the Roberts benefits so much), and the 22 K-Hornet is a beautiful example. I think my pet peeve with these comes from the types of guys who run a 223 Rem AI and suddenly think it's now capable of 220 Swift performance. Dumb, very dumb.
Trimming and brass flow, though, no problem.
Extended case life (reduced stretching) is a different issue, but a perfectly valid argument in favor of the AI treatment, no question about that. You're also perfectly correct about the tapered cases (one of the reasons the Roberts benefits so much), and the 22 K-Hornet is a beautiful example. I think my pet peeve with these comes from the types of guys who run a 223 Rem AI and suddenly think it's now capable of 220 Swift performance. Dumb, very dumb.
Trimming and brass flow, though, no problem.
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
Uhhhhh Bozo.......the 22-250 IS a 300 Savage case.
[/quote]
Ackman,
Actually the 22-250 is based off the 250-3000 case, which also has a lot of taper to it as well.
Wayne.
[/quote]
You're right and I apologize. I thought the .250 was based on the .30 case but it's not, the .25 came first and there are differences. My mistake.
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